Brooke Weston Trust CCF has been invited to participate alongside circa 1200 other Regular, Reserve and Cadet Forces in a military parade through Kettering Town centre.

On 8th June, Kettering will be hosting a special armed forces parade, coupled with the Royal Anglian Regiment, exercising its freedom of Kettering. At the parade there will be a guard of honour and colour party provided by the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, supported by a Corps of Drums provided by the 1st and 2nd Battalions.  

The Royal Anglian regiment, which is also our county regiment, were granted the Freedom of Kettering in a ceremony in 2014 and this will be their first formal visit back to town to exercise that freedom, alongside 1000 cadets from across the county and from Rutland and Leicestershire. Six marching bands will accompany the parade and the cadets as they march from London Road car park through the town centre, gathering at the Market Place for a drumhead service.  

The parade will start at 12 noon and run along London Road, Horse Market, Silver Street, Gold Street, High Street and into Sheep Street before assembling in the Market Place. The whole parade and service is expected to run for just over an hour.  A saluting base will be located outside the Toller Church on Gold Street for county dignitaries to take the salute from the regiment and marchers.  

Local roads – London Road, Horse Market and Silver Street – will be closed off from 11.00 a.m. until after the parade has dispersed, as will the pedestrianised area of Gold Street and High Street, and the limited-access Market Street.  

Cllr Alex Evelyn, Mayor Elect for 2025-6 said: - 

“We are delighted to host this major event, which in 2022 took place in Northampton. It will be a stirring sight and a way of recognising the valuable work that the army and our many local and thriving cadet branches do for the country and the community.”  

Col Robert Blomfield, county colonel for the Royal Anglian Regiment said: - 

“This parade will provide an excellent opportunity for the people of Kettering and nearby villages to show off the town with pride and to turn out in support of our armed forces, past, present and future. 

The Royal Anglian Regiment is absolutely delighted to have been invited to take part in this very special event and to be able to march through a town which, for many years, has been one of its strongest recruiting areas.  

Not only will you be seeing soldiers from both Regular and Reserve battalions, but also many cadets who are in units which are affiliated to the Regiment. I am delighted that they will be marching alongside other cadets who will be representing all three of our armed services. Many of these young people likely go on to serve as regulars or reservists.     

It promises to be a most memorable occasion.” 

 

We would love to see some familiar faces in the crowd!