The 1st Rifles exercised their Freedom of the Borough of Poole last Sunday (17th June) by marching through the town.

Welcomed by hundreds of members of the public, as well as the town's council and Mayor, the Rifles paraded along the Quay and came to a halt in front of the Customs House.

Poole's Mayor Carol Evans addressed the Parade and read aloud the freedom scroll before handing it to Brigadier Richard Toomey CBE.

Brigadier Toomey then presented a silver bugle to the Mayor in commemoration of the granting of the freedom.

Also present was James Gibson Fleming ESQ DL, Her Majesty's Vice Lord- Lieutenant of Dorset.

The Rifles was formed in 2007 from an amalgamation of four famous regiments: The Devon and Dorsets, the Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshires, the Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets.

The Regiment is keen to keep close links with the counties it originates from, including Dorset. It was granted the Freedom of Poole at a ceremony in 2010 and Sunday's parade was the first time it has exercised this honour.

Also on parade and Sounding Retreat were the Waterloo Band and Bugles.