More than 150 sailors from RNAS Culdrose will march through the streets of Helston next week to celebrate the air station's 75th anniversary.

The public is invited to watch the parade which will be held down Meneage Street and Coinagehall Street between 10am and 11am on Wednesday, April 6th.

The event will be a bigger and better version of the annual Freedom of Helston Parade, featuring the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band, Royal Navy officers and ratings, HMS Seahawk Field Gun Team and a fire engine from the airfield. A Merlin helicopter returning from training is scheduled to fly over Coinagehall Street at 11am.

The event has been organised jointly between the Royal Navy and Helston Town Council.

Helston mayor Councillor Tim Grattan-Kane said:

"It is with great pride and pleasure that I anticipate the Freedom Parade on April 6. Culdrose is a key element within our community.

"Over many years, its sailors provided the air-sea rescue facility for our community. There is no doubt that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who owe their lives to the skills and bravery of the aircrews.

"It is fitting that we also recall their bravery in conflict on the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war. Without their willingness to put their helicopters in danger many more ships would have been exposed to danger.

"Helston is enriched by the presence of Culdrose, by the families in our schools, the members of the community who work on-site, and all the personnel who live in our community and contribute so much. It must be a positive indication that so many personnel remain in the Helston area upon retirement.

"We welcome the captain and personnel of HMS Seahawk exercising their freedom of the town and thank them for their service."

Captain Stuart Finn, the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose added:

"We are delighted to be back in Helston having cancelled our community events for the past two years due to coronavirus restrictions.

"This year is especially important to us as we mark 75 years since the commissioning of RNAS Culdrose. A lot has happened in that time but the links and bonds between the air station and Helston are as strong as ever."

Meneage Street and Coinage Hall Street will be subject to a road closure during the parade.

The public are asked to be vigilant in the run-up to the event and on the day, and report any suspicious activity to RNAS Culdrose, the police, or the security team who will be on hand throughout the parade.

RNAS Culdrose was first granted the Freedom of the Borough of Helston in 1958. It is the highest privilege a town can give to a military establishment.

Click here to see more from RNAS Culdrose.

Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter below to get the top 10 Helston stories of the week delivered straight to your inbox every Friday! No click-bait. No intrusive ads. Just news about Helston.

Carry on the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.B]