Whitby Town Council will give honorary freedom of the town to RAF Fylingdales if councillors agree to proposals being outlined at an extraordinary meeting week.
The prestigious honour will give personnel of RAF Fylingdales the right to march through the town on ceremonial occasions with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating, and bayonets fixed.
If councillors agree to the proposals, which were first muted in November last year, there will be a civic ceremony to mark the occasion held some time next year.
In July thousands of people lined the streets when Whitby Town Council (WTC) gave freedom of the town to personnel of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), followed by a civic reception attended by dignitaries from across the region.
WTC previously considered the recognition of RAF Fylingdales at a full council meeting on November 4, 2025 where it was decided to investigate the possibility and report back.
At a meeting on April 28 this year, WTC revisited the idea and agreed it still wished to pursue giving to RAF Fylingdales what is considered to be the highest civic honour that can be conferred.
The town council says granting the honour would be “an expression of the friendship, mutual respect, and bond between the town of Whitby and RAF Fylingdales”.
RAF Fylingdales was established on the North York Moors during the Cold War as part of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System developed jointly by the United Kingdom and United States.
Construction began in 1960 and the Station became operational in September of 1963. Generations of personnel serving at the base, and their families, have lived, worked, and joined local life since then.
In addition to the famous sight of the base as people make their way over the moors road, RAF Fylingdales has contributed to civic, ceremonial, remembrance, and community events in Whitby over the years.
A spokesperson for the town council said: “The proposed Honorary Freedom is not intended simply to recognise those presently serving at RAF Fylingdales, but to recognise the Station itself and the enduring relationship that has developed between RAF Fylingdales and Whitby over more than 60 years.
“In doing so, the honour would recognise those who have served at the Station in the past, those who serve there today, and those who will continue its mission in the future.
“RAF Fylingdales occupies a unique position in the life of the area: it is simultaneously an installation of considerable national and international strategic importance and a longstanding member of the local community.
“Its personnel undertake work of exceptional importance to the defence and security of the United Kingdom and its allies, while the Station has maintained a close and visible relationship with Whitby through civic participation, remembrance, community engagement, and successive generations of personnel and families.”
The proposal will be discussed at an extra-ordinary meeting of Whitby Town Council on Tuesday September 22, 5.30pm, at Pannett Art Gallery.
