Paras to pay own tribute to Wootton Bassett (From Swindon Advertiser)

When's the parade for dog owners?

I think the people of WB can say goodbye to quiet Sundays for a while. Now that the bikers have rubber stamped the town as the number one grief-tourism destination in the UK they'll be queing up to come and 'say thank-you to the people of Wooton Bassett, remember the fallen' etc. etc.'.
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On the plus side, it might be worth setting up a burger van on the High Street.

I wish people would stop with the negative comments. I hope none of them have family or friends serving in Afghanistan !

reality_check wrote:
I think the people of WB can say goodbye to quiet Sundays for a while. Now that the bikers have rubber stamped the town as the number one grief-tourism destination in the UK they'll be queing up to come and 'say thank-you to the people of Wooton Bassett, remember the fallen' etc. etc.'.
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On the plus side, it might be worth setting up a burger van on the High Street.

So first you take on a bunch of "passive" bikers, now you are going to take on the "Para's"!!!!!
You just make me smile mate you really do. Will you have the bottle to go out and tell them to their faces that they are also not welcome in YOUR town? I doubt ti very much!

Sorry 'mate', but I can't see where I've said it's my town or that the Para's are not welcome..?

reality_check, Swindon says...
1:33pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Sorry 'mate', but I can't see where I've said it's my town or that the Para's are not welcome..?

So don't say anything at all then. It is obviously written with sarcasm.

My apologies for 'rubber stamping' WB last Sunday but like many who appreciate those who take the time to line the streets for every repatriation there are thousands more who wish they could pay their respects every time in a similar fashion. We asked to pay our last Sunday and if the answer had been no it would have been accepted. I think the turnout was an example of the feeling in this country across all walks of life. Last Sunday wasn't just bikers, beneath those helmets were doctors, policemen, shopworkers, musicians, mechanics, bus drivers, dentists, bank tellers, sailors, bakers, jewellers, students, nurses, army cadets, Husbands, mothers, sons and daughters and believe it or not many of them are probably also dogwalkers. There was also a huge turnout of soldiers, ex-soldiers, serving soldiers and disabled soldiers.
If you felt so strongly about such a huge cross section of everyday British people showing their respect, gratitude and thanks for those brave enough amongst us to fight in the armed services that protect this country then maybe instead of making sarcastic and pathetic comments on newspaper threads you should go and stand at the side of the main road through WB with a placard and make it known to the Parachute Regiment that you feel personally let down by their many years of defending this country and you don't give a **** about their losses and the suffering of the families of those who didn't come back from whatever conflict they were engaged in for our freedom and the right for people like you to abuse that freedom by such hostile negativity.
If Wootton Basset has done anything it has been to kickstart the people of this country into realising how many youngsters are prepared to fight and die if necessary for their country. And whether or not we should be fighting this particular war is irrelevant, we are, and the least we can do is support those who are and share the grief with the families of those who lose their life's or are severely injured in the course of that war.

Donnja, I'm with you, these idiots who post on here are gutless and cluess.

Trouble with internet messages boards you always get crackpots who write dire rubbish. Best IGNORED.

God Bless OUR TROOPS, EVERYONE OF THEM IS AN HERO.

robins69 wrote:
Donnja, I'm with you, these idiots who post on here are gutless and cluess.

Trouble with internet messages boards you always get crackpots who write dire rubbish. Best IGNORED.

God Bless OUR TROOPS, EVERYONE OF THEM IS AN HERO.

One hundred and fifty percent right!

Donnja wrote:
reality_check, Swindon says... 1:33pm Fri 19 Mar 10 Sorry 'mate', but I can't see where I've said it's my town or that the Para's are not welcome..? So don't say anything at all then. It is obviously written with sarcasm.

