In training for 'biggest ever parade'

8:57am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A GRAND ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force will take place next Friday on the eve of the annual Air Tattoo weekend.

Air force chiefs, who have been meticulously planning the event for weeks, say it is the largest parade in terms of manpower that the RAF has ever performed.

Over 800 RAF personnel, made up of electricians, chefs, drivers and other tradesmen from across the country, have been put through their paces by drill sergeants keen to perfect the marching ahead of the big day.

RAF Innsworth is one base where hundreds of the personnel, most of them young and fresh out of basic training, have been whipped into shape carrying eight kilo rifles for many hours each day for the last few days. So far two have had to pull out through minor injuries.

Speaking from the parade ground at RAF Innsworth this week, Fly Sergeant John Lynch said: "It's very demanding for them. The rifle itself is fairly heavy and some of them are not as tall as we would like them to be and we don't have time to take that into account.

"But they have to learn it and they have to struggle through. We have lost a couple through injury and it's a shame for them because everyone wants to be involved and they do enjoy it."

Senior Air Craftsman Mathew Whiteside was shipped from RAF Brize Norton in Wiltshire to take part in the parade.

The 22-year-old said: "It's but it's going to be one of those things that you look back on and are very grateful for the opportunity to take part.

"I'm very chuffed but it's very tiring as I haven't marched since I was at basic."

Rehearsals have been taking place on other RAF bases across the country and on Monday 90 aircraft will swoop over the Cotswolds during a practice run which will be repeated for the ceremony.

The parade will be witnessed by 5,000 invited guest where the Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, will present new Queen's Colours to both the Royal Air Force in the UK and the Royal Air Force Regiment.

The flypast will then take place and will be the largest since the flypast to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 1990, when 168 flew over Buckingham Palace.

To see pictures of the flypast and for our coverage of the Royal International Air Tattoo weekend visit www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk next week.