A CEREMONY to officially mark the start of Oxfordshire’s role in honouring fallen servicemen and woman looks set to be attended by hundreds of people.

The event will see the Union Flag from Wootton Bassett officially handed over to the chairman of Brize Norton Parish Council, Keith Glazier, and the mayor of Carterton, Norman MacRae.

The memorial garden, in Norton Way, on the boundary between Brize Norton and Carterton, will be officially dedicated by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, at the ceremony at 10.30am on September 1.

The flag will be blessed and presented to members of the Royal British Legion, who will raise it.

The garden will then officially become a place for people to gather to pay their respects to fallen service personnel.

Repatriations currently take place from RAF Lyneham, but the base is due to close in September when RAF Brize Norton will take over the duty.

Oxfordshire RBL repatriations officer Steve Radband said he expected up to 1,000 people, including members of the public, to attend the September opening ceremony.

He said: “If 1,000 people do turn up, we would be able to accommodate them. There is enough space.”

He said there were enough car parking spaces, toilet and refreshment facilities for up to 2,000 people.

But he added: “I would be quite happy if, once the garden is built, we do not have to use it.”

It is Mr Radband’s job to look after the friends and families of fallen service personnel at the memorial garden.

Mr Radband’s son, Lance Corporal David Radband, 25, is currently on his third tour of Afghanistan.

Oxfordshire Royal British Legion (RBL) chairman Michael Henderson said he expected 2,000 people, about the same number who currently join the repatriations at Wootton Bassett, would take part in the Brize ceremonies.

Oxfordshire County Council deputy leader David Robertson said: “I would imagine there will be a lot of people who want to come along and see the memorial garden.”

As well as the flag, the memorial garden will also feature a row of trees.

The pavement will be widened to cope with the expected crowds. Poppies will be planted behind the pavement and, as reported in the Oxford Mail yesterday, a memorial bell is planned, which will toll as the cortege approaches.

The mayor of Wootton Bassett, Paul Heaphy, said: “We are trying to provide continuity with what is going to be achieved in Carterton.”