Fredom and Covenant parade in Swindon
Two army squadrons marched through the centre of Swindon to mark the 70th anniversary of a landmark battle and the signing of an Armed Forces Community Covenant. The A Squadron Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and B Squadron the Royal Wessex Yeomanry took part in a parade on Sunday, 21 October to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the second battle of El Alamein. The squadrons were welcomed by the Mayor of Swindon Cllr Mick Bray and will be joined by the Band of the Royal Yeomanry, the Isambard School Detachment of the Army Cadet Force and Members of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Association.
The parade exercised the Freedom of the Borough conferred on the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry by the Borough of Swindon on 4th July 2002 and will also mark the signing of an Armed Forces Community Covenant.
The Armed Forces Community Covenant is being set up between the council, NHS Swindon, representatives of the charitable and voluntary sectors, the civilian community of the borough and the Armed Forces community in the borough of Swindon.
The covenant aims to encourage all parties within a community to offer support to the local Armed Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support available from the MOD, from statutory providers and from the charitable and voluntary sector. The scheme is intended to be a two-way arrangement and the Armed Forces community are encouraged to do as much as they can to support their community and promote activity which integrates the Service community into civilian life.