19 March 2008

The Territorial Army (TA) in Surrey will launch its county celebrations for TA100 - the centenary of the Territorial Army - with a special parade through Guildford High Street on Saturday 5 April.

Residents, visitors and workers in the town centre will be able to watch around 200 Territorial soldiers march in the parade together with The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (3 PWRR) Kohima Band and Corps of Drums.

Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Mike Nevins, says: "We are very pleased that Guildford can host this parade as part of the TA centenary celebrations and will help kick off a programme of county events for the year. We hope that as many people as possible from across Surrey will come along to the parade and give the soldiers a really warm welcome."

There are five TA units in Surrey situated in Farnham, Camberley, Redhill, Reigate and Chertsey. The TA provides 1,200 troops each year in support of regular operations and some of the 77 Surrey  TA volunteer soldiers who  were deployed on overseas operations in the past few years will take part in the parade.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Kumik, Commanding Officer 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), who will be leading the parade, says: "The Territorial Army has delivered fighting soldiers and units at times of need. This has ranged from the demands of two world wars and now to support enduring operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The TA has achieved this through the enthusiasm, professionalism and adaptability of its members. This parade is the Army celebrating their contribution."

Chairman of Surrey County Council, Mrs Angela Fraser, says: "Surrey has a long and distinguished military tradition, and for 100 years has made a strong contribution to the Territorial Army.  In recent years, we have been proud that many of our Territorial Army personnel have served alongside their regular counterparts on operations worldwide. Particularly noteworthy at the moment is the contribution of the Territorial Army to OP.TELIC in Iraq and OP.HERRICK in Afghanistan. The Territorial Army is an integral part of the British Army and I wish its members success in its second century." 
 

The parade will assemble in Portsmouth Road Car Park (which will be closed to the general public for the day), leave  from Town Bridge at 2pm and march up the High Street to Holy Trinity Church. Following a short service outside the church the parade will reform, turn left at the George Abbot statue and continue down North Street back to the Portsmouth Road Car Park.  We anticipate that the event will end by approximately 2.45pm.

The High Street will be the focal point of the parade and although normal road closures apply, crowd control barriers will also be erected in the High Street from 12noon to around 3pm. The police will control the closures and the traffic on the parade route as necessary.

Please visit the TA100 website (this page opens in a new window) for details of the TA100 celebrations throughout the year.