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Past
Events
Listed here are some featured Pioneer events.
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march past |
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Royal Guard and March Past - 8th June
1989 |
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After months of planning, reces and several
dawn rehearsals, with hours of bulling boots, pressing uniforms
and the last hour arrival of new buttons behind them, 200
and more officers and men of the Corps were ready for the
big day. Thursday June 8 dawned, the day the Corps
was to provide a Royal Guard of Honour for the visit to Northampton
of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales,
and later at the Guildhall, to March past Princess Diana,
who as Northamptonshire's most famous daughter, was to receive
the Freedom of the Borough.
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The Guard of Honour, commanded
by Major Hardy, was drawn up outside the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre, where Their Royal Highnesses were to attend a Service
of Thanksgiving as part of Northampton's 800th Anniversary Charter
celebrations, and to open the biennial Flower Festival.
Looking very pretty in pink, the Princess
of Wales arrived in a blaze of sunshine at the start of an
historic day. Accompanied by Lt Col Baird, her Royal Highness
then inspected the Guard of Honour, making it a memorable
day for those she stopped and chatted to.
The Royal couple entered the church, where
Earl and Countess Spencer and other members of Her Royal Highness'
family were already seated, to a a fanfare. After the service,
during which Prince Charles read one of the lessons, Major
Elliott, the Corps Secretary, had the honour of showing Their
Highnesses the Corps Silver which was display in the Regimental
Chapel.
• Escorted by Lt Col Baird the
Princess inspects her Royal Guard
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the Royal Guard and the street-lining party marched down to
Bridge Street to join the rest of the parade and prepare for
the March Past. Light refreshments were served by the hotels
and cafes on the route, a very thoughtful gesture by the people
who had complained at being woken at dawn during the rehearsals. |
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On arrival at the Guildhall Their Royal Highnesses were introduced
to the Colonel Commandant, General Sir John Stibbon and his
wife Lady Jean Stibbon and the DAPL, Brigadier Higginbotham
and his wife, before the Princess stepped on to the dais with
the Mayor of Northampton.
Led by the Band of 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regt,
the parade rounded the corner to the enthusiastic applause
of the large crowd who had waited patiently for many hours.
Amongst the crowds were many proud wives, mothers, children
and friends, and they had much to be proud of.
• HRH Princess Diana chatting to the Lord Lieutenant,
in the background Pte Williams and LCpl
Burke
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The parade, immaculately turned out, marched with bayonets
fixed as is their right since the Corps was granted its Freedom
of the Borough in 1984. A smart eyes left for the Princess
flanked by the Axe-bearers concluded the formal part of the
day for the Corps.
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Everyone then returned to Simpson Barracks, to an All-Ranks
party in the Soldiers Dining Room. There was much talk of
what the Princess had said and who had spotted who in the
crowds. Many of those who had been off duty and had watched
the parade had already had their photographs developed, and
were handing them around. The nerves and tension now gone,
everyone relaxed, and enjoyed the buffet, provided by Staff
Penn and his team, while listening to The Anglian Band who
played in a marquee erected alongside the Dining Room.
• The Ceremonial Lances,
Axes and Pioneer Sword
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| It was a memorable
day, particularly enjoyable because the party brought together
so many of the Corps, something that happens much too rarely.
As a footnote, during the Flower Festival, we took turns looking
after the Corps Silver at the Church and we were told by several
members of the public how proud they had been of the soldiers
on parade, and that they were a credit to the town. So, from
all who watched you, ourselves included - 'well done, guys!'. |
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• 521 Coy |
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• Marching
on led by the Band of
3rd Battalion Royal Anglian Regt. |
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• 518 Coy |
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• Lt Col
Baird leads the March Past |
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• The Pioneer
Volunteers provided
the ushers inside the church.
Sgt Hampton of 68 Coy (V). |
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• Inspecting
the Guard. |
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• Princess
Diana has a
bit of a word with Cpl Wood |
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• Inspecting
the Guard. |
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