Ceremony marks relocation of repatriations to RAF Brize Norton

The Prime Minister has joined a ceremony today to mark the transfer of repatriations to RAF Brize Norton.

Until now, fallen troops have been repatriated through the small market town of Wootton Bassett, in Wiltshire, where residents have lined the streets to pay their respects on behalf of the nation for the last four years.

The Union flag on the High Street was taken down during a ceremony last night before being blessed and folded. It was then placed overnight on the altar of St Bartholomew’s Church.

Another ceremony was held today at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, where a £2.8m repatriation centre has been built.

The flag was raised in the new memorial garden in the nearby town of Carterton during a ceremony led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard.

Unlike in Wootton Bassett, funeral corteges leaving the repatriation centre will not pass through the town centre.

Speaking during the Brize Norton ceremony, David Cameron thanked the armed forces for their service and sacrifice.

“My job comes with a huge number of privileges and a lot of interesting people to meet,” he said.

“But there is no greater privilege than meeting those who serve our country.

“I cannot stress enough the sacrifices they make for us and we cannot thank them enough for what they do.

“And we cannot say enough how proud we are of them and all that they do for our country.”