Wincanton ready to welcome heroes

THE streets of Wincanton will come to a standstill tomorrow as residents and businesses welcome home troops returning from Afghanistan.

The Commando Helicopter Force, based at RNAS Yeovilton, will be staging a special Homecoming Parade, preceded by a thanksgiving service at SS Peter and Paul Church at 11am.

The parade at 11.45am will be led by HMS Heron Band and the White Ensign Party in full No.1 Naval uniform.

Three naval air squadrons, 845, 846, and 847, in desert combats, and a detachment of Marines will pass shops decorated with banners and flags.

It is an official Royal British Legion event, hosted by the Wincanton and Bruton branches, in conjunction with the County of Somerset Legion. Massed standards of Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset Legion will line the route out of respect.

The parade will halt at the Market Place, where the Mayor of Wincanton Cllr David Marsh will present a Scroll of Appreciation to the CHF commanding officer Cpt Jon Pentreath RN.

On the saluting dais will be deputy lord lieutenant of Somerset Cpt Bill Canning RN (Rtd). After the presentation the parade will march to Wincanton Memorial Hall for a reception by the Wincanton and Bruton Legion branches, paid for by sponsors.

The thanksgiving service will be led by Wincanton Legion chaplain the Rev Nigel Feaver and assisted by the chaplain to RNAS Yeovilton, the Rev Andrew Hillier.

Tony Goddard, secretary of Wincanton Legion who has organised the event, said: "The reason Wincanton was chosen for the parade was that branch members have privately raised substantial amounts of money to send comforts to the Commando Helicopter Force whilst in Afghanistan.

"The latest initiative is sending sweets. Members have also sent Christmas parcels to them along with radios and TVs.

"Bruton RBL has paid for a reception and for other comforts including sending parcels to Afghanistan.

"Its current initiative is raising money to pay for magazine subscriptions.

"Both branches could not fund raise in the name of the Legion because of tight charity rules.

"This is the Navy's way of thanking them by conferring the honour of a Homecoming Parade."