Two hundred sailors from HMS Sultan will exercise their freedom of the borough of Gosport by marching through the town on Friday (March 22) .
The parade – the first in eight years – marks Gosport Borough Council’s recent updating of the original freedom status granted to the engineering training school in 1974.
The change represents the base’s expansion over the years with it now housing separate schools for marine and air engineering.
Commodore Mark Slawson, HMS Sultan’s Commanding Officer , said:
“I am delighted that Gosport Borough and HMS Sultan will be able to celebrate the close links that the town and the establishment enjoy.
“The celebration of the Freedom of the Borough is an event that we have been looking forward to for some time.”
The freedom parade starts at 10.30am from Falkland Gardens. Sailors will march to the parade ground at Timespace via the Esplanade de Royan for a 20-minute service which starts at 11am.
On completion the parade, led by HMS Sultan’s volunteer band, will head along the Esplanade de Royan and through the High Street.
Cdre Slawson and Mayor of Gosport Councillor Richard Dickson will take the salute outside the town hall and the parade ends at David Lawrence Square.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, March 20, 2013; Image: Royal Navy