Its a public forum. No point spitting your dummy out everytime someone posts something you don't like.

panara wrote:
My apologies for 'rubber stamping' WB last Sunday but like many who appreciate those who take the time to line the streets for every repatriation there are thousands more who wish they could pay their respects every time in a similar fashion. We asked to pay our last Sunday and if the answer had been no it would have been accepted. I think the turnout was an example of the feeling in this country across all walks of life. Last Sunday wasn't just bikers, beneath those helmets were doctors, policemen, shopworkers, musicians, mechanics, bus drivers, dentists, bank tellers, sailors, bakers, jewellers, students, nurses, army cadets, Husbands, mothers, sons and daughters and believe it or not many of them are probably also dogwalkers. There was also a huge turnout of soldiers, ex-soldiers, serving soldiers and disabled soldiers. If you felt so strongly about such a huge cross section of everyday British people showing their respect, gratitude and thanks for those brave enough amongst us to fight in the armed services that protect this country then maybe instead of making sarcastic and pathetic comments on newspaper threads you should go and stand at the side of the main road through WB with a placard and make it known to the Parachute Regiment that you feel personally let down by their many years of defending this country and you don't give a **** about their losses and the suffering of the families of those who didn't come back from whatever conflict they were engaged in for our freedom and the right for people like you to abuse that freedom by such hostile negativity. If Wootton Basset has done anything it has been to kickstart the people of this country into realising how many youngsters are prepared to fight and die if necessary for their country. And whether or not we should be fighting this particular war is irrelevant, we are, and the least we can do is support those who are and share the grief with the families of those who lose their life's or are severely injured in the course of that war.

So what's your point? Succinctly this time please. Thanks.

Does anyone know who'll be parading on the 28th?

reality_check wrote:
Does anyone know who'll be parading on the 28th?

Why don't you?
You could wave a banner, saying "no more parades, forget the troops are out there"
See if you are as well recieved as the bikers were, and no doubt the paras will also be.

Does this mean the High Street will be closed again? Does anyone know the timings for this? Other than the 12.15pm mentioned in the article. I might pop up for a look if it carries on later.

When I was a lad my father taught me to stop and doff my cap if there was a passing hearse as a mark of respect, and that I stlll do today if I happen to be up in our High St when the repatriations sadly go past.
What I find distasteful is the ever increasing media circus surrounding that simple demonstration of humility.
It is easy therefore to view other activities as part of that media circus and misunderstand the genuine thanks that grateful families and their associates are offering WB.
Some of us don't wish to be the focus of such attention less it get out of hand but welcome to the Paras this weekend...

RMepstead, I share your sentiment about the circus, which is something I have repeatedly said .

However the obnoxious posts of some is quite nauseating. I guess reality or RFM won't be around to address their distaste to the Para's.

I'm suprised nobody has set up a t-shirt stall in Wootton Bassett.

They could have interchangeable lettering on the t-shirts to match the parade of each week.

'Gingers of the world have mourned in Bassett'

'UK cross-stitch society have mourned in Bassett'

It may be a bit much when the 'Antidisestablishmen
tarianism Society' hold their parade though!

panara wrote:
My apologies for 'rubber stamping' WB last Sunday but like many who appreciate those who take the time to line the streets for every repatriation there are thousands more who wish they could pay their respects every time in a similar fashion. We asked to pay our last Sunday and if the answer had been no it would have been accepted. I think the turnout was an example of the feeling in this country across all walks of life. Last Sunday wasn't just bikers, beneath those helmets were doctors, policemen, shopworkers, musicians, mechanics, bus drivers, dentists, bank tellers, sailors, bakers, jewellers, students, nurses, army cadets, Husbands, mothers, sons and daughters and believe it or not many of them are probably also dogwalkers. There was also a huge turnout of soldiers, ex-soldiers, serving soldiers and disabled soldiers. If you felt so strongly about such a huge cross section of everyday British people showing their respect, gratitude and thanks for those brave enough amongst us to fight in the armed services that protect this country then maybe instead of making sarcastic and pathetic comments on newspaper threads you should go and stand at the side of the main road through WB with a placard and make it known to the Parachute Regiment that you feel personally let down by their many years of defending this country and you don't give a **** about their losses and the suffering of the families of those who didn't come back from whatever conflict they were engaged in for our freedom and the right for people like you to abuse that freedom by such hostile negativity. If Wootton Basset has done anything it has been to kickstart the people of this country into realising how many youngsters are prepared to fight and die if necessary for their country. And whether or not we should be fighting this particular war is irrelevant, we are, and the least we can do is support those who are and share the grief with the families of those who lose their life's or are severely injured in the course of that war.

