No sooner have we had the Torbay Airshow and the RAF are coming to Torquay Town Centre.
RAF Brize Norton, based in Oxfordshire, is the largest RAF station in the UK.
The station has approximately 5,800 service personnel, 1,200 contractors and 300 civilian staff.
RAF Brize Norton will be granted the Honorary Freedom of Torbay on Thursday 21st June 2018.
Parade through Torquay Town Centre
A ceremonial service will be held at 13:00 outside Torquay Town hall, which will give, by tradition, the service personnel the right and honour to march through the Borough bearing arms.
The route will start at the Town Hall.
The service personnel will then march down Union Street and Fleet Walk, turning left and then right at the Clocktower.
The personnel will then march along the seafront promenade to the right of the Princess Theatre.
Of course no parade, especially one which is for the RAF, would be complete without a special RAF Flypast.
Timings are to be confirmed in due course.
The Honorary Freedom of Torbay
Elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver said:
The Honorary Freedom of Torbay gives the service personnel of RAF Brize Norton the right and honour to march through the Borough bearing arms led by the Band of the RAF Regiment.
I am very pleased the Council has responded positively to my initiative to recognise and thank the Royal Air Force for keeping us safe and free and giving us the opportunity to say a really big thank you and well done. We are indeed very proud of the service.
We are delighted to receive the service personnel from RAF Brize Norton and look forward to the ceremonial service and parade through the town. This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Torbay to say their big thank you to all the past and present personnel of RAF Brize Norton. We are extremely grateful for the service that they provided for this country
Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Nicole Amil said:
This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the links between Torbay and the Royal Air Force, particularly in their centenary year. We look forward to welcoming the personnel at this special ceremonial service and parade through the town
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton is home to the RAF’s Strategic and Tactical Air Transport (AT) & Air-to-Air Refuelling  (AAR).
The station is also host to many lodger and reserve units.
Thanks to its mixed aircraft, RAF Brize Norton provides rapid global mobility in support of UK overseas operations and exercises.
As well as AAR support for fast jet aircraft both on operation and in support of UK Homeland Defence.
Road Closures
Unfortunately there will be a number of road closures on the 21st June, these include:
Parking Suspensions will be in place from Castle Circus, Union Street and Torbay Road.
There will also be additional parking suspensions from Abbey Sands to Princess Gardens between 10am and 3pm.
The Town Hall Car Park will also be closed from 7am to 5pm.
Full road closures will be in effect between 12:40pm and 1:00pm at Tematon Avenue.
After 1pm traffic along Lymington Road and Castle Circus will be diverted up St Marychurch Road.
Recommendation is to avoid these roads during this time and allow for extra time for their journey.
