It is true that the honour of renaming the town ‘Royal Wootton Bassett’ was most certainly never sought nor imagined. That is not to say, however, that it was undeserved. The people did what they did because it was the right thing to do. It would have been unthinkable not to have recognised the coffins of the fallen as they were carried down the High Street. Yet it was about so much more than that bare necessity. The people of the town – in their quiet way- captured the imagination and struck a chord with the emotions of people across the Nation and in the wider world.

It was not about politics. Opinions vary on the conflicts, yet the spirit of each Repatriation was unanimous – these young men and women died serving Queen and country; accepting orders, and so often helping out their mates, no matter what the personal consequences might be.   We all did our bit and I felt privileged to have attended a large proportion of the 165 Repatriations.  How appropriate are the words of the town’s new motto ’We honour those who serve.’ Not just in the armed services but in the wider community as Mayor Paul Heaphy’s excellent speech made clear. Jay Cunningham, who presented the Princess Royal with a posy, inspired the wonderful war memorial – young hands holding up the world- which matches the motto and the spirit of the whole town so well.

Royal status was unsought if not undeserved. Yet it was with enormous pride that it was accepted. The Royal British Legion, ex Mayors Percy Miles, Chris Wannell and Mike Leighfield as well as Master of Ceremonies on the day and mastermind behind the whole thing, Steve Bucknell; and above all the whole staff of the Town Council, led so ably by Town Clerk Johnathan Bourne are all to be thanked and congratulated on an outstandingly dignified, enjoyable, appropriate and successful event. Was it not simply wonderful to see the Princess Royal, the Prime Minister, the new Defence Secretary, Chief of the General Staff and so many others coming to Royal Wootton Bassett to thank the people of the town, and of the wider community for all they have done to honour our war dead.

It was a great day indeed in the history of the town, and all involved can be immensely proud to have been part of it. For 1000 years or more the way in which we have done what we have done will be remembered and commemorated in the name ‘Royal Wootton Bassett’ and in the magnificent new coat of arms. Yet I suspect that for that 1000 years and longer the people of the town and their descendants will go about their daily business in their usual down to earth sort of way; and I am certain that whatever comes to pass, and whatever changes there may be, ‘Royal Wootton Bassett’ may well be the name, but most people, most of the time, will still know it just as ‘Bassett.’