Military corteges in Wootton Bassett

[bookbinder]

This is for people who live in Wootton Bassett. Whenever I see pictures of military corteges passing through Wootton Bassett, there are always many people lining the streets, and the British Legion members are there also. My question is: how do the people who line the streets, to pay their respects, know when a cortege is going to pass through the town? Is it announced in the local press, or something like that? It seems to me to be unlikely that all the residents just happened to be there when the sad procession was passing.

[anotheoldgit]

I am not a resident of Wootton Bassett, but it seems to me that like all local events that may take place in any town or city, that it is as you say, it is reported by the local media.

[bookbinder]

Thanks for your answer, anotheoldgit, but what I really meant was that the people in the town appeared to have prior knowledge that a cortege will pass through the main street. It seems to me to be logical to imagine that, yes, an undertaker will be told that a coffin will arrive at Lyneham on a plane from wherever, and the funeral cars will be waiting, but is the arrival time known so far in advance that it is published in the local press?

[craft1948]

I think the air base liaises with the local British Legion.....

[bookbinder]

Thank you, craft1948. It looks as if you might be on the right track there.

[herbie]

I think i read in the paper they sound a church bell thats in the town centre??.

[jackthehat]

Many shops put hand-made news-posters up in their windows giving the date and time of the next repatriation having been informed by a liaising department from RAF Lyneham............and it spreads via word of mouth, etc.

[bookbinder]

Thank you herbie and jackthehat. It looks as if the people in Wootton Bassett have got a system of making these events known, and without a lot of high-tec involvement. It's just a matter of people quietly spreading the word.