Warm welcome for troops at Tewkesbury home-coming.
PATRIOTIC fervour swept through Tewkesbury as soldiers back from Afghanistan marched through the town.
Hundreds of people lined the High Street and Church Street as 240 troops, mostly from the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), enjoyed a rapturous reception at their homecoming event yesterday.
People left shops and offices, waved the Union Flag, applauded and cheered as the troops made their way through the town.
With the police temporarily holding back traffic to allow for the march, the town centre ground to a halt.
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And following the parade, a medals presentation was made at Imjin Barracks by the Duke of Gloucestershire.
Residents and civic dignitaries were thrilled at being able to show their appreciation of the difficult and dangerous job their armed forces have been doing abroad on their country's behalf.
Jim Poppy, who runs Barton Street News in Tewkesbury, said: "I think it's brilliant. I've been looking forward to it for a few days. It's great that Tewkesbury is doing something to show its support for them. It's about time we honoured them for what they've done."
The soldiers, based at the ARRC's headquarters at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, were led through the town by a military band from the British Army's Parachute Regiment.
A salute was taken outside the abbey by the Duke of Gloucester in his role as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps.
Major Chris Hyde, ARRC spokesman, said: "I'm really impressed that a lot of people turned out. It means a lot. It means everything we do in a combat environment matters."
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