Hammersmith & Fulham Council has awarded the Freedom of the Borough to Number 17 Company of the Coldstream Guards. They were honoured for helping us make H&F a stronger, safer, kinder borough.
The award is the highest honour the council can bestow on a select group of residents, organisations and military groups. Recipients are chosen for their extraordinary service to the local community.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of H&F, said:
This way of life that we have lived for over 100 years in this amazing country of ours, has always needed to be argued for, it's always needed to be fought for, it's always needed to be defended.
"It is therefore a huge honour for everyone in this council chamber to bestow the highest honour that we can offer to anyone. To give the freedom of the borough to the Coldstream Guards.
"I don't just thank every member who is here today, but I recognise the sacrifice that every single soldier's family makes, and we pay tribute to the soldiers and their families for making that sacrifice in order to be that line of defence."
Number 17 Company are the borough's armed forces reserves, based at the Princess Louise House in Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith. The Coldstream Guards are the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army.
Major Rudy Vandaele-Kennedy of Number 17 Company, who collected the honour along 16 of the Guards, said:
For the company and the regiment, the Freedom of the Borough is not just a piece of paper, it gives us the greatest honour.
"It's recognition of the Company's hard work. But not just us, all those who came before us all those who will follow us for many years. And of the ultimate sacrifice that they're all prepared to make for their country. I'm extremely proud of the Company. It is a privilege, it is a pleasure, and it is an honour to command the company and to be a Number 17 Company man."
Supporting local residents
The Coldstream Guards are committed to engaging with residents, including working with H&F Council to establish our annual Armed Forces Day celebration. Find out more about this year's Armed Forces Day event, taking place Saturday 28 June.
Number 17 Company also works closely with local schools through The Coldstream Guard Awards. Run in partnership with H&F's Mayor, the awards celebrate local students who have gone above and beyond in school.
This year's recipients included Arsenal under 14s player Luis Munoz and Fulham Cross Girls' student Trinity Patterson who recently travelled to Malawi as part of a charity mission.
The Coldstream Guards join a list of more than 25 recipients who have received the Freedom of the Borough since 2011. Find the full list here.
Supporting H&F's military communities
H&F has a rich military history – the D-Day landings were planned in the borough, and we have pledged support to our local veterans and military community.
This includes cutting council tax for veterans by 25 per cent, helping members of our Armed Forces community access affordable housing and adapting homes for wounded soldiers. We also signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and is committed to ensuring those who serve or have severed, and their families, are treated fairly.
Find out more about how we support our armed forces.
