Thetownend.com

'Wootton Bassett is to be the first town in more than 100 years to get the title of "Royal" in recognition of its efforts to honour the UK's war dead.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12757984

does this mean the 'bassett reds' are now the 'Royal Bassett Reds'??

Dont see why not!

I'm sure the residents didn't really do it for recognition, but I think its a fitting tribute.

I'd like to think on some level the residents represented the countries support of the troops and the dead.  For me that is that regardless of my feelings on whether the wars were right or wrong, regardless of the accepted 'occupational hazards' of serving in the army, I respect the people on the front line who put there lives on the line each day because their county has told them to. And I respect those who unfortunately came home through Bassett.

Since i been working here i have seen bassett in a different light. Never met such a happy and nice bunch

Great news, its good to see the good guys getting some recognition..Well done Wotton Bassett

Extremely well put Batch, think you've said pretty much everything I wanted to about this.

Now we just need the government to actually look after returning troops properly and maybe even equip them properly in the field so they don't come back injured or through Bassett at all (EDIT: not a dig at this govt btw, they've all badly betrayed the "Forces' Covenant" for years)

Spot on.

Having grown up there I've felt very proud of the town these last few years. A well deserved recognition.

Can we now put our address as

55 Any Street
Swindon
Nr Royal Wootton Bassett
Wiltshire

??

I think that you're both spot on.

I couldn't concur more. Well said Batch

What Batch and Paul D said.

I think it's going to look great on my CV that I worked at Royal Wootton Bassett.

Although it wasn't Royal when I worked there so maybe it won't count?  :)

Agreed. In general, great people.

Just hope they don't get rid of Lyneham now?

That decision isn't going to change. In fact, I'd imagine the imminent closing of RAF Lyneham probably had some bearing on the decision.

I work at Lyneham primary in a Wednesday it's such a nice school - there's loads of "relocating to Brize Norton" info around in the reception  - pretty sad :(
I feel honured I got to go up in a Hercules last year

I spent a few years whilst I was growing up in Brize Norton.  Luckily I was too young to be infected by the proximity to Oxford.

Been in a few hercules on the tarmac but never airborn. It'll be sad to see them go.

You have my utmost sympathy.

We all have our struggles in life.  Glad to say I came through it un scarred.

I know it was because it was en route to John Radcliffe, but does anyone know why RWB was chosen for the repatriations?

It's never been an officially organised thing

I thought it was because it was the first town the cars passed through after leaving Lyneham (ie landing back in Britain) en route to their final resting place?
Although as Si said, I don't think it's ever been "official".

It started off as just a few members of the Royal British Legion along with some ex-service personnel from the town turning out as the cortège passed through. My wife's grandad was one of the original lot. It would start with one person getting word from Lyneham that a repatriation was due and they then used a good old fashioned telephone tree system to let others know.