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I don't usually do military, but I always make an exception for the Territorial Army, and particularly for Kingston's own TA unit.

They are the 256 (City of London) Field Hospital Volunteers - all medics who, amazingly, volunteer their services on top of their demanding professional lives as doctors, surgeons, nurses, physios etc. Last year they were deployed to the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. That is a tough placement for anyone, so I am full of admiration for them all.

Back in March 2009 a special meeting of the Council was called to agree to confer the Freedom of the Borough on the unit. This gave them the right to parade through Kingston, which they did today, led by the band of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

First, there was a civic ceremony outside the Guildhall, when the Mayor (no doubt, very warm in her full regalia) inspected the troops.

We held a minute's silence for the victims of war, during which there was perfect quiet - quite extraordinary for a Saturday morning in the town centre.

After the National Anthem, they marched off to claim their right, all round the Market Square and back to their base on the Portsmouth Road.

Then we all met up again in the Guildhall for an awards ceremony and a chance to mingle.

One of the pleasant consequences of having been Mayor is that I do get invited to civic events like this. It was good to catch up with the only two living Honorary Freemen of the Borough - Robert Smith (former Vice Chancellor of the University) and David Jacobs (former Deputy Lieutenant of the Borough) - both of whom received the honour when Ian was Mayor.