I am grateful to the Oxford Mail for drawing attention to the arrival last Monday of the coffins of the five brave soldiers who died recently in Afghanistan.

I was able to join the people lining the route in Marston, as a representative of the city of Oxford.

It was a sad occasion, but I felt it was important to honour these people who have given their lives in the service of our country.

It was good to see many other people also paying their respects.

SUSANNA PRESSEL Lord Mayor of Oxford

There was an amazing gathering of people, who waited for nearly two hours in Oxford, from Marsh Lane, up Headley Way and by the turning to the John Radcliffe Hospital, to pay their respects to the five young servicemen who were killed in Afghanistan and whose bodies were being brought to the hospital for postmortem examinations.

I was with a large gathering by St Anthony's Church, among whom were standard bearers of several branches of the Royal British Legion in the county.

There were many ex-servicemen, including several wearing the red beret of the Parachute Regiment, to which these five young heroes belonged.

The rest of the gathering was made up of people of all ages.

The whole atmosphere made one proud to be British.

There was a tremendous applause as the cavalcade of many police escorts and five hearses arrived, each carrying a coffin draped with the Union flag.

As they passed, one could feel a mixture of emotions, proud of these young men who had paid the ultimate price in the service of their country and, at the same time, sorrow for their families.

There were several women in tears as the whole event was very emotional.

I felt honoured to stand alongside all these people, many of whom were friends and acquaintances, but most of all, as the gathering dispersed, I felt humbled by the sacrifice those five young men had made for each and every one of us.

MICHAEL CLARKE Lewell Avenue Old Marston Oxford