DESPITE the threat of grey skies early on Saturday morning, the sun shone and a bumper crowd several people deep turned out to support the homecoming parade of the 22 Engineer Regiment of the Corps of the Royal Engineers as they marched through Andover.
Thousands of people lined the streets to show their support for the sterling work carried out by the soldiers during their recent deployment in Afghanistan. An infectious community spirit could be felt throughout the town with flag waving, cheering and spontaneous clapping in support of the soldiers.
After a warm up by the Band of the Corps of Engineers and an address by the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Janet Whiteley, nearly 500 soldiers exercised their right to bear arms and marched through the town.
The salute was taken by the Mayor in East Street as a Lynx and Apache helicopter, provided by the Army Air Corp of Middle Wallop, flew overhead.
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