the possibilities of joining the Heroes Welcome Scheme, at that time there was no facility or provision for a wider regional membership within the existing scheme. In order to address this issue an advisory group was formed and under the guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray the then Commanding Officer of the Coldstream Guards a set of guidelines were drawn up to ensure that the scheme was appropriate and focused towards the Junior Ranks. The overriding principle was to create an internet-based self-sustaining open resource that was fit for purpose and would require only the minimum amount of administrative input. Development In June 2009, supported by the National Association of Civic officers, Heroes Welcome UK launched a national website at www.heroeswelcome.co.uk, and opened its membership to include those organizations, towns, cities and districts who wished to join the United Kingdoms only community partnership dedicated to the support of those serving in the Armed Forces. The first "Civic" member to join Heroes Welcome UK was the Borough of West Norfolk followed by Sefton District Council. Subsequently, additional towns, cities and districts joined up, each one setting up its own distinct "Heroes Welcome in Anyborough" scheme. The first county to join Heroes Welcome was Hampshire. The Chairman of the County Council, Anna McNair Scott, launched Heroes Welcome in Hampshire, at a ceremony held in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle, on Armistice Day 2011. This was followed on 5 March 2012 when Cllr John Fort, Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council launched Heroes Welcome in North Yorkshire from County Hall, Northallerton. The joining of Hampshire and North Yorkshire means that 70% of all UK based service personnel live in a Heroes Welcome area. A full listing of Heroes Welcome Member Communities is published below (correct at 8/12/2011) The Boroughs of: Beeston Beverley, Blackpool, Bootle, Bassetlaw District Council, Bournemouth Bridlington, Brighton, Bury St Edmonds, Chesterfield Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorchester, Downham, Ellesmere, Elmbridge, Ether, Farnham, Filey, Formby, Godalming, Great Yarmouth, Godmanchester, Guildford Guisborough, Haslemere, Herriot Country, Hove, Hull City Council Hunstanton, Huntingdon, Kings Lynn, Kirkham, Lewes, London Taxis, Malton, Middlesbrough, Newhaven, Newhaven Fort, Oykel Regions, Pickering, Portland, Ramsey, Royal Wootton Bassett, Sandringham, Seaford, Scarborough, Southport, St Ives, St Neots, Stirling, Stockport, Swanage, Walton-on-Thames, Watton, Weston-super-Mare, Whitby, Weybridge, Weymouth, Woodbridge, Worthing, York, Hampshire, North Yorkshire In 2010 the Town of Royal Wootton Bassett became the Heroes Welcome UK Town of Honour, "Every repatriation of a fallen