RAF returns Royal Wootton Bassett’s treasured flag (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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RAF returns Royal Wootton Bassett’s treasured flag
10:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News
Royal Wootton Bassett museum and heritage chairman Dave Thompson, mayor Mike Leighfield, town crier Owen Collier, Wing Cdr Peter Morgan, OC 216 Sqn, and Grp Capt Michael Neville, former station commander of RAF Lyneham
Wootton Bassett’s former town flag, presented to RAF Lyneham at a parade on October 8, 2008, has been returned.
RAF Lyneham closed last year and personnel transferred to RAF Brize Norton.
The flag, mounted in a case inscribed with the motto, We Honour those who Serve, is part of the town’s history, said Wing Cdr Peter Morgan, OC 216 Sqn, its former custodian. He told guests at the council office: “It had pride of place in the officers’ mess, and could have been put into storage, but it belongs to Wootton Bassett.”
Lyneham’s former station commander, Grp Capt Mike Neville spoke of Wootton Bassett’s role in the many sad repatriations and town clerk Johnathan Bourne recalled that the initial friendship link between the town and RAF Lyneham was formalised in 1994.
Mayor Mike Leighfield accepted the flag for display in the town with other memorabilia. He said: “We are sad to lose RAF Lyneham, and we miss the Hercules, but we have to move with the times.”
