PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA PAY RESPECTS AT WOOTTON BASSETT

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND DUCHESS OF CORNWALL PAID A VISIT TO WOOTTON BASSETT RECENTLY TO THANK THE TOWN FOR ITS UNFAILING SUPPORT FOR THE ARMED FORCES. CHARLES AND CAMILLA BOTH LAID WREATHS AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN THE WILTSHIRE MARKET TOWN FOLLOWING A SERVICE TO DEDICATE A NEW FLAGPOLE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAD EARLIER LINED THE STREETS IN MOURNING AS HEARSES CARRYING THE COFFINS OF TWO BRITISH SOLDIERS PASSED THROUGH THE TOWN. LANCE CORPORAL DANIEL COOPER, 21, FROM THE 3rd BATTALION THE RIFLES AND RIFLEMAN PETER ALDRIDGE, 19, FROM THE 4th BATTALION THE RIFFLES, DIED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN. THEIR BODIES WERE FLOWN INTO RAF LYNEHAM AND THEIR COFFINS, DRAPED IN UNION FLAGS, PASSED THROUGH THE TOWN HERALDED BY ST BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH BELL. CAMILLA, WHO IS COLONIAL IN CHIEF OF RAF ALDRIDGE'S REGIMENT, HAD WRITTEN TO HIS FAMILY, A CLARENCE HOUSE SPOKESMAN SAID. HER WREATH, WHICH HAD RED FLOWERS IN KEEPING WITH THE REGIMENT'S COLOURS, READ: 'WITH DEEPEST GRATITUDE, CAMILLA.' PRINCE CHARLES'S WREATH READ: 'IN GRATEFUL AND EVERLASTING MEMORY, CHARLES.' THE PRINCE OF WALES ENJOYED A GLASS OF WHISKEY AFTER STOPPING OFF AT THE CROSS KEYS PUB TO THANK LANDLADY KIRSTY LAMBERT, WHO REGULARLY LOOKS AFTER BEREAVED FAMILIES ON REPATRIATION DAYS. THEY ALSO MET MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION RIDERS BRANCH WHO ATTEND EVERY REPATRIATION. PRINCE CHARLES TOLD GUESTS AT THE TOWN'S CONSERVATION CLUB: 'MY WIFE AND I HAVE COME HERE TODAY REALLY TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE AND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE OF WOOTTON BASSETT FOR THEIR UNSTINTING SUPPORT OF BRITAIN'S ARMED FORCES. YOUR ACTIONS HAVE COME TO SYMBOLIZE OUR NATION'S GRIEF. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR PROFOUND GRATITUDE TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.' THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 100 REPATRIATIONS PASSING THROUGH WOOTTON BASSETT SINCE APRIL 2007, WHEN RUNWAY REPAIRS AT RAF BRIZE NORTON IN OXFORDSHIRE MEANT THAT DEAD SOLDIERS WERE FLOWN INTO NEARBY RAF LYNEHAM INSTEAD. RAF LYNEHAM IS DUE TO CLOSE AT THE END OF 2012, WHEN REPATRIATIONS SHOULD REVERT TO BRIZE NORTON.