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15/04/2013
Rehearsal For Thatcher Funeral Procession
A full military rehearsal for Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession has taken place in London early this morning.
More than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel were involved in the practice before dawn.
The personnel will line the route of the funeral procession from Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday. Timed to last 19 minutes, the ceremonial service will see Lady Thatcher's coffin carried on a horse-drawn carriage.
Major Andrew Chatburn, who is in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal "went very well" and it was "vitally important" to stage a trial of Wednesday's event.
He said: "Timings are most important. Bearing in mind these are sailors, soldiers and airmen who have come in to do this specific task from their routine duties, so it's new to them.
"They need to see the ground as well so they can get a feel for how it's going to go and they can perform their duties with confidence on the day."
The former Prime Minister died at the age of 87 on 8 April following a stroke. She has been awarded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral.
On Wednesday, the coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes - the Central Church of the RAF - on the Strand. It will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul's Cathedral.
(JP/CD)
More than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel were involved in the practice before dawn.
The personnel will line the route of the funeral procession from Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday. Timed to last 19 minutes, the ceremonial service will see Lady Thatcher's coffin carried on a horse-drawn carriage.
Major Andrew Chatburn, who is in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal "went very well" and it was "vitally important" to stage a trial of Wednesday's event.
He said: "Timings are most important. Bearing in mind these are sailors, soldiers and airmen who have come in to do this specific task from their routine duties, so it's new to them.
"They need to see the ground as well so they can get a feel for how it's going to go and they can perform their duties with confidence on the day."
The former Prime Minister died at the age of 87 on 8 April following a stroke. She has been awarded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral.
On Wednesday, the coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes - the Central Church of the RAF - on the Strand. It will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul's Cathedral.
(JP/CD)
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