Real heroes in mind
About 2,000 people turned out in support of the Armed Forces on Sunday as Newark paid tribute to the nation’s real-life heroes.
Heroes’ Day, on the Magnus Church of England School field, raised at least £3,500 (with more expected) for the Newark Patriotic Fund and Help For Heroes.
There was an emotional start as more than 200 red, white and blue balloons were released during a minute’s silence in memory of UK Servicemen killed in Afghanistan.
The event was a tribute to father-of-two Corporal Ivano “Sean” Violino, who was represented by the 79th balloon.
Corporal Violino (29) who went to school in Newark, was killed in Helmand Province, Southern Afghanistan, on September 17, 2007.
The event was organised by the Advertiser and Corporal Violino’s family to mark the second anniversary of his death.
His mother, Mrs Diane Bell, of Ollerton, welcomed people to the event and his son, Louis (9) thanked people for coming.
Louis’s twin sister, Ellie, was also there, as were many of Corporal Violino’s family.
Corporal Violino’s sister, Mrs Sinel Loveday, of Newark, said the event was a fitting tribute.
“All credit to the Advertiser because we couldn’t have done it ourselves,” she said.
Mrs Loveday hoped people would start doing more to support troops on the front line.
Heroes’ Day was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts.
The mayor, Mrs Rita Crowe, was at a Battle of Britain service at RAF Cranwell and attended later.
Mr Roberts said: “Organisations like Help For Heroes, the Newark Patriotic Fund and the Royal British Legion remind us that our troops are fighting for us every day throughout the months and years.”
Mr Keith Girling said he and Mr Patrick Mercer, the MP for Newark, set up the patriotic fund to help the relatives of injured Servicemen.
Since then charities like Help For Heroes and the Colonel’s Fund, to support Grenadier Guards, had also been set up.
“We should be proud as Newarkers that we had the idea first,” he said.
Mr Girling, a former Grenadier, said stars like David Beckham and Andy Murray were called heroes but it was the country’s Servicemen and women who were the true heroes.
Lance-corporal Johno Lee (26) of Coddington, who lost a leg in Helmand Province, attended.
He said: “Two or three years ago nobody even thought of anything like this.
“It is not nice to think about it but there are going to be a lot more Servicemen injured yet, but the support is there for it now. There was a lot of stigma about losing an arm or a leg eight years ago but not any more.
“I think everybody in the next few years will know someone who has been injured. We are in a war at the end of the day.”
Lance-corporal Lee’s unit, 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, is about to be deployed back to Afghanistan.
He returned to work two weeks ago and is based at Weeton Barracks, Preston.
Nottingham Forest first-team footballers Aaron Mitchell and Paul Anderson signed autographs and drew the raffle.
Aaron’s brother, Lance-corporal Kieron Hill, was the first fatality suffered by the 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters) The Mercian Regiment on its current deployment to Helmand Province.
Aaron (19) said: “We are all in it together to try and raise money for the Armed Forces.
“Even though my brother was out there I thought it was just another job for him, but since he passed away it has brought it all home to me.”
Four generations of a family with a member in the 2nd Mercians attended.
Mr Robert Raynor (38) of Sandhill Road, Farndon, brought along his daughter, Niamh (3) his father, Mr Robert Raynor (62) and his grandmother, Mrs Madge Raynor (82).
Mr Raynor’s son, Daniel Self (20) a former pupil of The Grove School, Balderton, has just joined the 2nd Mercians and is stationed in Belfast.
The organisers would like to thank: Charmaine Fenton and Newark Rotary Club; Newark and Sherwood District Council’s David Fox, Chris Kirk, Sally Clark, Matt Finch, George Sycamore and the staff at the Palace Theatre; Newark Town Council’s Jim Hanrahan, Tanith Batterham and James Radley; Newark Fire Station and watch manager Brian Smith; Inter-County Paramedics of Derby and John Hambidge; Nottingham Forest’s Billy Davies, Paul Anderson and Aaron Mitchell, Graham Moran and team and in particular Amy Sutton; Lance-corporal Johno Lee; 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters) Mercian Regiment and WO2 James Bashford; Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club’s Paul Johnson.
Keith Girling county councillor; the Mayor of Newark, Mrs Rita Crowe; the Deputy Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts; Patrick Mercer MP and constituency secretary Sue Gray; Newark Army Cadets and Staff Sergeant Phil Scott; Butta Batu and Neil McCarthy; Dean Sugden and NMA Fighters; Holy Trinity Irish Dancers and Margaret Foxwell; JNS Dance Company; Latesha Lovelace; Ice Diamonds; Diana and Martin from Hydrospheres; the Cavalier Dance Band and Filthy Smith; Martin’s Bouncy Castles; Whitepost Modern Farm Centre (unable to attend); the Royal British Legion; stallholders and food-sellers; Trent Valley Military Vehicle Trust.
Bentley’s fish bar, Newark Snacks, Crawford’s Newsagents, Lincolnshire Cooperative Society, Waitrose Newark, Marks and Spencer, Farndon Boathouse and Robin Perkins, Party Time, Adrian Loftus, Masdings, Riva Bingo, Bilton’s Blooms, Rich Furnishings, Arts on Glass, Holden’s, Dawn Ogden, Toni & Guy, Karen and Tony from Belly Busters, Queen’s Court Photography, Premier Fitness, LA Fitness, Hobson Shoes, Ann et Vin, Domino’s, Antiques Gallery, Boyes, Bargain Booze, Splash, Intersport, Go Mobile, Body Shop, Millers, Bonner and Porter, Phone Doctor, South Lincs Clothing, Martin Wilkinson Jewellers, Superbowl, Ambience, Wood and Toys, Toy Factory, Clinton Cards, Card Factory, Whistler’s Pharmacy, Kevin Blythe, R and S Fruit and Veg, Sweet Inspirations, Curtain Mill, Interflora, Pound Shop and Asda North Hykeham.
Most importantly thanks goes to the Magnus School’s Nick Fairfax, Gary Barker, Ian Anderson and staff; Boundary Sound; Harry Ford; Alan Hart; and to everyone who helped on the day.
