In the fifth part of her diary, Meg tells us about more special visitors to Lyneham.

Keep it secret!

As anyone will tell you - work at a HIVE is never dull! Yesterday I returned from holiday to be asked to invite 40 families of personnel deployed on OP Telic to come to the HIVE to meet a VIP. No names - no patter - Keep it secret!

One hour before the time of arrival, we were told that it had been announced that the Prime Minister and Mrs Blair were visiting RAF Lyneham. At that point I knew they were our VIPs and I was delighted because it would give our wives the opportunity to "Have their Say".

Wonderful for the families

We had to wait a little while longer than expected, but the result was very worthwhile. The visit was wonderful for the families.

Meg Bundock introduces Tony Blair to families at RAF Lyneham

The Prime Minister walked in and everyone cheered and the children rushed forward and he and Mrs Blair bent down and shook the little hands that reached out to them.

The Prime Minister gave everyone as much time as they needed. He and Mrs Blair spoke to everyone and each child was addressed and given time to say whatever they wanted. It was just brilliant.

Everyone genuinely believed that he showed his concern for all our forces and he spoke at length to our American and Australian and Fijian exchange wives, whose husbands are also serving in the Gulf.

We were all very aware that he was paying his respect to the families who were serving.

We talked about football too!

We were also very sure that committing our forces to a war against Saddam Hussein was a decision he had to take. The wives assured him that the families at Lyneham were all behind him 100%.

This was a visit Mr Blair needed to make. We chatted about how all the wives talk on RAFCOM together in the evenings, and I persuaded the Blairs to log on themselves to see what a useful facility it is. They seemed very impressed.

Cherie Blair chats with families at the base

We talked about how the HIVE Information Centres throughout the armed forces become the focal point for information and communication especially at times like these. We talked about football too!

Immense pride

But mainly, we talked about our immense pride in the work the men of RAF Lyneham are doing on Op Telic, and how those left on the base are having to work so very hard also, to ensure we carry out our business as normal.

As I end my web diary, we at Lyneham HIVE have been filming video messages for BFBS forces television to be broadcast to the guys and girls in the Gulf. Wives, mums and dads and children came from all over the West. It was a beautiful day and the end to a real morale boosting week for the families.

If you would like to respond to Meg's column send your comments using the postform.

To all US and UK folks that have friends and family serving in Iraq, God speed to your loved ones. Their cause is just. May they return safely to you and enjoy the better world that they helped create.
Craig Wonsiewicz, PA, USA

My son serves in the military, he is now in Iraq, so I believe I can speak with some knowledge. Saddam is the one to blame for Iraqi civilians being hurt. Read the newspapers, hear their cries, listen to the horror stories. I am so tired of the Coalition forces being blamed for all the civilians dying when Saddam is killing hundreds of the Iraqi people everyday.
Stephanie, Morris, USA

Please can you send best wishes to all the troops in Iraq. We are all thinking of you, safe home from the boys at night-shift engineering London Heathrow TBA.
Scots Dave, Heathrow