“WE help the families get through the few hours they are here, making sure they are not alone.”

Those were the words of Lynn Shuker, one of the new lead family liaison officers at repatriation ceremonies from RAF Brize Norton.

Mrs Shuker, 62, along with her colleague Lynn Little, 61, look after the family and friends of fallen service personnel during the ceremonies.

The Oxford Mail spoke to both after Thursday’s repatriation of Private Matthew Haseldin, 21, of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment.

Mrs Little, of Carterton, said: “The main thing is that we are here for the families. That is all we care about – making the hour or so they are here go as well as it can.

“It is about showing the respect to the family and getting them through a procedure that they do not really know about.”

She added: “Our role is to identify the family members when they arrive.

“We then direct them to the pavilion for them to have refreshments and explain to them what is going to happen, and just make sure they are alright and they do not need anything. If they do, we try to get it to them.”

At Thursday’s repatriation, Mrs Shuker had to help the family get flowers to place on the hearse of their loved one.

Mrs Shuker, of Bampton, said: “Each repatriation has been different – you can never know what emotions are going to come forth. The one on Thursday was upsetting, with the young school friends of the young man.

“But the families are really grateful because they know their relations are being looked after.

“One of the cousins said to me he just could not believe how well we’d looked after them. He said he really did not expect any of it.”

Both Mrs Shuker, Poppy Appeal organiser for Bampton, and Mrs Little, who volunteers for forces charity SSAFA, have had relations in the services and say they have a close affinity with the armed forces. They were invited to take the role by the Royal British Legion Oxfordshire branch, which organises the ceremonies at the memorial garden.

Mrs Little added: “I would like to say I am here until the last one goes through. I hope that is not long, but I am in it for the long term.

“It is the least I can do.”

The pair took over the role from Steve Radband, who has taken a backseat role after admitting two counts of assault by beating, involving his wife Sarah.

Mr Radband, a diabetic, claimed “dangerously” low blood sugar levels had caused the attacks. He was given an 18-month supervision order and told to complete a domestic violence rehabilitation programme.