A PROLONGED period of nation-al mourning followed the death of Lord Louis Mountbatten - 20 years ago today - and few places felt the loss more deeply than his home town of Romsey.

The IRA bomb also claimed the lives of the Dowager Lady Brabourne, the 82-year-old mother-in-law of Lord Mountbatten's daughter Lady Brabourne, his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and 17-year-old cabin boy Paul Maxwell.

The group had just set sail from Mullaghmore on Ireland's west coast when the remote-control device was triggered, blowing apart the Mountbatten family boat Shadow V.

Speaking shortly after the news broke, then Romsey mayor Peter Brans said of Lord Mountbatten: "The influence he has had on the town and his contribution to it have been absolutely enormous.

"The impact on the future life of the town is difficult to appreciate at this stage. I think Romsey will be in sorrow for a long time."

Twenty years on and Mr Brans, of Northlands Road, still has clear memories of a day Romsey would rather forget.

He said: "When the news came through it really was a huge blow. He was High Steward of the town and his influence on events was really something.

"I had nothing but admiration for him. He was a wonderful personality."

As Romsey's civic leader, Mr Brans suddenly found himself thrust into the spotlight and one of his nerve-racking duties was to be at Romsey station to meet the Royal Family off the train carrying Lord Mountbatten's coffin.

"There were thousands of people lining the streets as his coffin was taken to the abbey. I remember the security was very heavy as the Royal Family and monarchs from all over the world were there.

"It was a very distressing experience. I think what people remember most was how upset Prince Charles was. It took a long, long time for the town to get over it.

"Lord Romsey's wedding took place just a few months later with Prince Charles as his best man. I think they would have postponed it but everything had been planned long before Lord Mountbatten's death so they just had to get on with it."

A remembrance service is being held by the Earl Mountbatten Memorial branch of the Royal British Legion in Romsey Abbey at 3pm on Sunday, September 5.

There will be a parade from the Royal British Legion Club in Latimer Street, setting out at 2.30pm.

Brigadier Long, the deputy lieutenant, will be the saluting officer. Test Valley deputy mayor Anthony Hope and Romsey deputy mayor John Burgess will be present.

The national chairman of the Royal British Legion John Champ is the special guest.

Don't miss our four-page tribute to Lord Mountbatten in The Magazine - free with your Daily Echo on Saturday.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.