Crowds gather in Brecon as annual Gurkha Freedom Parade returns

Crowds lined the streets in Brecon this afternoon to watch the 37th annual Gurkha Brecon Freedom Parade.

Despite the grey weather, The Bulwark was splashed with colour as the parade impressed residents and visitors.

The Gurkha Wing (Mandalay) from Dering Lines, the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese military wives all performed spectacularly to mark the occasion.

The last parade took place in 2019 - it was not able to take place for two years on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The troops marched around the centre of the garrison town in a loop, accompanied by the band.

Hundreds of residents gathered around the parade, which took place outside The Brecon & Radnor Express and The Wellington Hotel, with residents standing on benches and the monument to get a better look.

There were even the faces of onlookers hanging out of upstairs windows to watch the display.

Mayor David Meredith inspected the troops - he took part in the procession along with deputy-mayor Cllr Michaela Davies, and Cllr John Powell.

Brecon and Radnorshire’s Senedd Member James Evans and Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds also joined the procession along with Powys County Council’s newly appointed chairman Gareth Ratcliffe.

Dancers wowed their audience with clouds of vibrant pink, orange, blue and green.

Meanwhile members of the Gurkha regiment performed with their Khukuris - a type of machete associated with the Gurkha soldiers.

More on the Gurkha Parade in the next edition of The Brecon & Radnor Express - out on Wednesday, June 22.