03/05/12…UP DATE: Duchess wins the hearts of Thame

MORE pictures available of yesterday’s Freedom ceremony and royl visit: LINK HERE

FOR the people of Thame, two new bonds of friendship have been forged today, after HRH Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, accepted the Freedom of Entry to the town on behalf of RAF Halton.

In a spectacular ceremony which brought hundreds of local people of all ages to the town centre, a military band and body of airmen and women marched firstly in silence from the Southern Road recreation area, into the town centre. The Duchess, dressed in an ?air force’ blue outfit and matching hat, was then presented with a framed scroll by the Mayor of Thame, looking splendid in a red robe.

Once the Freedom of the Town had been accepted, the parade lined up in ranks and drew their bayonets from sheaths behinds their back with a syncronised and audible ?swish? that cut through the silent, grey air.

Now they were free to bear arms through the town and they exercised their ceremonial rights by marching, bearing arms at the ready, along the Upper High Street to the War Memorial and back again to the town hall, with George the Mascot goat, taking up the rear.

As the Duchess spoke to local forces veterans proudly sporting their medals, in the crowd on-lookers were wondering whether the Duchess would come over and speak to them. To the delight of all, she strolled, smiling, firstly over to the groups of very excited but well-behaved primary school children where she leaned over and chatted casually to several of them, before moving on to talk to the delighted crowds lining the High Street.

After meeting Thame Town Councillors and dignitaries from both the county and the district councils in the council chamber, the Duchess, by now wearing a warm, black cape, walked over to the Spread Eagle Hotel for a reception and refreshments with invited special guests from among Thame?s citizenry.

Among the officers from RAF Halton, was Chief Technician Martin Glenn, who grew up in Thame, and went to Lord Williams?s school. Martin still lives in the town with his young family, and manages to juggle the military and family life by commuting to RAF Halton. He has been deployed both in the Falkland Islands and Bahrain and as well as regularly helping out on field weeks at both John Hampden School and Lord Williams?s, is the Adjutant of Thame Air Cadets.

He told Thamenews.net: ?I volunteered to join the parade today because of my close connection with the town, and I must admit, as we turned the corner out of Southern Road, and I saw all the school children waving their flags and cheering, it brought a lump to my throat. It is such an honour to be able to parade in my home town ? and particularly in front of Royalty, which makes it an even more special occasion.?

May 2, 2012, is a day that Thame will never forget, and an event that will be treasured, particularly by those 800 school children, whose memory of a two hour wait in the cold, will soon be replaced by their encounter with a ?warm and friendly lady ? as one of the mums described Camilla.

As Honorary Air Commodore, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall herself said, the whole town looks forward to ?a close and enduring relationship? between Thame and the 2,000 personnel from all three services at RAF Halton. But it is clear that a special relationship between the people of Thame and the duchess herself has also been formed from today.