Ceremony marks return of repatriations to Brize Norton

David Cameron led tributes to the armed forces who “made our country great” at a ceremony to mark the transfer of repatriations of fallen troops to a new RAF base.

The Prime Minister said “we cannot thank them enough” for their efforts and the sacrifices they make.

After four years, ceremonies returned to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday. They were moved to RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, in April 2007 when Brize Norton was closed for runway repairs.

On Wednesday, a moving sunset ceremony marked the end of repatriations through RAF Lyneham’s nearby town of Wootton Bassett when the Union flag on the high street was taken down.

Yesterday the flag was raised to the sound of a lone bugle in a newly-built memorial garden in Carterton in Oxfordshire.

The flag was handed over to the chairman of Brize Norton Parish Council and the mayor of Carterton. It was blessed by the Chaplain to the Royal British Legion, also the Vicar of Carterton and Brize Norton, the Rev Bill Blakey, and presented to the Royal British Legion, who raised it. Addressing the crowd, the chairman of Oxfordshire County Council Patrick Greene said: “We would particularly like to welcome those of you who have travelled today from Wootton Bassett.

“The way your town has, over the last few years, come rain or shine, led the respect of the public for our fallen heroes has been an example to us all.”

Mr Greene added that council had been working with the RAF and Thames Valley Police to ensure the new route for the cortege could pass a safe place for people to continue showing their respects.

Among those taking part yesterday was Maurice Baker, president of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, who has been parade marshal for 160 of the 167 repatriations in Wootton Bassett.