The highlight of the spectacular Perth Day celebrations will come courtesy of the biggest Scottish military parade of the year.
Over 800 marchers from the army, navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines will descend on Perth for the July 2 extravaganza.
They will be joined by veteran associations and youth organisations and four pipe bands and two military bands will provide a fitting musical accompaniment.
A variety of military vehicles from the second world war will also be on show, creating what is being billed as a ‘must see’.
The parade will pass a dais in Tay Street, where it will take the salute of Provost John Hulbert and the Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross Brigadier Mel Jameson, as well as guests from Perth’s twin towns and cities around the globe.
Delegations from Aschaffenburg in Germany, Pskov in Russia, Cognac in France, Haiku in China, Bydgoszcz in Poland and Perth, Ontario, Canada, will all be flying in for the celebrations.
The parade will begin at 11.35am from Rose Terrace and proceed along Atholl Street into Kinnoull Street, down High Street and into St John’s Place.
It will then continue down South Street, along Tay Street to the North Inch where armed forces representatives will meet VIPs.
The march has been put together by the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Perth battalion which was granted freedom of the city earlier this year.Eager anticipationDr Hulbert said, “It will be the biggest parade of its kind held in Scotland this year, and one of the biggest Perth has ever seen.
“Representatives from the army, marines, navy and the air force will all march in full colours.
“They will be accompanied by veterans, many of whom will ride in vehicles used in the second world war.
“The Scouts, Brownies and cadet forces will also join the march… and a total of six pipe and military bands will be positioned along the parade.”
He added, “It will be a riot of colour and noise, and will represent all that is best about our armed forces and our young people.
“I look forward to it immensely and would urge the people of Perth and Kinross to come out in force to show their support for our forces.”
Commanding officer of 7 SCOTS, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Chelsea, said, “It is tremendous that, with our sister battalion, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), we have been able to assemble so large a serving and retired naval, military, and air force contingent.”