***If Wootton Basset has done anything it has been to kickstart the people of this country into realising how many youngsters are prepared to fight and die if necessary for their country. And whether or not we should be fighting this particular war is irrelevant, we are, and the least we can do is support those who are and share the grief with the families of those who lose their life's or are severely injured in the course of that war****

An excellent post and thankyou for the time you spent in posting it. What most people forget is the age of the lads that are dying....for god sake some of them were 10 years old when this war started...they knew very well what they were getting into when they signed on the dotted line....have an incling of respect for crying out loud.

I think it is in very bad taste that comments are saying that Bassett is the grief capital....we didnt want Sky Tv here.....it started off as a small number of ex service men paying their respects....once the locals and then the nationals got hold of the story its been blown into something that it wasnt originally meant to be.

RFM...keep your comments to yourself ...you are clearly a halfwit

Bobfm wrote:
RMepstead, I share your sentiment about the circus, which is something I have repeatedly said . However the obnoxious posts of some is quite nauseating. I guess reality or RFM won't be around to address their distaste to the Para's.

Well, well, Bobfm. Obnoxious? Nauseating? Strong words.
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Could you please enlighten me as to which parts of my first post are not simple statements of fact.
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If I'm not mistaken, a great many people find your posting somewhat obnoxious do they not?
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Do your UKIP ideals not allow for people to hold a view which does not agree with your own? Are you happy to post your own opinions on a public forum, yet believe others should not? Is that the official line of your sorry little fringe party or are you just getting caught up in the mass-hysteria and playing to the gallery on this one? Do tell.

reality_check, your comments sicken me.

reality, I speak as a father of a serviceman who would like to think if he were to die defending his country that he would be shown the sort of respect that 99.99% of the population show, not the insensitive and crass remarks of some on here.

I echo your sentiments Andy.

I've had a rant on this subject before. So I'll try to me calmer this time. As someone who went to Iraq first time around, I find both sides of the argument here a little laughable.
Yes (in my opinion) there are too many parades in Bassett. Yes there is too much of a scrum everytime a casualty is repatriated. Yes, dignity is turning into sickly sweet emotional outpourings.
Most of these lads (and girls) joined up knowing the risk of deployment. They are not conscripted. That doesn't belittle their sacrifice to the job. But this isn't a patriotic war. It's a nasty long term operation. It is not a flag flying operation to make joe public feel better. It's about doing a job you have been trained to do in the best army in the world.
I will guarantee that no one repatriated would want this circus on their arrival on home soil. Mates and families grieve (I know - I've done it). But please don't even try to understand the rollercoaster of emotions involved in losing someone on the ground. Then having to see their family when your here and their loved one isn't. Some of those old boys from the RBL know.
The dead are passed let them pass with dignity. WB is not dignified. The biker thing was wrong on so many levels. The Paras want a parade so give it to them. It means something for them personally. RFM put his comment quite crassly. But in there is a point.
Finally (still trying not to rant), what about the living casualties? Those who wish they were dead or want to get back out there but cant. No parades for them (not that they would want them either). Yes there's Help the Heroes and RBL (and an odd spread in The Sun). I don't hear of any WB rubber neckers seeking out these boys and girls to wish them well.
The public have been allowed to go on a patriotic wave to dumb down the fact that this is an unwinnable conflict that will sap the life out of what little army we have left. That's not unpatriotic - it's fact. Two tours in a year for some is beyond a joke.
So... remember the dead with dignity (not novelty events bikers); don't forget they are doing a job (and that is how they see it); don't forget the living (they need you more than the dead, there are more of them than the dead and the government would rather you forgot about them); and get our boys and girls the hell out of there (trust me, the "dying in vain" line some may use for that is just cr*p).

