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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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25/12/2009
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00:14
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One of the wonderful things about our country is the diversity of place names,some of which, the origins are quite vague. Barnoldswick is where most of us are,, twelve letters, none repeated, it was at one time registered as the longest place name as such. Stixwold, Tumby Woodside, Piddletrenthide, Affpuddle, the list is endless. One of my favourites is "Nemphnet Thrubwell sounds like a hangover" and before I snuff it , I want to have a look. But "Wooton Basset", we surely have all heard of. A beautiful English town which has been transformed into a place of honouring the sadness of conflict. Few weeks go by without the sight of its people paying their respects to the young men and women of this country passing through, now joined by members of the families of the fallen. The sight of the Globemaster Aircraft arirving at RAF Lyneham and discharging their solemn cargoes, the slow and dignified progress through this lovely place. I like a "Wet" and I am going to make sure that I have one in the "Cross Keys" in Wooton Basset, and thank the landlady and all present for what they have done and continue to do. They have been given an award in the past week and they deserve it. So my good wishes this Christmas go to the people of "Wooton Basset". Bless you all, have a good Christmas and may your welcome duties soon be discharged.
thomo
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Another
Traycle Mine Overseer
6250 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 05:42
thomo, I agree with your sentiments entirely.
I wrote to the Mayor of Wootten Bassett some months ago thanking him and the townspeople for showing respect to the fallen on behalf of the rest of the country.
I received a very nice email back from him thanking me.Nolic
http://www.woottonbassett.gov.uk/
" I'm a self made man who worships his creator"   |
Buzz Lightyear
Regular Member
60 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 06:22
Thomo, what a superb post. I know every 'Barlicker' will endorse these sentiments. Happy Christmas.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 06:44
Couldn't agree more. If Godron and his cabinet had to go there for each delivery it might concentrate their minds.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 06:51
Having posted that something struck me. I'd hate to think that in some strange sort of way the fact that those good people take notice and show respect means that the rest of the country can tick the repatriation off as sorted. We still need to protest about the fact that there are bodies in the first place and perhaps even more important keep the matter of the treatment of the injured and affected familes alive and in front of the politicians. There is good reason to suspect that once the public grief has been assuaged, they are forgotten. This doesn't detract from the actions of the good people who line the streets, we need to be active as well.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
HerbSG
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 07:33
All returning bodies come through Trenton airbase and travel the"Highway of Heroes" for about 120 miles into Toronto. There is the repatriation ceremony at the airbase and then the cortege takes to the highway. Much like Wooton Basset the locals are out in force along the route, young and old with flags, and unfortunately like Wooton Basset there will be a repatriation on the 29th of December. I hope that some day in the not too distant future we are able to see the real value of these sacrifices.
Edited by - Herb on 25/12/2009 10:38:29 AM
HERB
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frankwilk
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 07:53
If Godron and his cabinet had to go there for each delivery it might concentrate their minds
They are not wanted in places like wooton they would be booed off the street I do believe that is why they don't turn out
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 09:19
Good morning and a "Happy Christmas" to you all. Thank you for the above responses and if anyone in Wooton Basset reads this topic I am sure they will know how much the rest of the country values what they do on our behalf. I believe that most of us know that the careing people of that place are likely to be doing their good work for some time yet so it is as well to know that just like the ones they honour, they too will not be forgotten.
thomo |
gus
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 10:12
Excellent post Peter, I had the very same thought, in fact i said to Mary, " I would love to go to the Cross - Keys at Wooten Basset and toast the Town, and all our brave lads" for all their respect and bravery.
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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HerbSG
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 11:06
Edited by - Herb on 25/12/2009 11:07:26 AM
HERB
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 12:05
I have made a less than obvious error over the spelling of Wooton Basset, so before anyone jumps on me here is the true version "Wootton Bassett" this was of course unintentional and is purely due to feeling just a bit Nemphnet Thrubwell. It also appears that the "axe" is already poised over RAF Lyneham, to be closed by 2012 or as Mr Blair put it on anouncing this in 2003 "If it is needed it will remain open".
thomo |
gus
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 14:28
Snap Peter, I have done the very same thing on the spelling, a small thing in the picture of things.. ps. A merry Christmas to both yourself and Joan, and indeed all on OGFB.
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 14:32
This is as I understand, the place where it all began, and now on my list of "Must do". How very English it looks. Love them or hate them, such places have been at the heart of this country for a very long time and it would seem that although we are losing them at a phenominal rate, the better end of ale house traditions still lives on. Memories are awakened of Pubs that I have been in or seen, and harking back to a much bigger and earlier war I travelled the full length of the overhead railway from Liverpool to Southport in 1945, the first part of this journey took us over the docks and to our right were the remains of the housing that served the docks, it appeared that every street had a pub at one end, the strange thing was that they seemed to be the only places still relatively intact. I have seen similar pictures of the East end of London. This is an old photo and the big green doors are closed, but I bet its a good place to be when they are open.
thomo |
ama
New Member
20 Posts
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Posted - 25/12/2009 : 19:33
Merry Christmas to you all. There aren't many old Barlickers down here, at least I haven't met any yet, but I must tell you that the Cross Keys in Wootton Bassett ( known as Bassett to most of the folk here) is a very friendly hostelry and the landlady very nice. I go in for a coffee and sandwich after a visit to the surgery and have never felt unwelcome. Yes RAF Lyneham will close at the end of 2012 but the Hercules will have been at Brize Norton for a year by then so all repatriations will be landing there. I should point out that it was only because the coroners office in Oxford was overwhelmed, that it was decided to use RAF Lyneham because we're in Wiltshire. Many people forget that we Lost a Herc in Iraq along with the crew, most of whom I knew through work. That was a desperately sad day for me as one of those lads used to call me mother as he said I reminded him of his mum. Bassett High Street lined with people on a repatriation day is a humbling sight, Some of the old soldiers who wait for hours sometimes are approaching ninety now but it is so important for them to stand and pay their respects to another service person who didn't make it home alive. Any one of you would be welcomed in any of the pubs there, and there are quite a few. Bit like Barlick really
There are never enough hours in the day |
Tizer
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Posted - 26/12/2009 : 10:31
There has been an army officer giving his `View from Afghanistan' regularly on Radio 4's Today programme. This morning he talked about celebrating Christmas out there and of course he mentioned being apart from family. One thing he said particularly caught my attention and it went something like this: "My colleagues and I are all volunteers but our family members are conscripts". I'd never thought about it like that before.
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 26/12/2009 : 11:34
Very true that is Tizer, I spent a Christmas on the other side of the World and whether its war or peace, it hurts both sides away and at home. . "Ama" I am sure that the majority of the members here would echo this, "Next time you pop into the Cross Keys, give them our best wishes from Barnoldswick, and say thank you on our behalf" Suddenly Wootton Bassett does not seem quite as far away. I also understand that the "Axe" is hovering over Brize Norton as well. Enjoy your day and the rest of the Festive season. Many thanks for your imput.
thomo |
"Wooton Basset"
