Highway of heroes plan falls flat (From Swindon Advertiser)
Get involved! Send photos, video, news & views. Text SWINDON NEWS to 80360 or email us
Highway of heroes plan falls flat
8:40am Thursday 5th February 2009 in News
OPINIONS are divided over a campaign to re-name part of Lyneham’s repatriation route the Highway of Heroes.
An online petition set up by former paratrooper George Ryan has been created on the Downing Street website.
The petition is calling for the renaming of the B3102 between RAF Lyneham and Wootton Bassett.
But Royal British Legion secretary Anne Bevis said that Wootton Bassett residents seemed largely against the idea.
“A lot of people I have spoken to aren’t really in favour of it,” she said.
“We don’t want to create a circus around something which is very dignified and respectful.
“I think that by renaming the route we’re actually taking the focus away from the reason we do what we do.”
Anne, of Byron Avenue, also says that if the name change were to be given the green light, it should be implemented right along the route including Wootton Bassett High Street, the M4 between junction 16 and 15 and through Oxfordshire.
“I don’t think you can only rename part of it, it’s the whole route,” she said. “The tributes are not just paid in Bassett, now it’s all the way along the route.”
Anne, who set up a telephone network in the town to inform residents when repatriations are taking place, says that the best memorial to the fallen troops is the respect and compassion each mourner demonstrates.
“The idea behind the name change is very admirable and made with the best of intentions but it’s not really a very British thing to do.
“George Ryan has admitted that he’s never been to Wootton Bassett and I think if he had, he’d see that it’s not necessary.”
The idea is not a British invention.
Instead it is copying a name already adopted for a route in Canada.
The Ontario Government erected signs along a 170km stretch of highway in September 2007 as it is the route taken to transport the bodies of fallen soldiers to the coroner's office once they return to Canada.
Anne said: “The name isn’t very fitting for an English market town. We’d like to keep things personal. We don’t want praise, we don’t do it for show.
“We just want to pay our respects.”
l Want to have your say? visit the Advertiser website www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk to vote in our online poll.
Comments(12)
Loveall
says...
9:00am Thu 5 Feb 09
The Librarian says Oook
says...
9:02am Thu 5 Feb 09
This is a stupid, trite American style idea. Total nonsense.
The absolute beauty of what happens in Wooton Bassett is that it is unplanned and spontaneous. No heavy-handed politician organised it. No committee approved it. Apart from being a truly democratic experience, it is a dignified and respectful expression of people’s feelings.
There may be many different reason why people come to stand in the High Street and mark the passage of the dead, but they are personal, individual and ever so genuine.
To re-designate the road in this way would demean what has been done.
Bobfm
says...
11:00am Thu 5 Feb 09
“A lot of people I have spoken to aren’t really in favour of it,” she said.
“We don’t want to create a circus around something which is very dignified and respectful.
Quite right. Leave things alone, lest it becomes one more tourist attraction.
Footnote: The poll whilst accepting the vote then shows no active polls.
PeeGee
says...
12:06pm Thu 5 Feb 09
Wellfire
says...
12:21pm Thu 5 Feb 09
forcryingoutloud
says...
12:49pm Thu 5 Feb 09
forcryingoutloud
says...
12:49pm Thu 5 Feb 09
forcryingoutloud
says...
12:49pm Thu 5 Feb 09
IRofE
says...
3:09pm Thu 5 Feb 09
awilliamson7
says...
9:17pm Fri 6 Feb 09
As a Canadian (with three generations of ancestors who fought defending Britain and the empire in South Africa) I am horrified that the nation that spawned the former British empire would so callously treat those who died in defnce of your freedom.
In Canada Candians are unabashedly proud of those who stand up for our freedom. All of this depite having gone into battle 9 times and never once firing a shot in our own self interest.
These soldiers are defending your freedom. The entire country should honour their sacrifice not worry about the effect on tourism.
The whole purpose of the Highway of Heroes is that the families of our fallen soldiers understand they are not making the long drive with their deceased loved one alone. The entire country is shoulder to shoulder behind them. They never pass under a bridge without seeing throngs of people and flags all in honour of their loved one's sacrifice.
While of British heritage from over 200 years ago I hate to say it but there is probably a good reason why the British empire no longer exists.
I suggest you not take your freedom for granted and honour those who lay down their lives so you continue to have the right to say what you do.
awilliamson7
says...
10:17pm Fri 6 Feb 09
There is asolutely no govenment involvement.
Ordinary Canadian
says...
1:28am Sat 7 Feb 09
Rain or shine, daylight or night, snow or cold, people show up to honour the fallen, but more importantly, to let the families riding in the convoys know that the nation honours and appreciates the service of their son or daughter to the country and to let them know we all share the sadness of the loss of our young men and women.
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Log in with us
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
Or
Log in with