A PARADE to mark the 90th anniversary of Royal Air Force Uxbridge took place yesterday.

The Freedom Parade, in Uxbridge High Street, was attended by Councillor Catherine Dann, the Mayor of Hillingdon, and was watched shoppers as it made its way through the town centre.

Despite the damp weather the celebration march included more than 70 personnel from the Royal Air Force Central Band and the Queens' Colour Squadron.

Station Commander, Wing Commander Stuart Lindsay, said: "I was delighted to see so many people watching this event and it was good to see that the weather didn't stop the local population showing their gratitude to the personnel who serve at Royal Air Force Uxbridge in this special 90th year of the station."

The force was invited by Cllr Dann to excercise its "freedom" within the borough.

The freedom scroll reads: "The borough had conferred upon the Officer Commanding and all ranks of the RAF for the time being and from time to time stationed at Uxbridge the privilege and honour henceforth and forever of marching through the streets of the borough of Uxbridge on all ceremonial occasions with drums beating, bands playing, colours flying, swords drawn and bayonets fixed."

Cllr Dann, said: "I was very pleased to participate in this ceremonial occasion when RAF Uxbridge exercised its right to march through the town centre."