Public support is crucial

21st October 2010

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Speaking on More4 News last night, BFF Director Mark Cann, paid tribute to the thousands of people who lined the streets in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, to pay their respects to the eight British servicemen killed in Afghanistan.

“You can only applaud the people of Wootton Bassett for what they do and how often they’ve done it, and, thank God for them. I mean, it’s a remarkable thing – very solemn, very sad scenes – but thank goodness our returning heroes get that kind of reception.

"The public are very much supportive of the armed forces and they do want to come out. I think the people of Wootton Bassett deserve a medal in their own right, and I just hope they can sustain this throughout the period we are at war.”

When asked during the television interview what those scenes would mean to servicemen and women out on the frontline in Afghanistan, he said: “I think that’s probably the most important part of this because it keeps that connection between the public and the armed forces serving on operations.

"I think it will mean an awful lot to them as an overt and very genuine display of support for them, regardless of the operation, regardless of the politics, regardless of all the other issues. They will know, by seeing those images on your screens, which you’ve covered today, that the public is behind them, and that is crucial.”

Mark Cann Director of The British Forces Foundation (These are the personal views of Mark Cann and not necessarily those of the Charity)