Published: 24/03/2010 10:34 -
Updated: 24/03/2010 11:53
I WAS among the crowd of people on hand to welcome the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment, who marched through Ashbourne on Thursday the 18th of March.
The Regiment did so to celebrate being granted the Freedom of the Derbyshire Dales at the start of the year.
I had really been looking forward to the march, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The town looked fantastic! Church Street had been given a good old wash and sweep; red, white and blue bunting festooned the march route and many local shops had taken the time to decorate their store windows with a patriotic theme. Ashbourne certainly does ‘scrub up nicely!’
I was out waiting for the march to start from about 10am and really enjoyed watching the crowd gather.
And what a wonderful representation of our community we had: Retired decorated soldiers (possibly from as far back as WWII I would guess), older people in wheelchairs or using mobility aides, babes in arms and toddlers in pushchairs waving little hand held Union Jack flags, shoppers and tourists who had accidently stumbled upon the event and joined the crowd by chance, teachers and pupils from local schools – it was fantastic.
Whole families – some with several generations together - had come out to watch; I saw lots of mums and dads with young children in tow, explaining to their offspring what they were about to see: An historical event happening right here in their home town.
Just when you thought the scene set for the march couldn’t get any better, two rows of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School students from years 10 and 11 filed down either side of the street and unfurled large Union Jack flags, marking the parade route for the troops.
I thought there was a good turnout before the march, but as it actually started the crowd swelled even more as staff poured out of local offices and shops. It felt like the whole town stopped to watch.
Traffic ceased, tills stopped ringing and phones went quiet as the Town paused to show their respect and express their thanks to these brave men and women who serve this country so well.
It felt like people were doing this, not just for the Mercian Regiment, but for our troops stationed all over the world.
After much anticipation and build up, the march finally commenced, led by the Regiment’s marching band. Next came the most unusual member of the Regiment – a Derby ram. Ably led by two soldiers, I’ve got to say he was the most well behaved ram I have ever seen.
When the troops themselves came into view, the crowd went wild! They cheered and clapped throughout the route, everyone showing their appreciation with gusto.
Along with the cheers there was poignancy as well, with thoughts of soldiers who had lost their lives in Afghanistan and the fact that so many of the soldiers marching were so very, very young.
By God, it made me proud to be British!
And I’m not even British.
(Pictures by reader Nick C Taylor)
