Gun-pull in tribute to tragic soldier

TOUCHING tributes were paid to Craftsman Anthony Lombardi at a Territorial Army gun pull across Scunthorpe for Help For Heroes.

It took the team of soldiers and Craftsman Lombardi's football teammates five hours to drag the gun from Berkeley Circle to the Auld South Yorkshire Pub in Keadby, raising money from passers-by en-route.

Craftsman Lombardi's mum Helen later paid tribute to the people taking part, who released balloons and held a minute's silence.

Organiser Lisa Murphy said: "We had an excellent turn-out and it all went very well – better than expected.

"The Berkeley Hotel, Tesco, the Jolly Sailor, the Auld South Yorkshire, they were all fantastic.

"A big thank you to Peter and the TA guys, as well as my own son Craftsman James Murphy who was there."

Mrs Murphy said there was great support from people all along the route and region MPs Elliot Morley and Ian Cawsey, who helped out with fundraising buckets.

Captain Peter Graves said: "It went very well. We were very successful stopping at Tesco because there were lots of people there.

"I would guess we have raised hundreds of pounds. Someone put in a cheque for £50 from Barclays bank.

"And whatever we have raised, Bibby Distribution is going to double it."

Cptn Graves also sent his thanks to the TA soldiers who gave their time for free to keep the gun moving.

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