As many will know, the MOD Repats will soon cease running through Wooton Bassett as RAF Lyneham closes. As we operate close to RAF Brize (and into it a lot) some of us were discussing whether we’d wait for the corteges or simply avoid them. I’m going to do the latter and time any deliveries in the area to completely avoid them whereas some drivers think this is disrespectful. I just think it’s all got out of hand and is turning into the flower frenzy of Dianas’ death. Am I right or wrong?
Muckaway:
As many will know, the MOD Repats will soon cease running through Wooton Bassett as RAF Lyneham closes. As we operate close to RAF Brize (and into it a lot) some of us were discussing whether we’d wait for the corteges or simply avoid them. I’m going to do the latter and time any deliveries in the area to completely avoid them whereas some drivers think this is disrespectful. I just think it’s all got out of hand and is turning into the flower frenzy of Dianas’ death. Am I right or wrong?
I think it has got out of hand and that many of the mourners are retired Greenham Common protesters and their kids. If you watch the ceremonies at the Cenotaph, they are dignified affairs, the media frenzy at Wooton Bassett and Brize Norton have made it a publicity stunt.
I just think it’s all got out of hand and is turning into the flower frenzy of Dianas’ death
.
you’re wrong. This kind of high profile is needed to keep the public aware of the consequences of us being the worlds policeman.
but you’re right to avoid the cortage whenever possible, nothing disrespectfull in that
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not. is ok as long as your cortage does not inconvenience a wagon driver making a delivery or collection. how sad is that?
I have read on this forum how drivers feel they get little or no respect, sorry mate its thinking like that which drags us all down. how many ex forces people are truckers? how must they feel reading a post like this.
There was some muppet on the radio suggesting that they should route the cortege through Carterton. This, of course, is in the opposite direction to Oxford where they are going.
The thing at Wooten Basset was getting out of hand - It started off as a spontaneous sign of respect, and got whipped up by the media into something else entirely. It was obvious from the footage that while many people were genuine mourners, many were not and anly wanted to get their faces on TV.
Surely we can respect our soldiers without all that show. The families will be on the airfield and the rest of us should stay away. Remembrance day, local parades, and the big one at the Cenotaph, is our opportunity to give thanks for all those who have died on our behalf in wars all over the World. Leave these sad repatriations for the relatives and friends of the deceased.
Santa:
There was some muppet on the radio suggesting that they should route the cortege through Carterton. This, of course, is in the opposite direction to Oxford where they are going.The thing at Wooten Basset was getting out of hand - It started off as a spontaneous sign of respect, and got whipped up by the media into something else entirely. It was obvious from the footage that while many people were genuine mourners, many were not and anly wanted to get their faces on TV.
Surely we can respect our soldiers without all that show. The families will be on the airfield and the rest of us should stay away. Remembrance day, local parades, and the big one at the Cenotaph, is our opportunity to give thanks for all those who have died on our behalf in wars all over the World. Leave these sad repatriations for the relatives and friends of the deceased.
This^
mavrick:
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not. is ok as long as your cortage does not inconvenience a wagon driver making a delivery or collection. how sad is that?
I have read on this forum how drivers feel they get little or no respect, sorry mate its thinking like that which drags us all down. how many ex forces people are truckers? how must they feel reading a post like this.
I think you are wrong about this, grief is a private thing and until you have gone through it you don’t understand. Funerals are not about making the numbers up, they are a time to reflect, smile about good things and remember the deceased person with your closest friends and family.
I think you are wrong about this, grief is a private thing and until you have gone through it you don’t understand. Funerals are not about making the numbers up, they are a time to reflect, smile about good things and remember the deceased person with your closest friends and family
grief is a private thing and perhaps the funerals should be limited to family/friends etc, but what is being discussed is the repatriation of the body.
I am sure that the families are OK about the numbers turning out in respect…as long as it is with respect and not a circus.
del949:
I am sure that the families are OK about the numbers turning out in respect…as long as it is with respect and not a circus.
But that is what the post is about, is it like a Diana flower festival?
Repatriation means bringing the body home, it doesn’t need to be on full display to hundreds of shell suited people carrying Lidl and Aldi bags gawping at the family or even the coffin. It is private and most people want their privacy. I am still sure that the sad losses will still be covered by the media both locally and nationally
I think the title “Royal Wooton Bassett” is very fitting.
The RAF page explains it quite well to me.
raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm? … 1DD223B17C
I have a vested interest in the RAF as my cousin and a close friends son are serving on Tornados in Gioia Del Colle. They are both based in Marham
Wheel Nut:
del949:
I am sure that the families are OK about the numbers turning out in respect…as long as it is with respect and not a circus.
But that is what the post is about, is it like a Diana flower festival?
Repatriation means bringing the body home, it doesn’t need to be on full display to hundreds of shell suited people carrying Lidl and Aldi bags gawping at the family or even the coffin. It is private and most people want their privacy. I am still sure that the sad losses will still be covered by the media both locally and nationally
I think the title “Royal Wooton Bassett” is very fitting.
The RAF page explains it quite well to me.
raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm? … 1DD223B17C
I have a vested interest in the RAF as my cousin and a close friends son are serving on Tornados in Gioia Del Colle. They are both based in Marham
I think it should be remembered that it is mostly these “shell suited” people from deprived areas that supply the forces with the youngsters that are coming home in boxes.
