Bedale march by RAF Leeming regiment postponed (From The Northern Echo)

Bedale march by RAF Leeming regiment postponed

12:32pm Tuesday 15th December 2009 in

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A HOMECOMING parade that was to be attended by more than 150 military personnel and thousands of members of the public has been postponed, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Members of 2 Force Protection Wing, RAF Regiment, based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, were due to march through the nearby market town of Bedale on Friday, after seven months in Afghanistan.

"We very much value the support of the local community in preparing for the parade and thank members of the public for their patience and understanding."

Group Captain William Gibson

The entire Bedale community was being encouraged to support the event, which was due to conclude with a medal presentation outside Bedale Hall.

"We very much value the support of the local community in preparing for the parade and thank members of the public for their patience and understanding."

Group Captain William Gibson

Bedale mayor Wanda Reynolds said she received a message, informing the town council of the postponement, on Monday evening.

More than 1,500 schoolchildren were expected to line the streets of Bedale for the event, along with members of the public The RAF said the event, which has been several months in the planning, was postponed because of "operational reasons".

The return from Afghanistan of servicemen and women that were due to parade through the town is understood to have been delayed because of a hold-up over aircraft slots.

Group Captain William Gibson, station commander at RAF Leeming, said: "Regrettably, the homecoming parade for 2 Force Protection Wing Headquarters and 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, planned for Friday, has had to be postponed until the new year due to operational reasons which have delayed the unit's return until later this week.

"We very much value the support of the local community in preparing for the parade and thank members of the public for their patience and understanding.

"We look forward to the safe return of the gunners later this week, and to formally welcoming them home, in a homecoming parade, in Bedale, in January."

Coun Reynolds said an "enormous amount" of planning had taken place for the now-postponed event.

She said: "It is tremendously disappointing, but it is being re-arranged.

"The personnel will still be home for Christmas, but not in time for the parade.

"There has been an enormous amount of preparation, from the RAF, North Yorkshire Police, the county highways department and ourselves, the town council, as the event's host.

"We will just have to re-arrange, and hope that the plans that were in place for Friday will be suitable for January."

* The parade was to have had added poignancy for the unit, which lost one of its members, Corporal Marcin Wojtak, in an explosion in Afghanistan, in October.