Freedom of the Borough Parade - 28 January

Event details

Residents are invited to come along to view 3 Medical Regiment - a Regular Army unit based in Preston which provides front line medical support - take their final Freedom of the Borough march through Chorley Town Centre on 28 January.

The poignant event will begin around 10.25am on St Thomas's Road:

10.25am - Parade formed up on St Thomas's Road

10.40am - Address by the Mayor of Chorley from St Thomas' Square

11.00am - Parade sets off from Chorley Town Hall

11.30am - Parade ends at entrance of St Laurence's Church

How to view the parade

Those wishing to view the parade must do so from:

• St Thomas' Road (on paths)
• Market Street (on paths or behind barriers)
• St George's Street (on paths or behind barriers)
• Church Street (on paths)
• High Street (on paths)
• Opposite the Town Hall (Layby)

Road and car park closures

There will be a series of road and car park closures on the run up to, and during the event.

Please plan ahead and be patient with the closures.

Car park closures

Please note that if your car is parked in one of these areas during the time of closure, your car will be towed away.

The following will be closed from 5pm Friday 27 January until 3pm Saturday 28 January.

• Farrington Street Car Park
• White Hart Car Park
• Back Mount Car Park

The following will be closed overnight on Friday 27 January until 12 noon on Saturday 28 January. Please do not park overnight on these places.

• The limited parking bays on Market Street including the layby opposite the Town Hall
• St George's Street
• Chapel Street

For access to the town centre shops we would encourage people to park on:

• West Street
• Fleet Street
• Water Street
• Hollinshead Street
• Friday Street Car Park

Cleveland Street car parks will be open but movement off them will be restricted when the parade approaches.

Road closures

Closed from 6am until 3pm on Saturday 28 January

• Farrington Street
• Back Mount
• Mealhouse Lane

Closed from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday 28 January

• St Thomas' Road
• Market Street (From the roundabout at Union Street to Junction with St George's Street)
• St George's Street
• Church Street
• High Street

Diversions will be in place via Devonshire Road and Union Street and the A6

Union Street will be closed at its junction with Cleveland Street for 15 mins around 11.15am

What is the Freedom of the Borough?

The practice of granting the 'Freedom of Entry' upon military units has its roots deep in the history of local and central government.

During the Middle Ages, formed bodies of troops were not allowed to march through a borough, or city, without first seeking the permission of the Council. As most boroughs were surrounded by a fortified wall the city fathers were in a position to refuse access if, for some reason, they were suspicious of the Military Commander's intentions. The Freedom of entry to the town or city would normally be granted to locally based troops only after sufficient time had elapsed for mutual confidence and friendship to be established and when the citizens were satisfied that the troops would protect their interests.

Permission to enter came to be granted 'in column form', and there arose the practice of conferring upon individual Regiments the right "to march through the city/town with due ceremonial, drums beating, bands playing, banner flying and bayonets fixed', in recognition of the confidence, trust and friendship existing between the citizens and soldiers. Such permission was usually accompanied by certificate which is presented at a formal parade where the Mayor inspects the assembled troops and then invites all involved to a reception.

On Saturday 28 January 2023, the "Freedom of the Borough" privilege is being exercised by 3 Medical Regiment. The Regiment were granted Freedom of the Borough in 2015 but as the Regiment is due to disband in February 2023 it was agreed that the Regiment would exercise their Freedom in the Borough of Chorley for one last time.

What is the 3 Medical Regiment?

Based in Preston, the Regiment consists of two light role Medical Squadrons equipped with a combination of highly deployable Medical Treatment Facilities and Land Rover Battle Field Ambulances.

Each Squadron is able to deliver an integrated health support system including Pre Hospital Emergency Care, Primary Health Care, Dental Care, Physiotherapy, Mental Health Support and Environmental Health Care.

The Regiment's capabilities are manned by medical personnel from the Royal Army Medical Corps, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps and Royal Army Dental Corps, and supported by specialist personnel from the Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support), Royal Engineers and Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

The Regiment is able to deploy a highly qualified medical force in support of personnel from 1 (United Kingdom) Division at short notice. Clinical personnel are trained to deliver the highest possible standards of deployed medical care wherever it is needed worldwide.

The Regiment currently has personnel deployed supporting a wide range of Defence Engagement activity around the world as well as ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.