I can't believe the anti-bike brigade are still having a pop.
the bike rally, gave comfort to the bereaved, that people care.
It offered a less sombre event for the townsfolk.
It gave past and present service men and women an opportunity to take part.
It brought many walks of life together, including police officers, from other forces, volunteering their services.
It was incredibly well organised.
It went pretty much without "incident".
No major crashes, or political jousting.
It raised shed loads of money, for bereaved mothers.
A truly positive event.
Next time, come along and see for yourselves.

The biker rally and many other fund raising events are about the 'living'. Raising millions to help them rehabilitate their live, something of course should be done by HMG but we know they could care less about their Covenants.

PeeGee,fantastic post.
Others take note!!!!!

Gooey wrote:
PeeGee,fantastic post. Others take note!!!!!

If you think that post is fantastic it only goes to show that there are atleast 2 small minded idiots in Wiltshire......

codgod wrote:

Gooey wrote: PeeGee,fantastic post. Others take note!!!!!

If you think that post is fantastic it only goes to show that there are atleast 2 small minded idiots in Wiltshire......

Why.Because it isn't an opinion you share?
Very arrogant on your part.

I can't believe the anti-bike brigade are still having a pop.
the bike rally, gave comfort to the bereaved, that people care.
It highlights the fact that our troops are still out there (without pro or anti propoganda)
It offered a less sombre event for the townsfolk.
It gave past and present service men and women an opportunity to take part.
It brought many walks of life together, including police officers, from other forces, volunteering their services.
It was incredibly well organised.
It went pretty much without "incident".
No major crashes, or political jousting.
It raised shed loads of money, for bereaved mothers.
A truly positive event.
Next time, come along and see for yourselves.

PeeGee 'The biker thing was wrong on so many levels. The Paras want a parade so give it to them.'

Why was the biker thing wrong but the Paras any better. I was on the 'biker thing' and so were so many other serving or exmilitary personnel the only difference between us and the Paras is that we were on bikes, so again your having a pop because we turned up to show our thanks ON BIKES.

Now if you'll just help me down off the soapbox.

@PeeGee - excellent post. You have summed the situation up perfectly, thank-you.
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Hopefully the 'patriotic' flag-wavers will save their knee-jerk reactions and reflect on what you have said.
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I should point out that any 'sarcasm' and 'crassness' in my comments has been directed at the circus-goers and rubber-neckers who are slowly stripping away the dignity from the repatriations and the town of Wootton Basset, and not at the servicemen and women who are going about their difficult jobs in a professional manner. However, what they are doing should not be confused with 'fighting for our country' or 'defending our freedom'.
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Apart from that there's really nothing left to say, Pee Gee has done the job perfectly.
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Except this. I Too - repetition does not make a weak argument stronger.

reality_check wrote:
@PeeGee - excellent post. You have summed the situation up perfectly, thank-you. . Hopefully the 'patriotic' flag-wavers will save their knee-jerk reactions and reflect on what you have said. . I should point out that any 'sarcasm' and 'crassness' in my comments has been directed at the circus-goers and rubber-neckers who are slowly stripping away the dignity from the repatriations and the town of Wootton Basset, and not at the servicemen and women who are going about their difficult jobs in a professional manner. However, what they are doing should not be confused with 'fighting for our country' or 'defending our freedom'. . Apart from that there's really nothing left to say, Pee Gee has done the job perfectly. . Except this. I Too - repetition does not make a weak argument stronger.

