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Proud mother does her bit for our heroes
Leigh is home safely
The caring mother of a brave soldier has raised money for the Help For Heroes campaign with the ladies of Linslade's masonic lodge.
Lynn Pool, from Heath and Reach, raised 150 at two meetings of the Ladies Masonic Luncheon Club to give to the campaign which supports wounded soldiers.
Lynn's son Leigh is a sniper in the Second Battalion Rifles and has just returned from six months in Afghanistan. His regiment has suffered the most casualties and amputees during the campaign so far.
Lance Corporal Leigh has served in Iraq, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and just finished his 12 years in the army in Afghanistan, earning him five medals.
The soldier told his mum that parcels sent by well-wishers were taking weeks to reach the troops so Lynn thought money for their return was a better option.
She said: "Our poor boys come home injured and the government gives nothing. I am so grateful that Leigh is home safely, but I feel for the parents whose sons are injured or didn't make it.
"Thank you to everyone who donated money, it goes towards our heroes' rehabilitation and comforts."
Lynn and her two daughters Lisa and Claire would regularly send Leigh plain biscuits, tins of food and cereal bars.
One day, Leigh, 31, sent a special request to his mum asking for cornflakes and crunchy nut cornflakes for him and his mates because they were fed up with Spam! Lynn, of course, obliged, sending 10 boxes.
At her home in Heath and Reach, Lynn has turned a tree in her garden into a shrine for the 13 servicemen in Leigh's regiment who have been killed. Lynn said: "There are 13 poppies for Leigh's mates, I have done this for their mums – I am thinking of them. It will stay there until the war is over."
Lynn said Leigh had been hit hard by the death of some of his friends especially Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, whose service was featured in a national newspaper.
Tearful Lynn has spent 12 years cutting out newspaper articles and collecting photos of Leigh and his regiment, which she has laminated into four giant folders ready for the hero's return. She said: "Cutting out has kept me going. I have done it for Leigh for a keepsake.
Afghanistan is a proper war and it's something he can show his children one day – when he has them."
Lynn received a letter from chief of staff Mark Elliott from the Help For Heroes campaign thanking her for her support and he said the masonic lodges money would go towards its current appeal to raise 20 million for recovery centres, among other schemes.
Leigh is back in army barracks in Wiltshire with the Fourth Battalion Rifles.
Lynn said: "I am so relieved he is home safely, I can sleep now, I would count down the days until his return. I've seen a change in Leigh, I think he values life more now – it has made him more responsible towards life and people."
Sentimental Lynn waved Leigh off into combat with a special keepsake which belonged to his dad, Kevin, who died 13 years ago.
Lynn said: "I gave him a little gold cross and told him that his dad will look after him. I know Leigh took it on patrol with him – so his dad was with him."
The relieved mum plans to write to the "new" Prime Minister after the General Election demanding a Help For Heroes collection day.
She said: "Our Boys put their lives on the line for you and I, so this is a very worthy cause. They do it with such passion and pride, without them where would we be?"
Lynn would also like to see Wootton Bassett, where the troops killed in action return to, renamed Royal Wootton Bassett in recognition for the residents' patriotism.
She said: "I am so proud of Leigh.
"I'd like to say thank you to his close Leighton friends for giving support to Leigh as well."
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
