Twickenham parade as army musicians celebrate freedom

6.44.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Army musicians will parade through Twickenham town centre on Thursday, 20 September, to commemorate a rare honour bestowed by Richmond Council.

The Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, along with the Corp of Army Music, will receive the Freedom of the Borough. The accolade marks the school's 150th anniversary and close historical links to the borough. Proceedings will begin with a ceremony at York House at 10.30am when the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames will present the Freedom of the Borough scroll to Commander Bob Jammes. Musicians and marchers will then exercise their rights as freemen with a march through the town centre at 11am. York Street, King Street and Church Street will be closed to traffic as the parade takes place. It will be followed by a service of thanksgiving at St Mary's Church.

Cllr Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council, said:??"We are immensely proud to have an institution of the stature and reputation of The Royal Military School of Music in our borough. It has made an enormous contribution to the community and we hope it will remain in the borough for many years to come. The men and women who pass through the school are both soldiers and musicians and with British troops currently on active service in both Iraq and Afghanistan, we are constantly reminded of their courage and skill."