An unusual honour

I have mentioned before that we here in England (OK - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland if you must) have a somewhat quirky system of honours with a New Year's honours list, the Queen's birthday honours list and even an honours list when the government changes. But there is one extremely unusual honour which features in none of those lists. It was announced this week that in September, when the RAF base at Lyneham closes, the nearby town of Wootton Bassett will be gratned the appellation "Royal" and will thenceforth be known as Royal Wootton Bassett. This honour is in recognition of the fact that the town has practically closed down every time a serviceman's body has been repatriated through RAF Lyneham and the cortege has passed through the town. The people of Wootton Bassett have emptied the shops and lined the streets in tribute. There are dozens of video clips on YouTube but this is perhaps the most viewed:


I can think of only two other English towns with the regal appellation, Royal Leamington Spa and Royal Tunbridge Wells, but what those towns did to deserve the recognition I really couldn't say. I don't suppose there are many people who could. Is it, I wonder, a coincidence that both are (or were) spa towns? Did some long-dead king or queen visit the towns to take the waters? Whatever the answer, this will be the first time for more than 100 years that this honour has been granted.

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I'm pushing off now for a while and, with luck and a fair wind, should arrive at our French house tomorrow evening.