Nottingham’s finest
Nottingham postwoman and Royal Navy reservist Lauren Jackson has been granted the Freedom of the City of Nottingham – a rare honour.
Lauren, of Eastwood delivery office, is a member of the Royal Naval Reserve unit based at HMS Sherwood in the city. HMS Sherwood, the East Midlands’ only Royal Naval Reserve unit, received the Freedom of the City of Nottingham, from Nottingham City Council.
The Freedom of the City is an honour reserved for military units and gives the unit being awarded the opportunity to parade through Nottingham.
Lauren and her unit marched through the city with their swords drawn, colours flying and bayonets fixed, as members of the public applauded their progress through the streets.
They were joined by local sea cadets, members of HM Royal Marines Reserve and the official band of the Royal Marines, Portsmouth (Royal Band) as well as veterans who have served with the Royal Navy.
The veterans who took part all have an association with Nottingham, either having served on board the previous Type 42 destroyer of the same name, or were attached to HMS Sherwood in the past.
‘The freedom of the city parade was fantastic,’ said Lauren. ‘It was great to be a part of it. I was also lucky enough to be interviewed before the event by our own Royal Navy media coverage team and then after the event I had an interview with ITV Central News, which was really interested to hear about my job as a postwoman.’
Cllr Brian Grocock, Nottingham City Council’s armed forces champion, said: ‘The granting of the Freedom of the City is a ceremonial honour, and the oldest and highest civic honour that can be bestowed on a military unit. Iit was such an honour and privilege to be part of a momentous occasion.’
Celebrating Reserves Day
Royal Mail actively supports colleagues who are reservists for the UK Armed Forces.
We have around 220 military reservists – one of the largest groups in the country – who combine working for us with protecting their country at home and overseas.
Our association with reservists stretches back across our 500-year history. We continue to do as much as we can to uphold this proud tradition of supporting armed forces personnel and their families, as well as those who have left the services.
This year, Reserves Day is being celebrated on Wednesday 27 June – an opportunity for all Royal Mail reservists to proudly wear their uniforms to work.
Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the reserve forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.
The reserve forces make up approximately one sixth of our armed forces personnel and, as such, are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas.
