CROWDS of well-wishers came together in Wokingham to bid a fond farewell to the REME garrison.

CROWDS of well-wishers came together in Wokingham to bid a fond farewell to the REME garrison.

Crowds packed the streets to watch a 300-strong delegation from the garrison parade through the town.

<img style="width: 500px; height: 464.1666666666667px;" src="/media/1224/147300b09_0_c1265657_15615_.jpg?width=500&height=464.1666666666667" alt="undefined" rel="108063" /> The garrison paraded behind their brass band, halting in Broad Street in front of dignitaries including town mayor Philip Mirfin and REME Master General Lieutenant General Andrew Figgures.

Cllr Mirfin said: “It was a wonderful day and also a very sad day for the town.

“It was a pleasure to welcome back people who had been involved in past parades.

<img style="width: 500px; height: 432.08333333333337px;" src="/media/1227/147300b19_c1265667_15615_28.jpg?width=500&height=432.08333333333337" alt="undefined" rel="108064" /> "Some soldiers had been involved in the first parade. The Deputy Lieutenant had been a CO at REME too.” The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is moving to its new home at Lyneham in Wiltshire later this year but says it may use the freedom of the town again in the future.

Cllr Mirfin said the garrison wasn’t ending its association with the town.He said the garrison had given artifacts from the REME museum to the newly-named REME room in the town hall.

He added that the council and the unit were looking at ways to keep ties between them strong, including having soldiers attend the town for remembrance events in the future.

The garrison paraded through Peach Street and Broad Street on Sunday, June 14. The first freedom parade was 37 years ago in 1978.

<img style="width: 500px; height: 496.25px;" src="/media/1226/147300b12_c1265660_15615_31.jpg?width=500&height=496.25" alt="undefined" rel="108066" /> The day ended with a second parade to All Saints Church, where a special service was held.