WALLINGFORD Town Council is preparing to honour The Rifles regiment with a new plaque on the town hall.

The plaque will be officially unveiled as the town celebrates Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 25, in the market place.

Over the years, the Royal Berkshire Regiment has amalgated with a number of different regiments and is now known as The Rifles. The new plaque will replace the existing plaque honouring the Royal Berkshire Regiment, which was the name of the regiment at the time the Freedom of Wallingford was granted in 1944.

The town council transferred the freedom of the town to The Rifles in September, 2008, when the then Mayor Alec Hayton presented a certificate to Colonel David Brown.

The new plaque will be on the front of the town hall facing the Market Place and is being put up at the request of injured Riflemen who attended a charity boxing match for the Rifles Care for Casualties charity in June last year.

Mr Stone said: “So far, the charity has raised more than £800,000 and some of the proceeds have come from boxing nights at The Regal organised by John Houston, who runs the South Moreton Boxing Club.

“The two boxing nights in June and December, and collections made by the Wallingford Army Cadets, contributed about £20,000 to the national total.”

Artist Brian Allum, of Woodcote, painted the new plaque for the town council.

Mr Stone said: “It’s a superb painting of the Rifles’ regimental badge and we will be delighted to put it up on the front of the town hall alongside the RAF badge — RAF Benson also have the freedom of the town.

“On Armed Forces Day, the Rifles’ buglers will be in the Market Place with a detachment of soldiers from the regiment, which has its headquarters in Winchester.”

The plaque will be unveiled by Brigadier Nigel Mogg, who is the honorary Oxfordshire county colonel of The Rifles.

Mr Stone said: “Staff from RAF Benson have also been invited to participate in Armed Forces Day and there will be a collection in the Market Place for the Help for Heroes charity.

“During the morning there should be quite a gathering, and we will take the opportunity to fly the new armed forces flags, which have been funded by the Wallingford Partnership.

“I am delighted that we are fulfilling the wishes of The Rifles in updating their regimental plaque at a time when their soldiers are fighting in difficult circumstances around the world.”

The Royal Berkshire Regiment plaque will be relocated inside the town hall.