A Grantham soldier is one of eight servicemen to have been named as bearers for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral in London tomorrow.
Sergeant Jason Buffham, 30, of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery has been named in the bearer party following an announcement by the Ministry of Defence.
The bearer party is made up of eight personnel from all three services, including those from ships, units and stations notable for their service during the Falklands Campaign.
They will be followed by 2 cap orderlies who will hold the caps of the eight bearers when they carry Lady Thatcher’s coffin.
On the day of the funeral, Lady Thatcher’s coffin will be moved by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to St Clement Danes Church (the church of the Royal Air Force) and placed inside by the undertaker, when prayers will be said by the chaplain.
The tri-Service bearer party will then carry the coffin out of St Clement Danes Church and place it on the gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
The bearer party will walk alongside the gun carriage, four on each side, as the funeral procession makes its way to St Paul’s Cathedral led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth - ‘The Royal Band’.
The processional route will be lined by servicemen and women supported by bands, and outside the cathedral a Guard of Honour and band of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards will be formed up. While the procession from St Clement Danes Church to St Paul’s Cathedral takes place, the Honourable Artillery Company will fire processional minute guns from Tower Wharf, Tower of London.
Positioned on the west steps of St Paul’s Cathedral will be a step-lining party made up of 18 tri-Service personnel and 16 in-pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Senior military representatives will attend the service.