Honiton to roll out the red carpet for Royal Marines
Huge celebrations planned to support March for Honour.
HONITON is planning to roll out the red carpet and lay on a reception everybody is invited to - to welcome the March for Honour to town.
A group of very special Royal Marines will be stopping overnight in Honiton on November 5, during their epic march from Plymouth Hoe to Wootton Bassett, where they will meet up with teams representing the Army, RAF and Royal Navy, before marching on to the Festival of Remembrance, at the Royal Albert Hall.
Led by Lance Corporal Ram Patten, who hopes the march will raise �1m for the Royal British Legion, the walkers will be greeted with a fanfare of celebrations, including a civic reception at the Royal British Legion. Everybody is invited to meet the walkers at the Legion afterwards.
The stop-off in Honiton is extra special, because Honiton businessman Alan Rowe MBE is a patron of the March for Honour.
“I want people to come out and welcome them,” he said.
“These guys are doing something really special and it will be good for the town if we can show our appreciation.”
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Mr Rowe is also the founder of the Baton charity and the marchers will be carrying the symbolic message during their journey.
The marchers will enter the Royal Albert Hall carrying the Baton in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
In Honiton, MEP Giles Chichester is expected to greet the guests with the mayor, Councillor Peter Fleming.
The March for Honour is expected to arrive in Exeter Road, Honiton, at around 7pm. The party will march to High Street and then turn into Dowell Street.
Otter Nurseries has supplied large water butts so ice baths can be provided for the walkers.
“I want the townspeople to come out and meet the marchers,” said Mr Rowe.
“I want residents to shake their hands and tell them what a good job they are doing.”
Army and Air Training Corps cadets will play a leading role in the celebrations.
Lance Corporal Patten suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after returning from a deployment in Afghanistan. He hopes the March for Honour will raise awareness.
“I want to emphasise that every serviceman and woman who serves in Her Majesty’s forces is valued and will always be remembered,” he said.
The March for Honour has been endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron, who met Ram at Number 10 Downing Street.