We dont have to reflect on anything, no-one is rubber necking away dignity....you are doing a perfectly good job yourself. If , as a human being I cant stand in quiet respect for another man who has knowingly given his life to a cause which is pointless or not then it is a very bad reflection on me. The fact that you think that this is just a pointless waste of time says far more about you than it does about me.

Im really glad you have nothing else to say...because lets face it...what you have said so far hasnt really been worth saying.

Out of 10 million sperm....how the hell were you the fastest?

Reality-checkreality
_check,
"Except this. I Too - repetition does not make a weak argument stronger.
"
I totally agree. So why do you continue to have a pop at the bikers?
Every person that attended, saw nothing less than a well organised event, with all the points I have made. There was no mention as to the purpose, or rights and wrongs of the war, just support for the families involved, in both morale and financial terms etc.
A truly positive event
I repeated my post, as a means of bringing the thread back on topic.
You keep on saying the same thing because you don't believe in bikes.
Indeed, " repetition does not make a weak argument stronger.
"

reality_check, Swindon says...
"Except this. I Too - repetition does not make a weak argument stronger."
Hilarious!
It should read "ACCEPT this I Too....."
followed by the useless anti motorcycle bigoted views repeated over again, not making those views any stronger .

I don't see anything at all wrong with raising money for ex-servicemen, injured heroes, etc.
Whether it's bikers, paras, or dogwalkers.
If you do object to it, I will never understand why, so please don't bleat on.
Thanks.

I Too wrote:
Reality-checkreality _check, "Except this. I Too - repetition does not make a weak argument stronger. " I totally agree. So why do you continue to have a pop at the bikers? Every person that attended, saw nothing less than a well organised event, with all the points I have made. There was no mention as to the purpose, or rights and wrongs of the war, just support for the families involved, in both morale and financial terms etc. A truly positive event I repeated my post, as a means of bringing the thread back on topic. You keep on saying the same thing because you don't believe in bikes. Indeed, " repetition does not make a weak argument stronger. "

'you don't believe in bikes'.
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What sort of dumb statement is that?
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Why not spend more time thinking and less time spouting? You never know, you might manage to contribute something useful.

Codgod, there were over 700 army and marine casulaties in NI. One was in my section. So when you have experienced such a thing, you may have the right to call me a small minded idiot again. I the meantime I'm NAAFI in what you have to say.
As for the biker thing, if people think it was the right thing to do, that's their opinion. It's just not my cup of tea (not bikes - I own one - just lowers the tone in my humble opinion). Each to their own though.

Reality_check, RFM and all the other guys against people turning the town into a circus ring. You actually have the power to do something about this you know! If you go along to your next council meeting you will be given the time to state your case of asking for the repatriation ceremonies, parades (by whom ever) to cease! You are entitled to a 10 minute period, normally at the beginning of the meeting for public debate. You could ask the council that you feel it is not good for the town to be portrayed in this way any more, they have to listen to you and give an answer of sorts. You can even ask for it to be added to the next meetings agenda. If you really feel so strongly against these parades then stop bleating about it on forums and go and do something about it physically!
Oh and good luck with it.

And if you regard public debate on a public forum as 'bleating' Einstein, then what exactly are you doing on here?

In all honesty "reality" the only reason I keep logging on to this site is to smile at your ramblings!! I love the fact that you seem to have nothing else of interest in your sad little life that you want to be noticed on a forum where you are all but invisible!! If there were nothing in life to moan about I reckon you would invent something. Without wishing to repeat myself, go to your next council meeting and put your views across to them. You never know fella you might even meet a real person to talk to.
Keep smiling mate you seem to have a free weekend coming up, no parades!
( I quite like the Einstein bit, i will have to tell the guys that work for me to call me it)

PeeGee wrote:
Codgod, there were over 700 army and marine casulaties in NI. One was in my section. So when you have experienced such a thing, you may have the right to call me a small minded idiot again. I the meantime I'm NAAFI in what you have to say. As for the biker thing, if people think it was the right thing to do, that's their opinion. It's just not my cup of tea (not bikes - I own one - just lowers the tone in my humble opinion). Each to their own though.

