A FREEDOM Parade in honour of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is to be held in Kendal next month.

Kendal Town Council has revealed the first freedom march for eight years will take place on Saturday, March 16, followed by a thanksgiving service at Kendal Parish Church.

The Freedom of Kendal was granted to the regiment’s forerunner, the Border Regiment in 1947. The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment last exercised its right to march through Kendal in April 2011. Around 120 members of the 4 Lancs Battalion, accompanied by the Band of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, will be on parade. It will commence at 11.10am through the town and be followed by a thanksgiving service at noon. The return parade will start at around 13.15pm with the inspection outside Kendal Library. Members of the public are invited to line the streets to welcome the regiment and to attend the service.

Rolling road closures will be in place between 10.45am and 14.30pm, although these are likely to be no more than two periods of 25 minutes.

Kendal Mayor Guy Tirvengadum said: “This is a great opportunity to give the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment a very warm welcome to Kendal and thank them for their services which will never be forgotten.”

Brigadier Frazer Lawrence, Colonel of the Regiment said “The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment has long and close associations with Kendal, which we cherish and look forward to continuing. It is therefore a great honour and privilege for us to exercise our Freedom by marching through the town. It provides a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to the people of Kendal, for the enduring support they show to our soldiers, no matter where they are serving; be it here at home or overseas. We’re very much looking forward to what will be a memorable day.”

Kendal Parish Church is home to the Border Regiment chapel, and houses the colours of the 55th (Westmorland) Regiment. Rev Rob Saner-Haigh said “We very much look forward to welcoming the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment to Kendal Parish Church for this service as part of the Freedom Parade in Kendal. As the home of the Border Regiment Chapel, one of the forerunners of the current regiment, it is a chance for us to welcome them home and to pray for them.”