Flypast over Wootton Bassett 12:00 hours - RAF scheduled timing
Family Service Starts 13:00 hours - RAF scheduled timing
Cortege is expected to leave RAF Lyneham at about 14:30 hours +/- 30 minutes
Distance to be covered approximately 4 miles to Wootton Bassett 14:55 hours +/- 30 minutes
- Very rough estimate of departure time from Wootton Bassett (20 minutes average to Gable X Pol Stn) Distance to be covered approximately 13 miles to GX Police Station Gable Cross Police Station (A420) 15:15 hours +/- 30 minutes - Thames Valley Police estimated time to take over responsibility for Cortege
(5 minutes average to Bridge over A420) Distance to be covered approximately 3.5 miles to Bridge over A420 Bridge over A420 (carrying B4000) 15:20 hours +/- 30 minutes
(5 minutes average to UKDA) Distance to be covered approximately 1.5 miles to UK Defence Academy UK Defence Academy (A420) 15:25 hours +/- 30 minutes
(5 minutes average to Folly Lay-by) Distance to be covered approximately 4.5 miles to Folly Lay-by Folly Hill Lay-by (A420) 15:30 hours +/- 30 minutes
(45 minutes average to JRH)
St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church 16:10 hours +/- 30 minutes
John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford) 16:15 hours +/- 30 minutes - Thames Valley Police estimated time of arrival at the John Radcliffe Hospital
REPATRIATION REPORT
Friday 09 April, 2010
From operations in Afghanistan, the repatriation of:
Guardsman Michael Sweeney (19), 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
Gdsmn Sweeney was killed by an explosion while on operations at Babaji, HelmandProvince, on 1st April 2010.
Rifleman Mark Turner (22), 3rd Battalion, The Rifles
Rfn Turner was killed by an explosion while on operations with the 3 Rifles Battle Group near Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge at Kajaki, Sangin, HelmandProvince, on 4th April 2010.
Service veterans and members of the public turned out in the following “stations of vigil” to pay their respects to the fallen as the cortege made its way on the 43 mile route from the point of arrival at RAF Lyneham to the John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford.
Wootton Bassett - Town Centre (1440)
This report from Duncan Wostenholm
Another good turnout on a warm and sunny afternoon with family and friends joined in respectful tribute by local inhabitants. Among those present were James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, Steve and Alison Bucknell, Mayor and Mayoress of Wootton Bassett, John Eagle, Mayor of Gateshead, Major Chris Willis of The Rifles and a Captain of the Coldstream Guards.
The RBL Bikers assisted as always with the families of the two fallen soldiers and numerous veterans in berets attended.
26 standards were paraded: Royal British Legion Swindon, Hungerford, Dursley & Cam, Abertillery, and Merthyr Tydfil. Association standards included: The Rifles (3 standards); Coldstream Guards Plymouth; Royal Berkshire Regiment; Korean War Veterans; Cwmbran Old Comrades; Devon & Dorset Regiment, Gillingham and Bath; Royal Naval Association, Calne and Pershore & District; Royal Observer Corps - 12 Group; 1st Parachute Regiment Swindon; The Light Infantry, Newport; Aden Veterans; Canal Zone Veterans; Dorsetshire Regiment (2 standards); Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Regiment of Foot) and the Royal Irish Rangers.
Gable Cross Police Station - On the A420 just east of the junction with the A419 (1450)
This report from Pat Bristow, RMA
There were the usual three standards paraded: RMA Swindon, Royal Engineers, Swindon and the RAF Lyneham Old Boys.
12 veterans attended, along with 40 members of the public and 120 police officers. The salute was ordered by Inspector Madge Lynch.
At the Road Bridge - over the A420 between Shrivenham and Highworth (1500)
This report from Derrick Jeans, RAFA
At the B4000 bridge over the A420, District Councillor Mrs Elaine Ware and six people stood in the warm sunshine as the cortege passed by at walking pace. All the oncoming traffic drew to a halt.
United Kingdom DefenceAcademy- at the Watchfield Roundabout on the A420, adjacent to the UKDA. (1505)
7 RMA veterans attended, along with the standard of the RMA Poole & District Branch. There were also as always the Canal Zone and RAOC (Para) veterans. Additionally, there were about 20 academy staff and members of the public.
The DefenceAcademy was represented and salute headed by Commander Harris RN.
Folly Hill Layby - east of Faringdon on the A420, just north of the A417 junction
This report by Joy Blake
On Friday 9th April we had almost 90 persons attending our repatriation meeting at Folly Hill Lay-by, at which the cortege for the two soldiers passed us by at 3.30 pm.
The community police were on duty as usual, with their assistance and hot drinks, although for such a warm afternoon cold drinks may have been the order. However, we are grateful to them in joining us and assisting.
There were many Royal British Legion members, travelling from as far away as Maidenhead, joining with the Farringdon & District Branch, as well as veterans from the Services. We were pleased to welcome for the first time members and their standard bearer from the Highworth Branch.
Also attending as well as townspeople, Town Councillors and other uniformed organisations. We had our local Member of Parliament attending, Mr Ed Vaisey (MP for Wantage District), the Town Mayors from Farringdon (Dr Mike Wise) and Wantage (Mr Patrick O’Leary).
Standards attending were the Union Flag, Royal British Legion Branches from Faringdon, Bampton, Highworth, Shrivenham, Wantage, Oxfordshire Womens Section and the Wantage Royal Naval Veterans Association.
John RadcliffeHospital, Oxford- near St Anthony Padua Parish Church, Headley Way.
This report from John Walker, RDG
We here at The Final Turn in Oxford stood to honour the above two soldiers. There were 60 veterans in berets and 45 other from all three services. The normal huge public crowd all the way up the hill to where we stand. We all agree that we are getting more of the Oxford public at each parade.
There were 10 Royal British Legion standards: OxfordCity, Marston, Islip, Littlemore, Headington, Chalgrove, Henley, Wheatley, Kidlington and Bicester. There were three Association standards: Coldstream Guards, Canal Zone, Oxford and the Society of St George, as well as the Banner of the Royal Dragoon Guards. Also with us was a fire tender with full crew from the Oxford Fire and Rescue Service.
Once again the vets and their good ladies helped with the hot drinks and food. Our dear cake lady Diana bringing her huge fruit cake and also her now famous rock cakes. I should like to add here than Ian (former Ox & Bucks and his other half have been a great help in putting the information together (standard checking and head counting). We thank once again the Thames Valley Police for helping control the traffic and our car parking. We also thank the church for the use of the washrooms and their car park.
On the day, we took a collection on behalf of the fire fighters (ref the recent loss of life in the south of England). We collected £117 which we passed over to the Oxford crew, to pass on to their colleagues in Southampton.
The weather was kind at 180C and sunny. We hear that all the normal places along the route from Wootton Bassett into Oxford were well attended.
-- Edited by Administrator on Tuesday 13th of April 2010 04:06:11 AM
-- Edited by Administrator on Tuesday 13th of April 2010 04:07:01 AM
