Wootton Bassett
A few days ago the people of the now famous Wootton Bassett gathered for the last time to pay homage to our war dead.
Thankfully this time there was no cortege passing through.
With the imminent closure of RAF Lyneham and thus the end of the repatriations through the market town, this was a ceremony to mark the end of the solemn tradition that started back in 2007 as a simple mark of respect.
This last tribute was honoured in silence by the locals who started it all and the now regular visitors, exactly in the same way as the 345 dead service people who have passed through the town.
It remains to be seen if the inevitable return, by another route, of our heroes are afforded the same respect. Somehow I doubt it, the present government will I feel be anxious to ensure that the chosen route will make it very difficult for a similar scenario to develop as it clearly shows a humanity that they do not want to see and would prefer it all to be swept under what is becoming a very large carpet.
The previous regime hated the very idea of it despite what Bliar, Brown and others might tell us. Every repatriation that passed through reminded them of the real cost of embarking on illegal wars, not for one jot was it compassion for a fallen hero it was simply a case of lost votes.