Double celebration for Irish Guards - Statue to be unveiled day before welcome home parade

23rd June 2011

Windsor will host two special events honouring the 1st Battalion Irish Guards this month when a statue is unveiled the day before a welcome home parade.

The events have been timed to be part of the Armed Forces Week celebration dates and the march takes place on Armed Forces Day (Saturday 25 June).

On Friday 24 June a statue, commissioned by the Irish Guards as a lasting tribute to all Irish Guardsmen, past, present and future, will be unveiled by the Mayor, Cllr Asghar Majeed, accompanied by Major General W G Cubitt CBE.

The 6ft figure at the junction of Park Street and Sheet Street - in the shadow of the castle walls and on the regular guard change route - has been cast in bronze salvaged from the Iraq war. It will stand on a plinth of sandstone, surrounded by cobbles from Afghanistan, and rise more than 15ft.

The sculptor is Mark Jackson, a former paratrooper whose army career was cut short by a serious accident and who then studied art in Florence.

On Saturday 25 June the Irish Guards - who recently completed a tour of duty in Helmand province, Afghanistan - will march from Victoria Barracks to Windsor Castle for a private service in St George's Chapel. The Mayor and councillors will take the salute as the soldiers march past the Guildhall on their way to the castle.

Cllr Majeed said: "It will be a privilege through these two events to honour our brave men and women who have risked their lives - and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice - in Afghanistan on behalf of this country. I hope many, many residents will turn out to show support for their efforts and sacrifices."

The schedule and road closures for Friday are:
1.15pm: The following roads will be closed:
• Victoria Street at its junction with Sheet Street
• Sheet Street for its entire length
• Park Street
• Castle Hill
• St Albans Street
• High Street
• Thames Street from its junction with River Street southwards to High Street
• All the roads within the Guildhall Island area. 
1.30pm: The Battalion will march from Victoria Barracks to the statue (corner of Park Street and Sheet Street). Once they have passed the Victoria Street/Sheet Street junction, Victoria Street and that length of Sheet Street south of the traffic lights will be opened. The other roads will remain closed.
2pm: Speeches and unveiling by Mayor
Approximately 2.15pm: Victoria Street and Sheet Street south of the traffic lights will be closed again
By 2.30pm: Battalion will be back in barracks and all roads opened.

The schedule and road closures for Saturday are:
8.30am: The following roads will be closed:
• Victoria Street at its junction with Sheet Street
• Sheet Street for its entire length
• Park Street
• Castle Hill
• St Albans Street
• High Street
• Thames Street from its junction with River Street southwards to High Street
• All those roads within the Guildhall Island area
8.45am: Battalion will leave Victoria Barracks to march to Windsor Castle via Sheet Street and High Street
8.55am: Roads will be opened
9.15am: Church service in St George's Chapel
9.45am: The following roads will be closed:
• Castle Hill
• Thames Street north to its junction with River Street
• River Street - entire length
• Barry Avenue - between River Street and Goswell Road
• Goswell Road - entire length
• Charles Street/Arthur Road roundabout
• Charles Street - entire length
• Clarence Road - between junction with Charles Street and Victoria Street
• Victoria Street - entire length
• Sheet Street - entire length
• Park Street
• Castle Hill
• St Albans Street
• High Street
Just before 10am: Battalion leaves Windsor Castle to march back to Victoria Barracks via Castle Hill, Thames Street, Barry Avenue, Goswell Road, Charles Street and Victoria Street
By 10:30am: All roads should be open.