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Royal Welsh to march through Hay-on-Wye

Image of the Band of The Royal Welsh

12 May 2023

Image of the Band of The Royal Welsh
An army regiment will be marching through a Powys town later this month as part of a freedom parade.

The Royal Welsh, Wales' oldest and most decorated regiment, will be marching through Hay-on-Wye on Saturday, May 20 to celebrate the reaffirmation for their Freedom of the County.

The parade, which will also involve the Royal Welsh Military band, veterans and cadets, will see the Royal Welsh march from Oxford Road car park to the grounds of Hay Castle, where a short ceremony and service will take place, including permission by the regiment to exercise freedom of the county.

The Royal Welsh will also pass the town's Cenotaph to receive salute as the parade passes by.

Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, Chair of Powys County Council, said: "It will be an honour to welcome the Royal Welsh to Hay-on-Wye and to Powys for their reaffirmation march and I am looking forward to being part of this event. I'm sure the public will give them a great welcome."

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council's Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, said: "The freedom parade is a testament of the strong and enduring links between the citizens of Powys and our armed forces' community. It also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices members of our armed forces - and their families - make for our rights and freedoms.

"I look forward to joining with the local community, and people from across Powys, to remember this as the Royal Welsh marches through Hay-on-Wye."

To allow the parade to take place safely, some roads within the core of the town will be closed from 8am until approximately 12:20pm. Other routes which will need to be closed for the procession only will be closed for a short period whilst the procession proceeds along those roads.

Road closures will be in place for Castle Street (from Belmont Road Junction), Market Street, Lion Street leading to Bell Bank from 8am to 12:20pm.

There will also be short term road closures from 10.55-11am along Oxford Road from the car park to Hay Castle and also between 12-12:20pm from Oxford Road (Hay Castle) to Castle Street and from Bell Bank - Oxford Road car park.

The full itinerary for the event is:

  • 10.45am: Royal Welsh Arrival at Oxford Road car park
  • 11am: Royal Welsh march onto parade area at Hay Castle
  • 11.15am: Parade set
  • 11.20am: Inspection
  • 11.35am: VIPs address Parade and exchange gifts
  • 11.45am: Town Clergy lead small service
  • 12pm: Parade moves off
  • 12.20pm: Parade at finish point