http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wilt ... 566626.stm

Am I the only person who is getting sick of hearing about Wootton Bassett?

OK so apparently Wootton Bassett has lost more soldiers than any other town. Does this make the deaths of the other soldiers any less important? No.

Does this make Wootton Bassett Britain's "most patriotic town"? No.

So why is such extensive coverage given to one little town in Wiltshire?

Lazy media as usual, they've always got an angle...

Err, maybe because this is where all of the deceased soldiers are returned to the UK via RAF Lyneham.

Sure, now explain why it's only recently a big deal is being made of the town. The "war" in Afghanistan has been going for nearly 9 years, why is it now that the media make a big fuss about this little town?

Quoted for truth.


Because the mounting deaths are now becoming untenable, and this is the obvious location to focus on. It is the focal point at which people are now gathering in larger numbers, in a positive feedback loop with the increased news coverage.

It doesn't matter that it's a small town just off the M4 a few miles from Swindon. It could be anywhere. The point is, people are gathering because the death toll is mounting. This kind of thing has happened since the very first wars before history began. It's human nature.

For several years the People of Wootton Bassett have "welcomed" back servicemen being repatriated via Lyneham the local news has always recorded this. Personally I think its nice people care enough to do it and do it very regularly.

If you have a problem with that do me a large favour and have that problem somewhere else.

I have no problem with it. What I have a problems with is two fold:

1) The media suddenly jumping all over it. Personally I believe that the constant reporting of Wootten Bassett belittles the grief and pain (not to mention remembrance) in other areas of the Country. To me the way the media reports it, it comes across that somehow the mourning in Wootten Bassett is more important than the mourning conducted elsewhere. Maybe that's just me then...

2) The Labour government's ill-considered "operations" in the middle-east in the first place.

I think they are high lighted simply as its there that all the bodies come back through, so it naturally becomes a focal point. Not so much more important as more regular.

Totally agree with that

Alun is right, it is a focal point. It doesn't matter where it is, and it isn't belittling other places, it is just the place in the spotlight at this moment according to certain circumstances.

Just imagine how much more publicity there would be if returned servicemen had a procession in front of Westminister and Buckingham Palace.

IMHO, I think we're getting off very lightly, compared to previous wars. After 9 years of war we've lost about 250 men. Time was we'd lose that many in a morning and consider it getting off lightly.

If you join the forces, you have to consider the fact that your life expectancy will be shortened alarmingly by being in a profession that may involve lots of people trying to kill you.
Not that each death isn't a tragedy for the families, it's just to my mind Wootton Basset has become a focal point of people coming home dead after a war many feel we shouldn't be involved. It's not really about the numbers, it's about the reasoning behind it, IMHO.

Very true. OK so it's become the focal point to mark the lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can accept that.