Mercians receive Freedom Scroll

During Southwell’s remembrance commemorations, the town council presented a scroll granting the Freedom of Southwell to a representative of the 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters).

The council was believed to be the first parish or town to grant the freedom to the Mercians when they took advantage of a change in the law in 2010 allowing them to do so.

The remembrance event commemorated the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One, 70 years since the D-Day landings and the conclusion of combat operations in Afghanistan for UK troop. As such it was a particularly fitting occasion for the presentation to take place as two members of the Mercian Regiment served three tours of duty fighting in Afghanistan.

Picture caption: Chairman of Southwell Town Council, Charley Pierpoint presenting the scroll to Corporal Philip Thornton.