The Royal Navy Submarine Service is to exercise its Freedom of the Borough of Barrow on Saturday 11 June.
Having been invited to do so by Barrow Borough Council, the submariners will conduct a parade to mark the 15th anniversary of the honour originally bestowed at the centenary of the Submarine Service in 2001.
The parade will commence at 11am from Town Quay and proceed to the Town Hall via Schneider Square, Town Square, Duke Street, Ramsden Square and Duke Street.
It will be led by the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, a 24-man Guard, Colour and Casket party with further marching platoons being drawn from HMS Audacious, HMS Astute, HMS Torbay, HMS Vanguard, HMS Victorious and HMS Sultan
Mine Counter Measure Vessel HMS Ramsey, which will berth at Town Quay, will be open to the public on June 11th and 12th, as will a Naval Recruiting Village next to the ship.
As well as participating in the parade, the Royal Marines band will be performing a public concert in the Forum Theatre at 3pm on the Saturday.
Tickets are on sale and can be booked online via the Forum website at www.theforumbarrow.co.uk.
Rear Admiral John Weale, Head of the UK Submarine Service, said: “Barrow in Furness sits at the heart of the UK’s scientific and technological community that keeps the Royal Navy on the leading edge of global submarine and nuclear technologies.
“The Borough and the Royal Navy have worked closely together for more than a century: from HMS Holland 4 and HMS A1 being laid down in 1902, through the Swiftsure and Trafalgar class boat builds of the 1970s and 80s, and now the town is building our seven 21st Century Astute class submarines – arguably the most capable attack submarine in the world.
“This strategic partnership between Barrow and ourselves will continue for decades to come. Having previously built the Vanguard class of submarine, we can anticipate decades of future work as the town readies itself to build the Successor class of submarine, which are due to come in to service in the early 2030s.”
Mayor of Barrow in Furness, Councillor Anita Husband, said: “We are delighted to welcome HMS Ramsey to Barrow in Furness, and we are particularly proud that the Submarine Service is parading in the town to celebrate their Freedom of the Borough.”