There is no disrespect in avoiding the disruption at all.
The forces was and probably still is the largest single contributor of drivers to the industry.
mavrick:
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not.
When did conscription start up again in the UK then■■?
I know I don’t hold a popular view here but anybody who has signed up to the forces in the past ten years can place a safe bet that they will be going to war. At the end of the day it’s there job same as we can’t moan if someone asks us to drive a truck and deliver something. If we were to unfortunately die while working would we get a cortege??
Muckaway:
As many will know, the MOD Repats will soon cease running through Wooton Bassett as RAF Lyneham closes. As we operate close to RAF Brize (and into it a lot) some of us were discussing whether we’d wait for the corteges or simply avoid them. I’m going to do the latter and time any deliveries in the area to completely avoid them whereas some drivers think this is disrespectful. **I just think it’s all got out of hand and is turning into the flower frenzy of Dianas’ death. Am I right or wrong?[/**quote]Easy to say when it isnt your mates being brought back in boxes.
Wheel Nut:
mavrick:
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not. is ok as long as your cortage does not inconvenience a wagon driver making a delivery or collection. how sad is that?
I have read on this forum how drivers feel they get little or no respect, sorry mate its thinking like that which drags us all down. how many ex forces people are truckers? how must they feel reading a post like this.I think you are wrong about this, grief is a private thing and until you have gone through it you don’t understand. Funerals are not about making the numbers up, they are a time to reflect, smile about good things and remember the deceased person with your closest friends and family.
after losing my mum a couple of months ago i couldnt agree more.
Not disrepectful to stay away whatsoever, because we live in a democracy and you have freedom of choice.
Most of the people who lined the streets of Wooton Basset were from the british legion or the regimental association of the soldier and were there to show support for his family, bear in mind that most of his friends are still in the place where he died and can’t attend the funeral.
The people of Wooton Basset who took the time to stop and show respect were also just exerscising their freedom of choice.
grousebeater
mavrick:
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not. is ok as long as your cortage does not inconvenience a wagon driver making a delivery or collection. how sad is that?
I have read on this forum how drivers feel they get little or no respect, sorry mate its thinking like that which drags us all down. how many ex forces people are truckers? how must they feel reading a post like this.
■■■■■■■■ to getting stuck behind it.
Ive been caught behind the funeral cars a couple time coming out of Lyneham base main entrance,i only follow as far as the turning for Chippenham then pop down to the M4 that way,it doesnt bother me one bit getting stuck as it’s 20 minutes out of my life,theyve given the rest of theirs…
washy jnr:
Ive been caught behind the funeral cars a couple time coming out of Lyneham base main entrance,i only follow as far as the turning for Chippenham then pop down to the M4 that way,it doesnt bother me one bit getting stuck as it’s 20 minutes out of my life,theyve given the rest of theirs……
well said,couldn’t agree more.
i’ll probably not come across them from where i’m from & doiing the work i do but it wouldn’t bother me 1 bit if i did get stuck behind them.
i’ve been to wootten bassett on my bike to do both the ride of respects for the town & troops & the feeling of patriotism is amazing,the towns people were full of support for what we did also all the troops as they heard about it in afghanistan & iraq,the troops feel proud as ■■■■ knowing the british people are paying their respects to a soldier they’ve never met
mavrick:
It seems that giving your life for your country, regardless of whether you agree with the campaign or not or the fact that you have no choice whether to go or not. is ok as long as your cortage does not inconvenience a wagon driver making a delivery or collection. how sad is that?
I have read on this forum how drivers feel they get little or no respect, sorry mate its thinking like that which drags us all down. how many ex forces people are truckers? how must they feel reading a post like this.
I’m not complaining about being inconvienienced; Before Lyneham started receiving the bodies, Brize did it whilst having their taxiways resurfaced. I worked hauling planings and whenever a coffin came in, all 6 tipper drivers parked side by side, beacons off facing the terminal, and the 2 planers parked up in the same way with their conveyors bowed, I wish I’d taken a pic of it as it was a great moment. How am I being disrespectful by simply avoiding the cortege? Does a grieving family need to see an almost worn out Foden covered in grime?
I do respect war vets; I had a Great Uncle who served in the desert as a tank driver, and his brother was a driver for several high ranking officers (and was evacuated at Dunkirk). My Grandfather was a lorry driver in the same war and used his lorry to move crashed (and burnt out) aircraft and what he saw he was always reluctant to describe.
washy jnr:
Ive been caught behind the funeral cars a couple time coming out of Lyneham base main entrance,i only follow as far as the turning for Chippenham then pop down to the M4 that way,it doesnt bother me one bit getting stuck as it’s 20 minutes out of my life,theyve given the rest of theirs…
Well said!!
skids:
washy jnr:
Ive been caught behind the funeral cars a couple time coming out of Lyneham base main entrance,i only follow as far as the turning for Chippenham then pop down to the M4 that way,it doesnt bother me one bit getting stuck as it’s 20 minutes out of my life,theyve given the rest of theirs…Well said!!
But if I choose to avoid it, what’s so disrespectful? If I’m on the A420 and I’ve heard on the radio there’s a cortege planned, I’ll go to Lechlade and up to Burford and let those who want to stand there do so in peace.