HMS Collingwood's Freedom March in Fareham on Saturday 7 May 2011

On Saturday 7 May more than 200 sailors from HMS Collingwood will exercise their 'Freedom of the Borough' by marching through Fareham Town centre.

Led by The Band of HM Royal Marines, the March will start from the Civic Offices in Fareham at 10:45am. The Sailors will then head down the High Street with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed, into West Street where there will be short speeches and medal presentations by the bandstand. Sailors will then proceed out through the Falklands Arch, back up Quay Street, take a salute, and return to the Civic Offices, marching all the way!

Executive Leader, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “Fareham has many connections with the sea and the Royal Navy and I invite our residents to join us on this day, to show support to the sailors from HMS Collingwood, and the superb work they do."

HMS Collingwood was the first institution to be awarded Freedom of the Borough back in 1974. The last Freedom March was in 2007 as part of the Fareham commemoration to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. Their open day this year is on 4th June - you can read more about this here.