Brize Norton Funeral Corteges

Those that know me, will be aware that I try to maintain perspective, to keep things in context. I've seen the posts on Facebook regarding the future military corteges and their routes from Brize Norton and I wanted to find out the facts. I searched on-line for the background information and in amongst all the angry articles, and a piece from Hitchens in the Daily Mail, I found this one piece that gives a little more detail and adds that context I seek.

For what it's worth, I don't feel that the coffins should be paraded around Oxfordshire to satisfy the post-Diana mawkishness that we seem to suffer from now. However, I do feel absolutely, that if people wish to stop and show their respects, as the people of Royal Wootton Bassett did, then that is their right and they should be allowed to do so, whenever and  wheresoever they choose. It does look as if the village of Brize Norton may become the focus that was RWB.

defencemanagement.com

'Side exit' for Brize Norton corteges

27 June 2011

The bodies of British troops repatriated from Afghanistan are to leave RAF Brize Norton via a side exit in order to avoid upset, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The move will take effect by the end of September this year, when troops will be repatriated via RAF Brize Norton rather than RAF Lyneham, which is set to close.

The corteges had been taken from RAF Lyneham to Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital in preparation for their inquests, leading to emotional scenes as they passed through the town of Royal Wootton Bassett.

However, flying operations at RAF Lyneham are due to end by 30 September, meaning all repatriation flights will return to RAF Brize Norton to the west of Oxford.

Corteges will leave via a 'side exit' in order to avoid passing schools, families and married quarters, veterans minister Andrew Robathan has said.

"The side gate was seen by the Ministry of Defence and the police as the most appropriate way to take out future corteges," Robathan told BBC Radio Oxford.

"I am not sure taking coffins in hearses past schools, past families, past married quarters is necessarily the thing that everybody would wish to see… the focus must be on the families of the dead service personnel. They are the people who care most. That is where our focus is."

An MoD spokesman said the route, chosen by West Oxfordshire District Council, had to consider the personnel and in the area who were about to deploy on operations and their families, as well as the bereaved.

"Consideration has also been given to ensure the dignity and solemnity of the military repatriation ceremony is maintained and to those who are arriving at RAF Brize Norton about to deploy on operations."

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said the council was constructing a memorial garden along the new route to allow people to pay their respects.

Addendum


Web page of local Independent councillor Adrian Coomber

Potential route for funeral corteges

Barenaked Ladies - The Big Bang Theory Lyrics

I'm having a mini-The Big Bang Theory session tonight (thanks, Annie, for that Christmas present). I didn't know that it was the Bare Naked Ladies who did the theme song although I've now seen their name on the credits!

Barenaked Ladies - The Big Bang Theory Lyrics:

The opening credits

"Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait...
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!

'Since the dawn of man' is really not that long,
As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song.
A fraction of a second and the elements were made.
The bipeds stood up straight,
The dinosaurs all met their fate,
They tried to leap but they were late
And they all died (they froze their asses off)
The oceans and pangea
See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya
Set in motion by the same big bang!

It all started with the big BANG!

It's expanding ever outward but one day
It will cause the stars to go the other way,
Collapsing ever inward, we won't be here, it wont be hurt
Our best and brightest figure that it'll make an even bigger bang!

Australopithecus would really have been sick of us
Debating out while here they're catching deer (we're catching viruses)
Religion or astronomy, Encarta, Deuteronomy
It all started with the big bang!

Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology
It all started with the big bang!
It all started with the big BANG!"

What You See Is What You Get...

...is the title of the autobiography of Lord Sugar of Clapton, Alan Sugar. I've just finished reading this book and it has to have been the most satisfying read I've had in such a long time. He truly is an entrepreneur, having started making a return at an early age; he does say that no-one should call themselves an entrepreneur but leave that to others.

The directness he portrays in television is certainly there, but one gets to understand why it's there. He can't stand bulll shitters and likes to cut through the weeds quickly. He may be bluff and gruff with some but his friendship and loyalty to others, including his staff, is evident. His model is there to follow although it would be better to say his example is.

I learnt much from his story. In fact. much more than from any of the so-called 'leaders' I've seen on stage, many of whom proved to be duplicitous and wanted only to make money from me and others. He is not a lying con-man others have proven whilst professing to be a friend. He will have stood on toes but did so honestly, his aims being clear to all.

If you're young and and have the desire to make a success of your business and life, you can't do much worse than read this book as an inspirational tool. Leave the other guff on the shelves - this man has actually done stuff, not just written books on it.

Tuna Gremolato

Don't worry - I shan't post many recipes! This is tasty, colourful and very healthy.

4 tuna steaks
Juice of 2 lemons
2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp soy sauce
salt and freshly ground black pepper

for the gremolata


2 large red peppers
large bunch flat parsley, finely chopped
1/2 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely grated

for the garnish


lemon wedges

Place the steaks in a shallow, non reactive dish in a single layer. Mix together the lemon juice, paprika and soy sauce and season well. Spoon this over the steaks, cover and leave to marinate 15 - 20 mins.

Meanwhile, make the gremolata. Place the peppers under a hot grill, turning often until blackened and blistered. Remove from the grill and place in a plastic bag for 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, carefully peel off the skin, saving any juices from the peppers in a bowl. De-seed and finely chop the peppers and add to the bowl with the parsley, red onion, lemon zest and juice and garlic. Season well and toss to combine.

Heat a non-stick ridged griddle pan until very hot. Add the fish and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes or until just cooked through. Serve immediately with the gremolata spooned over and garnish with lemon wedges.

Father's Day

I was reading all the Father's Day posts, and started to wonder about having a Dad. And then I thought that I'd never thought that before, smiled to myself, stopped wondering and typed this.


I hope I do a good job.

A familiar and idyllic scene

And then England--southern England, probably the sleekest landscape in the 
world. It is difficult when you pass that way, especially when you are 
peacefully recovering from sea-sickness with the plush cushions of a boat-train 
carriage under your bum, to believe that anything is really happening anywhere. 
Earthquakes in Japan, famines in China, revolutions in Mexico? Don't worry, the 
milk will be on the doorstep tomorrow morning, the New Statesman will come out 
on Friday. The industrial towns were far away, a smudge of smoke and misery 
hidden by the curve of the earth's surface. Down here it was still the England I 
had known in my childhood: the railway-cuttings smothered in wild flowers, the 
deep meadows where the great shining horses browse and meditate, the slow-moving 
streams bordered by willows, the green bosoms of the elms, the larkspurs in the 
cottage gardens; and then the huge peaceful wilderness of outer London, the 
barges on the miry river, the familiar streets, the posters telling of cricket 
matches and Royal weddings, the men in bowler hats, the pigeons in Trafalgar 
Square, the red buses, the blue policemen--all sleeping the deep, deep sleep of 
England, from which I sometimes fear that we shall never wake till we are jerked 
out of it by the roar of bombs. 

This is the last paragraph of George Orwell's 'Homage to Catalonia' (1938) in which he records his time spent in the Spanish Civil War. This is his return to his home country as he finally leaves the war behind the him; a familiar feeling for this and. I'm sure, and many modern counterparts.

It was referred to on Broadcasting House on Radio 4 this morning, by a gentleman who said he would much rather be reading this in the cowslips on the South Downs than using a computer. And I could picture myself doing the same with a well worn Penguin copy of this :)