Royal Naval Reserve HMS Forward awarded Freedom of Wolverhampton - PICTURES and VIDEO

HMS Forward was granted the Freedom of Entry to the City of Wolverhampton at a special ceremony on Saturday.

HMS Forward, based in Birmingham, regularly visits and supports military events across the city – and is often seen in parades at Armed Forces Day and Remembrance celebrations.

WATCH: Highlights of the parade

In addition, the Commanding Officer and Staff Officer accommodate invitations from the Mayor of Wolverhampton’s office to provide a senior Naval Officer for all military events, as well as supporting the Royal British Legion with its annual Poppy Appeal in the city centre.

Freedom of Entry is granted to service units who have “rendered conspicuous service” and are closely associated with the city. It allows the unit to march through the streets of the city with “bayonets fixed, swords drawn, drums beating and colours flying”.

A short presentation ceremony – where the freedom scroll was presented to the unit – was held in St Peter's Square on Saturday, before the unit formed a parade which marched through Lich Gates, Lichfield Street, Market Street, Queen Street, Dudley Street Cheapside and back at St Peter's Square.

Warrant Officer First Class Stephen Bland, who will retire from HMS Forward in three weeks, received the freedom scroll before parading through the streets.

He said: "I have only got three weeks left in service and it was an honour to be part of the ceremony. For the unit, it it an excellent opportunity to forge and make a relationship with Wolverhampton.

"There's a big Royal Navy presence in Wolverhampton and this cements to start of that journey.

"It was so special for me to be part of that and receive the scroll and march it through the city – it is the biggest honour of my career which started in 1977."

The Commanding Officer of HMS Forward, Commander Philip Sparke, said: "It is a huge privilege for HMS Forward to be granted Freedom of the City of Wolverhampton. This is an honour that British cities have bestowed on naval and military units for hundreds of years and we are thrilled to be part of that continuing tradition.

"HMS Forward hugely values its relationship with the City of Wolverhampton, and I hope that Saturday’s ceremony will cement that for very many years to come."

Royal Marines Brigadier Jock Fraser, Naval Regional Commander Wales and Western England, said: "It has been a real privilege to be in Wolverhampton and to meet Royal Navy Reservists from HMS Forward who have proudly participated in this very special occasion. Gaining the Freedom of a City is a tremendous honour.

“The presence of the Mayor and so many members of the public here in Wolverhampton city centre highlights the fantastic support that the Royal Navy and Royal Marines continue to enjoy from the people of Wolverhampton.”

The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Claire Darke, added: "It is an incredible honour to be able to grant HMS Forward Freedom of Entry to our city.

"It is crucial that we collectively recognise the commitment of a unit which has gone above and beyond in its service to Wolverhampton for the past two decades."

Despite its distance from the sea, HMS Forward has a large naval footprint and is an important training facility providing training and skills to 150 Royal Navy Reservists and Royal Marine Reserves who live in the West Midlands are when they are not serving overseas.

HMS Forward's training centre was officially opened in 1999 by HRH the Princess Royal Princess Anne.