Page 28 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
Swindon Wide
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28
the bigger picture

Dignity and quietness at Wootton Bassett Refl ecting on confl ict in poety
The visit by the Princess Royal on 16 October to bestow Letters Patent Poems written and read by serving soldiers who have experienced bat-
upon Wootton Bassett - only the third town in history to be accorded the tle in Afghanistan, and those who bear witness to the aftermath of war,
title Royal- was marked by a quiet dignity and respect, and indeed sadness. were read to an invited audience before the Princess Royal presented
Some 14,000 peo- the losses that this the Letters Patent to Royal Wootton Bassett.
ple gathered on both country's operational
sides of the High Street responsibilities have
to view the arrival of forced upon us."
VIPs including an un- Addressing the
expected visit by the crowd the town’s
Prime Minister David mayor Paul Heaphy
Cameron and new De- said it was not a day
fence Secretary of two for celebration and the
days Philip Hammond. Royal status was re-
They heard Prin- ceived with a sense of
cess Anne express Photo: Jodie Henderson sadness. “We did not
her feelings for the town which has ask for recognition and we fi nd the
honoured the repatriation of 355 attention rather humbling. We hope
servicemen and women who have when people see the road signs they
died in Iraq and Afghanistan will pause and remember why we
As honorary are Royal, and, in
commandant of doing so, remem- Jodie with Ryan Gearing, publisher of Enduring Freedom: an Afghan Anthol-
RAF Lyneham ber the brave men ogy, and Maurice Barker, chair of Royal Wootton Bassett Royal British Legion
she said she was and women of our The poems have been brought zine after she attended the repatria-
touched how peo- forces.” together in a book entitled Endur- tion of Highlander Scott McLaren on
ple had turned The day in- ing Freedom: an Afghan Anthology, 15 July with photographer Richard
out to witness the cluded a military published by Fire Step Publishing in Wintle of Calyx multimedia.
cortege of seven marchpast, the support of Combat Stress. Former poet laureate Sir Andrew
crew who were blessing of a new Lone Chime, written by Nova Motion has written the foreword for
killed in a Hercules coat of arms and Hreod pupil Jodie Henderson, 15, the collection which is available in
crash in 2005 in a new fl ag for the from Haydon Wick, and published in bookshops and from online retailers.
Afghanistan. She town which now the August Link, has been included. Or contact Tommies Guides on
said Wootton Bassett was being features a Royal lion, plus a fl ypast She expressed her thoughts when 0845 475 1945.
recognised for the way it had hon- by an RAF Globemaster and the on work placement with the maga- www.tommiesguides.co.uk
oured those who had fallen since familiar Hercules which has now
then, describing it as “a town rich departed Lyneham, as well as the
in tradition, secure in itself and its last Vulcan bomber. Lydiard Park Field of Remembrance
sense of values.” • See pictures by Jodie Henderson For the second year the Royal British Legion is creating the Royal Wootton
She added, "I am privileged to be and Richard Wintle at www.swin- Basssett Field of Remembrance in tribute to all those who have served
allowed to add my thanks to those donlink.com in our armed forces and are no longer with us, within the Walled Garden
of Her Majesty the Queen and the • Images and impressions of the at Lydiard Park.
whole country for the example day by Deborah Coleman can also
you set in respecting with dignity be found at www.swindonlink.com It will be open on Friday 11 No-
vember with a two minute silence
and the last post from Royal British
SWIN
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SWIN Legion buglers. The fi eld will be open
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SWINDON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES DON CYCLES
SWIN
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until Sunday 20 November.
Superstore will be leading an Act of Refl ection
Superstore
Superstore
St Mary’s Church at Lydiard Park,
on each day the Field of Remem-
brance is open. Rev Clive Deverell
at St Mary’s said, “from Saturday
W 12 to Sunday 19 November at 11am
With 250 bikes on show ith 250 bikes on show
including electric bikes we will stop and pause, remember
and refl ect.”
The price is right On Sunday 13 November, St On Sunday 20 November, the fi nal
The parking is free Mary’s 10am morning service will open day, as the sun sets St Mary’s
Bikes to suit everyone Act of Remembrance. with a short service at 3.30pm.
end in the Walled Garden with an will close the Field of Remembrance
Parts, repairs, accessories, Rockin for charity in Royal Wootton Bassett
back up stock DEPOSIT A community project involving hundreds of people in Wootton Bassett
has recorded a cover of Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September
Open: RESERVES Ends in aid of four military charities, to be released at the end of October
Mon to Sat, 9am to 5.30pm FOR The recording took place at St Bartholomew’s Church in Wootton Bas-
Closed Sundays CHRISTMAS sett involving local singers, musicians and the town’s choir, then mixed
- riding our bikes! at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio in Box.
The video of people singing on a closed off Wootton Bassett High
Tel: (01793) 700105 60a Beechcr Street was shot in September.
60a Beechcroft Road, SN2 6QDoft Road, SN2 6QD
Between Stratton Crossroads & Kingsdown The organisers hope one of the big recording companies will take on the
www.swindoncycles.co.uk project to boost sales for the charities. Could it be the Christmas number
1? Keep up to date with developments at www.woottonbassettrocks.co.uk
21-48 November 11.indd 28 21/10/2011 14:51