The company of HMS BULWARK will perform a spectacular Freedom of the City parade through the centre of Durham on Friday as part of a three day visit to the region, renewing affiliations and friendships with the City and County of Durham.
The Devonport-based amphibious assault ship will arrive alongside in Sunderland on Wednesday 20 July and over the next few days will take the opportunity to renew friendships with the many groups in the area associated with the ship’s affiliation to the City and County of Durham.
On Friday 22 July at 1030, the Ship’s Company will exercise the Freedom of the City of Durham, with some 300 sailors and marines, led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (Portsmouth), proudly marching through the city to Palace Green with “swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying”. The Freedom Parade will culminate with a service in Durham Cathedral.
Chairman of Durham County Council, Councillor Edward Bell, said: “The Freedom Parade is a great tradition between Durham and HMS Bulwark and it is with great pride that we welcome the ship’s company back to Durham. It is quite a sight to behold seeing the company parading from the Racecourse through our historic city’s streets up to Palace Green and we hope that visitors and local people alike will line the streets of the city centre for this colourful parade, which always draws the crowds.”
Captain James Parkin, the Captain of HMS BULWARK said, “Bringing HMS BULWARK to the North East is like taking the ship home. Getting reacquainted with so many friends of the ship in Durham and then exercising the Freedom of Durham promises to make a very exciting and special week for everyone in HMS BULWARK. This will, of course, be the final time for some 6 years that HMS BULWARK will be able to visit the north east as we hand the baton of Fleet Amphibious Flagship to HMS ALBION in 2017 before the ship enters reserve and subsequently refit.”
On completion of the three day visit, HMS BULWARK will return to Plymouth for a period of leave and, in the autumn, will lead the Royal Navy’s Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) deployment to the Mediterranean and beyond. HMS BULWARK will return to the UK before Christmas and commence the process of handing over duties as Fleet Amphibious Flagship to sister ship HMS ALBION.