Ayr Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets have celebrated their 85th anniversary by receiving the Freedom of the Burgh, becoming the first cadet organisation in South Ayrshire to be awarded the prestigious civic honour.
The milestone was marked with two special ceremonies on Saturday, August 29.
The celebrations began with the dedication of the unit’s first-ever Colour, which was formally presented by the Lord-Lieutenant.
Cadets then proudly paraded through Ayr before making their way to Ayr Town Hall, where the Provost presented the unit with the Freedom of the Burgh.
The award is the highest civic distinction South Ayrshire Council can bestow and has been granted only four times since 2009.
The honour recognises the unit’s long-standing service to the local community and its work supporting generations of young people throughout its 85-year history.
A spokesperson for the unit said: “This is a huge honour for us. It also makes us the first-ever cadet organisation to be awarded the Freedom in South Ayrshire.
“A huge thank you goes to the Lord-Lieutenant, the Provost and South Ayrshire Council for helping to make the day so special.
“BZ to all the cadets involved. You should be extremely proud of yourselves. Your hard work certainly showed.”
The unit also thanked the visiting cadet organisations that attended the celebration and provided support in a variety of ways, helping the historic event run smoothly.
Picture Credit: Ayr Sea Cadets