So you think that just because you appear to have some kind of military back ground you have the right to belittle the good intentions of a whole community due to something that the media have turned in to?
Just face facts that youre in a small minority of mindless simpletons...with nothing better to do.

Well done for your efforts in Northern Ireland by the way....you must have made a big difference.

Crawl back under a rock Codgod. Just because I didn't like the format of a bike rally (even though it was well intended) you abuse the thousands who served in NI. I went to Iraq first time round as well. Would you like to have a go at that too? You are just the spineless type who has an opinion about everything but wouldn't have the balls to put the uniform on. It's nice to know that the paras parading in Bassett were less important to you than current serving personnel. Not that they would give a sh*t what you think anyway (nor would the current lot).

Baldyboy wrote:
In all honesty "reality" the only reason I keep logging on to this site is to smile at your ramblings!! I love the fact that you seem to have nothing else of interest in your sad little life that you want to be noticed on a forum where you are all but invisible!! If there were nothing in life to moan about I reckon you would invent something. Without wishing to repeat myself, go to your next council meeting and put your views across to them. You never know fella you might even meet a real person to talk to. Keep smiling mate you seem to have a free weekend coming up, no parades! ( I quite like the Einstein bit, i will have to tell the guys that work for me to call me it)

But it's different when you post eh Baldy?

Sorry "reality" all I am trying to get you to do is actually put your money where your mouth is! If you believe in something so strongly then you should make a stand for it, If I were in your shoes (and thankfully I'm not!) I would make a case and take it before the council. It's a fair and democratic process, they won't treat you like a leper. You could even put your case across about the council trying to move the market stall holders on as well. it's all about having the conviction of your beliefs, if they were mine I would stand up for them. Got to take a stand at some point old son! I don't agree with your side of the argument at all, you don't agree with mine and that's fine, however i had the conviction to go on the bike ride knowing it would upset some but I believed it to be the right thing to do. If you firmly believe that the parades etc are wrong then get off your arse young man and do something about it.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks for the advice Einstein, like I need it from a guy in too-tight leather pants..
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If you hadn't 'forgotten' that the council had nothing whatsoever to do with the Biker Jamboree going ahead or not then some of your 'bleating' might have been relevant.
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Anyway, glad you like the nickname. Must make a nice change from being called D*ck-head all day, eh?

Oh come on reality surely you can do better than that? By the way the council had a lot to do with the bike event!! Need to get your facts right young fella.
how did you know I wear "too tight leather pants"?? Must be some club you have a fetish with mate, maybe you got me confused with one of your boyfriends!
Anyway seeing as you can't take a little advice from someone older and wiser than yourself, I guess I should leave you in your bitter little world in peace. I'd like to say it was fun but I don't think you really know what fun is.... after all you don't ride a bike, now that's real fun!
You have about a year mate before the ride through happens again, that gives you plenty of time to organise your anti bike demo! We look forward to seeing you all on the high street, don't forget to make yourself known to me, I'll be the one in tight leather pants riding a big Triumph!
Cheerio

PeeGee wrote:
Crawl back under a rock Codgod. Just because I didn't like the format of a bike rally (even though it was well intended) you abuse the thousands who served in NI. I went to Iraq first time round as well. Would you like to have a go at that too? You are just the spineless type who has an opinion about everything but wouldn't have the balls to put the uniform on. It's nice to know that the paras parading in Bassett were less important to you than current serving personnel. Not that they would give a sh*t what you think anyway (nor would the current lot).

Tell me where ive abused the thosands that have sever in NI?
I think somewhere down the line youve made that story up in your head. You have the bare face cheek to turn this around after your totally insulting first post...Like i said previous , the fact you are an ex service-men adds nothing more to this than if i was an ex bin-man.

I have a massive amount of respect for anyone in the services...probably for you at the time , however i will not stand by whilst you post a thread like you did.