Freedom of the city for Royal Marines

Birmingham: The Royal Marines received the Freedom of the City of Birmingham during a special ceremony in Victoria Square today (24 February). Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Anne Underwood, presented the honour to Major General Charlie Stickland, Commandant General of the Royal Marines, before the unit paraded through the city centre.The Royal Marines are the 16th armed forces unit to receive the Freedom of the City, which means that they can “march with drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and bayonets fixed.”The ceremony was followed by a parade along Waterloo Street and Temple Row to the Cathedral, then along Colmore Row back into Victoria Square.Also were present Lord Liutenenan West Midlands Mr John Crabtree OBE, Former Lord Lieutenant West Midlands Paul Sabapathy, Colonel Richard Maybery, Deputy Commander of Donnington, Telford, based 11 the Signal and West Midlands Brigade, Dr.Beverley Lindsay DL OD, Martin Levemore MBE FRSA and others. Report by S M Irfan Tahir Photojournalist / Member National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Great Britain.