A MAJOR Royal Navy festival will be celebrated in Evesham for the first time in a decade this weekend with more than 300 Sea and Royal Marine cadets marching through town.
The Vale will host the prestigious Trafalgar Festival on Sunday (October 27) which will see a number of town streets closed for the parade.
Every year the Royal Navy celebrate the victory of Lord Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21 1805, when the
Royal Navy defeated the combined fleets of the French and Spanish, which in turn scuppered the invasion scheduled by Napoleon Bonaparte.
The cadets will be led by the band of Weston Super Mare Sea Cadets, marching through the streets of Evesham with flags flying, swords drawn and drums beating.
As well as Evesham cadets there will be cadets from Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Tamworth, Redditch, Coventry, Sutton Coldfield, Nuneaton, Shirley, Leamington and Warwick.
A number of roads will be closed during the parade which begins at The De Montfort School at 12.45pm, makes its way onto Four Pools Road, Coopers Lane, Waterside, Port Street and over Workman’s Bridge.
The parade will assemble in Market Square following the march and will arrive in the town centre at 1.05pm
The return journey follows the same route and will leave Market Square at 3.15pm and arrive back the De Montfort School at 3.35pm.
The church service will be held at All Saints Church from 2pm to 2.45pm and residents are invited to the service and to watch
parade on Workman’s Bridge from 3.15pm.
Roads are expected to be closed in the immediate lead up to the parade and will be re-opened as quickly as possible following the conclusion.
VIPs’ including Captain Jonathan Holloway from the Royal Navy, the Deputy Mayor of Evesham Coun Fred Kaler, Wychavon District Council chairman Coun Lynne Duffy and Worcestershire County Council chairman Coun Pam Davey will take the salute
from the parade on Workman’s Bridge.
Evesham Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets meet at their headquarters on Shinehill Lane in South Littleton on Monday and Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9.30pm
New members between 10 and 18-years-old are welcome.
Visit www.sea-cadets.org/evesham/home.aspx for more information
* THE timetable of events on Sunday (October 26) is as follows:
9am – Parade to arrive at Evesham Sea Cadets.
9.30am – Parade to begin Practice Session
10.30am – CSC arrives for informal visit
11.15am – Cadets to change into No1 rig
11.50am – Transport to leave Evesham Sea Cadet Unit
12.15pm – Parade to assemble at the De Montfort School on Four Pools Road.
12.45pm – Parade March off – Parade Commander – CPO (SCC) K.Cleary
1st Officer of the Guard – Lt (SCC) A.Smith RNR
2nd Officer of the Guard – Lt (SCC) S.Warwick RNR
Colour Officer – S/Lt (SCC) J.Saunders RNR
1.05pm – Parade will arrive at Market Square
1.15pm – Inspection of Warwickshire District by VIP’s, Captain Sea Cadets – Captain Jonathan Holloway MSc CEng MIMechE RN.
1.45pm – Parade fallen out, start to make the way to All Saints Church
2pm – Service to begin – Vicar of Evesham – Reverend Andrew Spur
2.45pm – Service ends
3pm – Parade forms up in Market Square
3.15pm – Parade marches off
3.20pm – Salute to be taken by VIP’s on Workman’s Bridge
3.35pm – Parade arrive back at De Montfort School.
3.45pm – Parade dismissed for refreshments.
The parade will take in a number of town roads. (s)
