Freedom of Aberdeenshire

Freedom of Aberdeenshire

Saturday 11 May 2024

An exciting weekend of activity is planned to celebrate the links between Aberdeenshire and the Armed Forces.

Aberdeenshire Council agreed to grant the Freedom of Aberdeenshire to The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) last year and as part of the proposal was a weekend of activity which will see significant parades in three towns.

The main event takes place in Peterhead on Saturday 11th May where the official Freedom will be conferred on the regiment by the Provost of Aberdeenshire. A community event will be held at Drummers Corner, starting in the morning. At this, a range of military organisations will have a presence, including the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Air, Sea and Army Cadets and Veterans organisations.
At 12noon – as many as 150 troops from The Royal Regiment of Scotland will begin to parade through the streets of the town. There will be the regimental marching troops, pipes and drums, colour party plus the mascot Shetland pony.

The following day (Sun 12th May) the Regiment will parade in Alford and Laurencekirk. Again, all 150 of the troops are expected and will be joined in each location by veterans, cadets and other groups such as Scouts. The parades will begin at Alford Community Campus at 10am, and then at Mearns Community Campus at 1.30pm. Both parades will take the troops through the centre of the towns.