HMS Sherwood is set to receive the Freedom of the City and to mark the occasion a parade is being organised.
The rare honour will be presented by Nottingham City Council.
The official scroll presentation will take place next Monday at a Full Council meeting, which will then be followed by a Freedom Parade in Nottingham this summer.
HMS Sherwood is the East Midlands’ only Royal Naval Reserve unit and was founded in 1940.
The Freedom of the City is an honour reserved for the military and gives the units being awarded the opportunity to march through Nottingham.
Past recipients of the Freedom of the City have been:
- 1945: The Sherwood Foresters
- 1970: The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
- 2007: The Mercian Regiment
- 2011: East Midlands Universities Air Squadron
- 2012: 73rd Engineer Regiment (Volunteers)
- 2014: E Battery Royal Horse Artillery
Lieutenant Commander Rod Grant from HMS Sherwood said: “We are immensely proud to receive the award. To receive this fantastic accolade is extremely rare, particularly for a Royal Naval Reserve unit like HMS Sherwood.
“We plan to march through the city with the Band’s drums beating, colours flying, and our bayonets fixed. It would be great if members of the public do turn out to support us, we will be publicising the route of the parade closer to the time so people will know where to stand to witness this special day.”
The date of the Freedom of the City event is yet to be confirmed, but members of the public will be invited to see the military parade make its way through the city of Nottingham.
Councillor Brian Grocock, Nottingham City Council’s Armed Forces champion, said: “The granting of the Freedom of the City is a ceremonial honour, and the oldest and highest civic honour that can be bestowed on a military unit and it is such an honour and privilege to be part of this momentous occasion.
“I would encourage residents, business owners and visitors to come and embrace the event and enjoy the background of our beautiful city while supporting the sailors.”
Recent Honorary Freemen of the City include boxer Carl Froch, Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir Colin Campbell and chemist Dr Stewart Adams.
