Crowds line streets for King's Troop Woolwich parade (From News Shopper)

Crowds line streets for King's Troop Woolwich parade

2:49pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Greenwich news By Mark Chandler

CHILDREN joined veterans waving Union Jacks and hundreds of other people to line the streets of Woolwich and welcome an artillery unit back to their spiritual home.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery bid an emotional farewell to their former base in St John’s Wood yesterday, but were treated like heroes in Woolwich today.

Consisting of seven officers, 164 soldiers and 109 horses, the unit has moved into a new £16m bespoke building called Napier Lines at Woolwich Barracks.

The entire troop, wearing full ceremonial regalia, paraded around Woolwich, culminating in a ride down Wellington Street and past the town hall and civic centre.

Once there they gave a salute to dignitaries who had gathered to watch while cheers went up from the crowds, who had lined much of the route.

Fittingly, the parade included six First World War era 13-pounder field guns originally made in the Royal Arsenal, each pulled by six horses.

Spectator Don Wickman, 56, of Woolwich New Road, said: “When you live here you can forget there’s so much history in this area.

“Things like this make you remember it. It makes you proud, really.”

Margaret Abbs, 85, of Plumstead Common, said: “It will really liven Woolwich up won’t it.

“There’s a lot of history here and you can see the children are enjoying it.”

After the tour, the troop returned to their new home, which boasts an indoor riding school, a veterinary clinic, saddlers and the largest modern blacksmith’s forge in the British Army.

An eco-friendly facility, there are plans for the building to eventually be powered by the horses muck – around 1,000 tonnes of manure and bedding each year which can be used to create hot water and heating.

The troop has some members out in Afghanistan, but is largely ceremonial, firing royal salutes on state occasions and providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for state and military funerals.

Its honorary colonel Major General Matthew Sykes had his first military posting at Woolwich and said he was delighted to return.

He said: “St John’s Wood has been our way of life for decades but we’ve been welcomed so much here by everybody.

“The reception was beyond anything we could have possibly hoped for.”

He added: “This is our new home and we’re looking forward to establishing good links with the community.”

The parade came after three days of celebrations in Greenwich since it became a royal borough.

Leader of Greenwich Council Councillor Chris Roberts said: “It’s obviously been a special time. People have been beaming with civic pride.

“Hopefully we’ll have more to follow later this year.”