SERVICE personnel past and present marched through Old Town to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

They were honouring the airmen referred to by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill as The Few, to whom so many had never owed so much the airmen who destroyed enough of the Nazi air force to prevent an invasion by Hitler's forces.

Flying mostly Spitfires and Hurricanes, their actions brought Britain much-needed extra time to prepare its defences.

Yesterday's commemoration began at 2.30pm when personnel from RAF Lyneham and members of the Swindon Branch of the Royal Air Force Association and Air Training Corps began their march behind Swindon Pegasus Brass Band.

In Bath Road the parade passed a podium outside the Methodist Church, where Swindon mayor Stan Pajak, RAF Lyneham commander Group Captain Ray Lock and the Swindon Branch RAFA president, Air Commodore Jim Hall, stood for the salute.

And a Hercules aircraft from RAF Lyneham took part in a special commemorative flypast.

John Beacham, standard bearer for the Swindon branch of the British Korean Veterans, said: "This is a very important event for everyone here.

"I've been standard bearer here for the last eight years, and as soon as we all get together and get talking, it's like we're all 18 year old soldiers again regardless of whether we're 70 or 80.

"I also love it when the band strikes up because all the old soldiers seem to grow two inches as they stand to attention."

George Durant, 80, was 21 in 1944 when the RAF heroes transported him to the war zone.

He said: "We like to celebrate the bravery of the RAF heroes because without them we would never have been able to get into the drop zone, let alone win the war."

The parade ended at Christ Church where a special service of thanksgiving and commemoration was held.