Corteges for British war dead returning from Afghanistan to soon drive down side streets to avoid public in Wootton Bassett; town residents upset

Sky News video: War dead to be driven down side streets to avoid the public.

July 2, 2011. http://youtu.be/2_rTmaQj7Qc

News that funeral corteges for British war dead returning from Afghanistan will intentionally bypass the public in Wootton Bassett and Carterton starting in September, after the closing of RAF Lyneham, and instead, drive thru RAF Brize Norton, continues to outrage many area residents who feel that the new policy is insulting.

Video from two years ago shows what some of those corteges can be like.

This is the tradition they want to end.

ITN News Video: British troops killed in Afghanistan returned home

http://youtu.be/2BWdETm9u5A

Read more about the tradition here in The Guardian:

Loyal Wootton Bassett to become Royal Wootton Bassett

Wiltshire town gains rare title in recognition of its honouring of fallen service personnel returning to Britain

By Steven Morris, guardian.co.uk,

Wednesday 16 March 2011 13.03 GMT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/16/wootton-bassett-royal-wiltshire-service?INTCMP=SRCH

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From http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/

REPATRIATION OF BRITISH ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL KILLED IN SERVICE

The timings for the funeral corteges of personnel who have been killed in service, and who have been repatriated through RAF Lyneham, are published on the Wootton Bassett Town Council website. Timings are subject to change at short notice, so please use the Wootton Bassett Town Council website for up to date information.

As of today, RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire remains the largest station in the U.K.

See more on the base's ties to the U.S. Army Air Corps/Air Force here:

http://carterton-tc.gov.uk/heritage_rafusaf