THEY have stood in all weathers to honour fallen heroes returning from Afghanistan.

Now some of those behind Oxford’s repatriation ceremonies have been thanked by one of the highest military leaders in the land.

Four people who have helped organise the last three years of parades were invited to meet First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.

He personally thanked them, and through them the hundreds of others who turn out in Oxfordshire, for paying their respects as the funeral corteges make their way to the John Radcliffe Hosptial in Headington, prior to Oxford inquests into the deaths .

Amongst those being honoured was John Walker, 71, formerly of the Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, who helps organise the Final Turn in Headley Way, so called because it is the last place the hearses pass before entering the hospital.

He said: “When you talk about repatriations, people always talk about Royal Wootton Bassett and they have done a good job.

“But for three years people have been paying their respects in Headington too.

“They’re there in all weathers, hundreds of them, honouring those being brought home.”

Mr Walker, of Botley, writes reports on repatriations from the Final Turn, near St Anthony Padua Church.

He was honoured along with parade marshal Graham Whelan, formerly of the Parachute Regiment, Joy Blake, from Faringdon, of the Royal British Legion, and Chief Insp Cecilia Agger, from Thames Valley Police, who organises parade policing.

The bodies of military personnel have been brought to the John Radcliffe since June, 2008, first via RAF Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett and more recently through RAF Brize Norton.

The reports, written by Mr Walker and Mrs Blake, are sent around the world by the Royal Marines to British service personnel.

Mr Walker said: “This thanks wasn’t just for the people who stand in Headington. It’s for those who line the bypass, the ones who come to the end of their streets.

“A lot who turn up are in their 80s and 90s, but they stand there in rain and snow.”

The group were thanked by the First Sea Lord at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon.

Mr Walker said: “He said thank you very much for what we do. We told him we were part of a very big team, so we accepted those thanks on behalf of everyone.”

Mr Whelan, 62, from Carterton, said: “I’ve seen more than 300 bodies come past here. We were honoured for all the wrong reasons, but it was a great honour.

“We have 10 minutes’ silence each time as a mark of respect and people from the Army, Navy and the RAF stand to attention.

“It means a lot because I served with the Parachute Regiment. And it could have been me in one of those bags.”

In July 2010, 11 Parachute Regiment veterans, led by Mr Whelan and Jim Lewendon, were awarded a special medal by their regimental association commending their tributes to fallen soldiers.

The body of Rifleman Vijay Rai, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, will be repatriated through RAF Brize Norton next Thursday.

The cortege should pass through Carterton at 4.30pm and arrive at the John Radcliffe at 5.15pm. See oxfordmail.co.uk for any changes.