Warm welcome for RAF Brize Norton despite the drizzle

All eyes were turned to the skies in Exeter this lunchtime (Monday 21 October) when a four-engined Hercules Transporter aircraft made a low level fly past over Exeter to mark the start of the Freedom of the City ceremony for RAF Brize Norton. Despite the poor visibility, meaning that it was only visible for moments before disappearing into low cloud, and the constant drizzle of rain, the fly past was warmly cheered by a slightly damp but enthusiastic crowd.

Over 100 serving Airmen from RAF Brize Norton, accompanied by the Band of the RAF Regiment, marched through Exeter city centre before stopping at the junction of Bedford Street and the High Street, where they were inspected by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Rachel Lyons, the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Sir Eric Dancer, and the Base Commander, Group Captain Eddie Cole.

After a short ceremony where the Lord Mayor handed over the Freedom of the City scroll and expressed how pleased she was to be involved with such an occasion and thanked the crowds for turning out despite the rain, the Airmen fixed bayonets to their rifles, unfurled their colours and prepared to march off.

Also present at the ceremony was Deputy Lord Mayor Rob Hannaford, local dignitaries and Nine-year-old Ellie Carey from Bowhill School, who had won the honour of being Mini Lord Mayor for the day thanks to a competition organised by Exeter City Council as part of Local Democracy Week (14 to 18 October).

Cllr Rachel Lyons, Lord Mayor of Exeter told The Exeter Daily: "I was very pleased today to confer the Freedom of the City on RAF Brize Norton today. It was suggested by residents of Exeter, and the circle of all the armed forces having this will be completed when the honour is bestowed on HMS Defender next February. Today, despite the rain, there was a great feeling of friendship between the city and Brize Norton, which I hope will flourish in the future."

Were you there? What was your enduring memory of the event? Send us your comments and photos of the ceremony to ted@thedailyuk.com