THOUSANDS stood in silence in the High Street of Royal Wootton Bassett 10 years ago today. As the setting sun cast a gold and pink light, the Union Jack was lowered as the bodies of fallen soldiers were repatriated through the town one last time.

The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, had announced months earlier that the town once known as plain old Wootton Bassett would be granted its royal title to recognise the way it had honoured those who had lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Repatriations passed through Bassett en route from Lyneham to Oxford between 2007 and 2011, while runway repair works were being completed at the latter RAF base. When RAF Lyneham closed in September 2011, the people of Bassett gave fallen heroes last send off.

In total, 345 men and women were carried through the town in hearses as visitors came from all over the world to say goodbye. Flowers were placed on the cars as they moved slowly through the High Street, tears fell from the eyes of their loved ones and many clapped for those who had fought so bravely. 

Former Bassett mayor Paul Heaphy said: “David Cameron asked how the residents would feel if the town would be given the royal title.

“We were quite clear at the outset that a lot of the community felt that it needed to be about respecting the soldiers that had come through the town and supporting the armed services, it wasn’t about the town being royal. We felt that if it was positioned in the correct way then the community would be supportive of it. 

“The town was very proud and were quite surprised, nobody was expecting the town to become royal. There’s a very strong community in Wootton Bassett, people look out for each other.

“At the repatriations, you would see grown men cry because they are very emotional events. To see young men and women coming through the town and you can see their comrades and see the raw emotion on people, it’s very emotional.”

Martin Lansdowne, who lives in the town, recalled the repatriations.

He said: “I remember seeing the flowers that lay in the road from the High Street to Coped Hall, fallen from the hearses carrying the repatriated.

“I remember the solemnity, dignity, and respect with which the town’s residents honoured those repatriated. Many tears were shed at the repatriations and not just from those closest to the military personnel who had fallen.”

Martin is also the chairman of the Royal Wootton Bassett Sculpture Campaign, which is looking to replace the 4.5-tonne marble Forever poppy which collapsed under its own weight in 2017.

It was designed by artist Mark Humphrey and unveiled by Princess Anne, who was also the guest of honour when the town was renamed Royal Wootton Bassett on March 16, 2011. It became the first town in more than a century to be granted the title.
Princess Anne and Mr Cameron were joined by former Conservative defence secretary Philip Hammond as the prefix was awarded on behalf of the Queen.

Councillor Steve Bucknell said: “What happened in Bassett was remarkable because it was spontaneous, not organised or orchestrated. It was made special by the people not only from the town but from across the country who joined us either physically or in spirit. We did not do it for recognition, but I hope in years, decades, and centuries to come people will look at the name of our town on the map and remember the men and women who pay the ultimate sacrifice. We honour those who serve.”

More than 15,000 bikers drove through Royal Wootton Bassett in 2010 for the first Ride of Respect as a thanks to the town for supporting the families of soldiers who were killed.

The ride’s founder Julia Stevenson – a former vehicle mechanic in the army until 1968 – was overcome with emotion when they made their first journey through Bassett. 
“It was the first time that biking en masse had been done in British biking history,” Julia said. 

“I led the ride, and I had a couple of bikers either side of me, I rode through the town and I remember coming up the hill and seeing the old building which is now the museum.

“Months before, more or less every evening, our boys and girls were being killed in Afghanistan.

“It was a tragedy. Seeing that, it makes you feel for your comrades. Seeing the crowds in Royal Wootton Bassett is overwhelming, seeing everybody out there waving, and the flags in the windows, and there was a sign saying ‘we love you bikers’ it brought everything home. 

“When I got through the town, I was so overwhelmed, I had to pull over. 

“I got off my bike and I walked over to the field and I lost it, I cried like a baby. I felt so proud to belong to a biking community, it’s a memory that’s embedded in my heart forever. 

“The town deserved to get its royal title, what those people did for our soldiers, it was wonderful. I have such respect for them.

“A little sleepy town with the loveliest people, they deserve to be royal.”
Ride of Respect passed through the town a total of three times, with its last in March 2012 as the repatriations also came to an end. 

To mark the 10th anniversary, a Facebook page has been set up by two councillors, husband and wife Steve and Allison Bucknell. 

Steve was the mayor of the town during the height of the repatriations in 2009 and 2010, while Allison has been the Wiltshire councillor for Lyneham since 1999.
People are being invited to add their own contributions to the Facebook page We Honour Those Who Serve.

Allison said: “Lyneham played a huge part in the repatriations and whilst Wootton Bassett deserved the Royal title for what happened there, I do feel that Lyneham missed out. 

“This is the opportunity for the people of Lyneham to share their memories.”