Tuesday June 10th 2025
Coldstream Guards at train station
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Members of a famous regiment named after a Berwickshire town will be in London this weekend as part of ongoing celebrations to mark its 375th anniversary.
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously-serving regiment of the British Army and has a very special place in military history, with members having served in almost every military campaign through the years.
The Guards are widely-regarded as saving the Monarchy back in 1660 when the regiment played a crucial part in restoring law and order, and supporting the elections that led to the return of King Charles II.
One hundred members of the guards were in Berwick-Upon-Tweed today – taking part in a march through the town – and will march before King Charles 111 at the Trooping the Colour in London on Saturday.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, LNER welcomed one hundred Coldstream Guards onboard its 7am service from London King’s Cross this morning (Tuesday 10 June ).
Dressed in their iconic scarlet tunic and bearskin uniform, the soldiers marched through the station and boarded the train to make a very special journey to their hometown of Berwick-upon-Tweed, where the regiment was originally formed, to celebrate the regiment’s special anniversary.
Coldstream Guards on LNER Azuma train 800111
The Guards travelled on LNER Azuma train 800111, named ‘Thank You’ in tribute to those who serve or have served in the armed forces.
The journey, which took just over three and half hours, is a stark contrast to the five-week trek that Coldstream Guards made on foot through heavy snow from Berwick to London in 1660.
LNER Customer Experience Engagement Manager, Jack O’Hara, who was part of the team welcoming the Guards onboard today, served as a Coldstream Guard himself.
He said: “It’s a momentous year for the Coldstream Guards, and I understand how important it is for the soldiers onboard today to celebrate this anniversary in Berwick-upon-Tweed ahead of the King’s Birthday Parade, where the regiment will be parading its new colours. LNER is incredibly proud to be
taking the Guards to their hometown, and we hope they have a memorable day.”
Colonel Jeremy Bagshaw, Regimental Adjutant HQ Coldstream Guards, said: “We are enormously proud of our links with Berwick-upon-Tweed, the town where we were formed 375 years ago.
“It was very important to us to be able to mark our anniversary there, steeped as it is in so much history, much shared with the regiment. We are enormously grateful to all at Berwick Town Council and the Parish Church of Holy Trinity and St Mary’s for their hard work in the lead up to the day and for making us so very welcome.
“But it would also be remiss of me not to thank LNER for providing us with the means to bring the Guardsmen here and back in a day; a crucial requirement amidst a very busy schedule. It, along with Network Rail and British Transport Police, have all been unfailingly supportive.”
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