WOOTTON BASSETT GETS NEW NAME

Wootton Bassett Gets Royal Recognition

By David Crabtree, Sky News correspondent in Royal Wootton Bassett | Sky News – 1 hour 22 minutes ago

Wootton Bassett today becomes the first town in more than a century to be given the title 'Royal' in recognition of the way it honoured the UK's war dead.

Princess Anne will visit the Wiltshire town to bestow the tribute. The Queen said it would be "an enduring symbol of the nation's admiration and gratitude."

Due to its proximity to RAF Lyneham, where the bodies of troops were flown back to Britain, it became a focal point of mourning as funeral convoys passed through.

From an impromptu show of respect by a handful of local people, it grew and gained national status over four years, before repatriations were switched to RAF Brize Norton earlier this year.

Hundreds and then thousands lined the streets. In total, what is now Royal Wootton Bassett marked the repatriations of 355 people.

Families of those who died said it became a valuable part of the grieving process.
Jane Whitehouse's son Jonathan was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, when seven other British servicemen died within a 24 hour period.

"It is so right that Royal Wootton Bassett is getting this recognition," she said.
"It is very poignant to me, especially the way they honoured my son and all the other servicemen that came home."

High street shop owner Hazel Newson said: "I think it is just a token of the country's respect for what we have done. We were not expecting it. Nobody was thinking about anything other than the soldiers that were coming home."

The town's mayor, Paul Heaphy, believes Royal Wootton Bassett is now feeling a combination of emotions. "We are incredibly proud of what happened. But at the same time we are ever thoughtful of those soldiers and their families," he said.

Princess Anne will join a number of dignitaries for a series of formal events today, involving parades of troops, the Royal Wootton Bassett Band and the Royal Marines Band.

The town's new flag will be raised and local vicar, Canon Thomas Woodhouse, will bless a new coat of arms.

He said: "We have always had a sense of community. Because of that we were able to fulfil that ministry of four-and-a-half years of expanding and welcoming and of being alongside those families."

Thanks for the reminder, LL - we should get some pics before too long.

Live coverage of the ceremony here:

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16090001

ETA:



HRH The Princess Royal Presents Letters of Patent to Wootton Bassett at 2pm twitpic.com

Video now online:

http://news.sky.com/home/

Wootton Bassett Gets Royal Seal Of Approval

It was an amazing thing. And entirely from the heart.

They deserve the honor at the very least.