OXFORD city centre came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday as officers and men from The First Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (1RGJ), performed their last Freedom of Entry to the City.

Marching at their customary 'double' time 144 paces to the minute the Band and Bugles of the Light Division led the sea of Green Jackets, as they paraded past the Town Hall in St Aldates, and on to Cornmarket and St Giles.

About 200 specially invited guests and regiment 'old boys' were joined by curious shoppers and tourists in witnessing the spectacle, which coincided with the Green Jackets' 40th anniversary, and also marked the final opportunity for the battalion to perform the Freedom ceremony, before they amalgamate with three other regiments, in February 2007, to form a new and larger regiment called The Rifles.

The Royal Green Jackets' links with Oxford go back over 200 years.

The Green Jackets were formed in 1966 when The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry merged with the King's Royal Rifle Brigade.

The "Ox & Bucks" had been granted the Freedom of the City on April 10, 1948.

But the last time the Green Jackets exercised their freedom of the city was in 1995 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of VE Day.

When it becomes part of The Rifles, the regiment will maintain a Territorial Army and cadet presence in Oxford and will continue to recruit riflemen from across the county.

Tuesday's celebrations began at 2pm with a special service of thanksgiving at Christ Church.

The ancient building echoed to music from The Band and Bugles of The Light Division, who performed pieces including Song Without Words (Suite in F) by Gustav Holst and Nativity, from Dove Ascending.

An address was also read by the Reverend Colin Fox, honorary chaplain of The Royal Green Jackets, who spoke of the 'honour and pride' the Green Jackets felt to be in Oxford.

Following the service, which ended with the National Anthem, the troops formed up before the inspecting officer, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, on Broadwalk, in front of Christ Church.

Lieutenant Colonel Justin Maciejewski, Commanding Officer 1RGJ, told the crowds: "We have a long and happy association with Oxford.

"We are immensely grateful and proud to be exercising our freedom of this great city at this important time celebrating 40 years of distinguished service and looking forward to our future as part of The Rifles."

The Lord Mayor, Jim Campbell, expressed the city's affection and gratitude for the Green Jackets and his wish that the relationship would continue long after the regiment becomes part of The Rifles.

Among the crowd which assembled to watch the inspection were former Ox & Bucks soldiers, Roger Ayres and John Collins.

Mr Ayres, 67, from Stanford in the Vale, served with the regiment from 1957 to 1959 and trained at Cowley Barracks.

He said: "Seeing the battalion parade brings a lump to my throat. As a former member of the Ox & Bucks, which had such a distinguished history, I still have a lot of feeling for them and would not have missed this for the world.

"Even now, I remember that no matter how tired you were from marching double time, the sound of those bugles could still lift you."

Mr Collins, 68, from Wantage, added: "It's sad that this will be the last time the regiment parades as The Green Jackets, but we must change with the times and we still feel very proud to have been part of their history.

"I served with the Ox & Bucks between 1956 and 1957 and went to Suez before being stationed in Cyprus. Listening to those bugles today is really something."

After marching from Christ Church, the battalion performed a salute to the Lord Mayor and assembled dignitaries, who stood atop a dais in front of the Town Hall.

  • The Royal Green Jackets were formed in 1966 from The Rifle Brigade, The King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

The Regimental motto is Swift and Bold.

In recent years, the Regiment has served in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Belize, Cyprus and Iraq.

1RGJ has been based at Weeton Barracks, near Blackpool, Lancashire, since 2001.

In 2003, the Battalion deployed on operations to Northern Ireland and later to Iraq. The following year saw a return to Northern Ireland for a six-month tour in South Armagh.

Last year, as part of the UK's "high-readiness" NATO Spearhead force, 1RGJ deployed at short notice for one-month to Kosovo.

This year, the Battalion spent two months training in jungle warfare tactics in Belize.

More historical and background information on The Royal Green Jackets can be found at www.army.mod.uk/royalgreenjackets