Members of the military and invited guests have attended an event hosted by Farnham Town Council to mark Armed Forces Day.
Representatives from the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, the Army Benevolent Fund, Royal British Legion and 229 Air Squadron Air Training Corps joined the Mayor of Farnham, members of Farnham Lions, Farnham Town Councillors and Freeman of Farnham, Sir Ray Tindle CBE DL to observe the commemoration of service men and women in military service.
Cllr Jeremy Ricketts, Mayor of Farnham told how in 2010 his predecessor Lucinda Fleming, the borough mayor and Waverley town mayors signed a bond of friendship to express gratitude for the bravery and dedication of the troops serving in the 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (3PWRR). He described how the bond ‘affirmed continued support for the Regiment and a wish to develop ever-closer links between the whole Borough and the Regiment’.
He added: “Flying the flag during Armed Forces week is a symbol of our friendship. This ceremony builds on the close relationships between Farnham and the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment the Tigers) and we are delighted to be home to what is now Surrey’s only Reserves Centre.”
On behalf of the people of Farnham, the Mayor presented a gavel to Captain Willie McKean, who was representing Lieutenant Colonel John Baynham the Commanding Officer of 3PWRR.
Captain McKean expressed his gratitude for the strong links Farnham has with the regiment and for the continued support given by the people of Farnham. He said he was delighted to receive the new gavel and that it would be ‘used vigorously’ at 3PWRR events!