Wootton Bassett's heartfelt silent tribute along its Highway of Heroes

WOOTTON Bassett has become synonymous with honouring Britain's returning dead since RAF Lyneham, three miles from the Wiltshire town, took over repatriation duties from RAF Brize Norton in 2007.

Wootton Bassett is three miles north-east of the air base, on the route to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where the bodies of service personnel are taken in preparation for inquests.

No-one ever told the people of Wootton Bassett to gather for the corteges that pass along its streets. It is something that has simply sprung up out of the respect.

It began when former Wootten Bassett mayor and British Legion veteran Percy Miles noticed a funeral cortege passing through the town and paid his own, spontaneous standing tribute.

Since then, the RAF has notified the British Legion of every procession, and Mr Miles's lone tribute has grown to become a huge gathering.

Public appreciation has also grown for the respectful way the people of Wootton Bassett conduct themselves during these sombre occasions.

Processions of hearses, carrying the bodies of service personnel killed in both Afghanistan and Iraq, have passed through the town more than 70 times in two years.

Each time, the numbers of mourners seems to grow. But the silence of the crowds is always impeccable.

On Friday, some 4,000 people – a third of Wootten Bassett's population – gathered to pay their respects as the cortege bearing the bodies of five British servicemen made its journey along the High Street.

A petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown for the town to be honoured has attracted nearly 2,000 signatures and some have called for the town to be renamed Royal Wootton Bassett.

Meanwhile, campaigners want to rename the repatriation route the Highway of Heroes, and almost 25,000 people have joined a Facebook group simply called: "Thank You Wootton Bassett".

Town councillor Mollie Groom says the crowds who gather for the funeral processions reflect the townsfolks' friendly, sincere nature.

"When my mother came to visit, she always said how much she loves Wootton Bassett, because the people have got time to talk to you. The people are very genuine, lovely.

"It's incredibly sad to be giving them a homecoming so different to the one they should have had."

She says the feelings of this tight-knit, welcoming community are summed up by the reaction of one young police officer who cautioned her against taking his photograph during one procession.

"He said, 'I'm the same age of these guys and it always makes me cry'. That's how people feel about it round here."

Summing up the spirit of Wootton Bassett, mayor Steve Bucknell said after one repatriation: "The mood, as always, is sombre, and one of deep, sincere gratitude for everything the armed forces do for us.

"There is also a terrible sorrow that this sacrifice has to be made.

"Every time I speak to a serving soldier at a repatriation they always want to thank to people of Wootton Bassett, but I say it is us who should be thanking you."

The gatherings begin with a call to British Legion branch secretary Anne Bevis, who is often contacted just hours before the plane's arrival.

Explaining the popularity of the processions last year, Mrs Bevis said: "It is the only way that we can show our thoughts are with these brave men and women, and the loved ones they have left behind.

"They gave their lives, so what is a few minutes of ours, just to show that we care?"