TWO families united in grief laid single red roses for their loved ones.

Relations of Flight Lieutenants Alan Scott and Geraint "Roly" Roberts were surrounded by hundreds of well wishers as they paid their last respects yesterday afternoon.

The RAF Benson servicemen, killed in Afghanistan this month, were repatriated into the UK at RAF Brize Norton in the time-honoured tradition.

Hundreds of service men and women, Royal British Legion volunteers and local residents waited for hours in the cold at nearby Carterton Memorial Garden to show their respects for them and their families as the funeral cortège passed through.

Oxford Mail:

  • The two men were repatriated to RAF Brize Norton

Just after 5pm, all fell silent as the Carterton Memorial Bell rang out.

The crowd stayed silent as the procession reached the grieving families and they were able to lay red roses on the two coffins.

Mayor of Carterton Lynn Little stood with them to offer comfort and support, and family members were visibly moved by the sheer number of people who had turned out to offer condolences.

Royal British Legion Oxfordshire vice chairman Mike Henderson said: "We have had a great turnout, because people feel it is important to pay their respects.

"Nobody is going to get an MBE for turning up, they just come to show respect."

 

Oxford Mail:

  • The Roberts family are comforted during the repatriation

Among the crowd were 61 members of the RBL Riders Branch - leather-clad former servicemen and women who share a passion for motorbikes.

Former RAF Corporal Steve Blundell, who said: "We come every time if we can because it is a mark of respect, and the families we have met who we are still in contact with tell us that it helps.
"When they get out of that car and see all of us here, they say it's like getting a big hug."

The two Flight Lieutenants died following a helicopter crash in Kabul on Sunday, October 11.
Both officers were member of the Puma helicopter force based at RAF Benson near Wallingford.

Crowds lined Headley Way as they waited for the cortège to arrive before it made its way into the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Oxford Mail:

  • Hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects to the two servicemen

Wallingford mayor Lynda Atkins, who is also county chairwoman of the Royal British Legion, said it was important for her to join others and pay her respects to the two servicemen.

She added: "We feel like RAF Benson is part of our family in our town.
"We all respect the sacrifice that has been made and people want to show that they recognise that."

Ex-serviceman Don Deaney fought back tears as he prepared for the cortège to arrive. The 82-year-old, of Witney, said: "I have been to so many of these now.
"It's not nice but you do it out of respect."

Additional reporting by Annabal Bagdi