Annual Battle of Britain parade to take place in Newark

Personnel from RAF College Cranwell will take part in a parade through Newark tomorrow, exercising their Freedom of the Town.

RAF Cranwell was granted the freedom by Newark Town Council in 2002 in recognition of the close links between the town and the station, which supports the annual Battle of Britain parade.

Sunday’s Freedom Parade will also mark the centenary of the RAF and the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Four colours and standards will be on parade — RAF College Cranwell Queen’s Colour, Central Flying School Queen’s Colour, 45 (R) Squadron Standard and 57 (R) Squadron Standard.

The parade will be led by Mans-field Corps of Drums and will also involve members of 1260 Newark and District Squadron Air Training Corps and old comrades.

Former RAF personnel are welcome to join them and should be in the London Road carpark no later than 10.15am when the parade forms up.

The parade will take them from the carpark to the Market Place, where the Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts, will carry out an inspection.

He will be accompanied by the deputy commandant of RAF College Cranwell Croup, Captain Gordon Bettington, and the vice-Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Colonel Tim Richmond.

It will be followed by a wreath- laying ceremony at the memorial in the gardens of Newark Parish Church.

It is hoped there will be a flypast during the proceedings but this has yet to be confirmed.

The preacher at the Battle of Britain church service will be the Vicar of Newark, the Rev David Pickersgill.

After, the parade will re-form on Church Street and march to the Market Place, where a salute will be taken by Colonel Richmond, Group Captain Bettington, Mr Roberts, Newark and Sherwood District Council chairman Mr Keith Walker, and the chairman of the Balderton branch of the RAFA (also representing Newark RAFA) Wing Commander Nigel Branston.

Road closures will be in place along Cartergate, Baldertongate, Barnbygate and Appletongate.

London Road carpark will be closed to non-parade traffic.