Welcome awaiting troops in Dorchester (From Dorset Echo)

Welcome awaiting troops in Dorchester

12:10pm Tuesday 15th June 2010 in News By James Tourgout

THE leading light behind a shoebox appeal for troops in Afghanistan is urging the whole community to back a homecoming parade in Dorchester.

Molly Rennie has urged people to line the streets to show their support when the Rifles parade through the county town tomorrow.

She said many of the men from A Company 4th Battalion The Rifles received shoeboxes from people in Dorset.

Coun Rennie said: “It’s great that we’re having the march.

“It’s wonderful as they actually asked if they could come to Dorchester.

“It’s not a freedom march, it’s a homecoming parade.

“It’s a really big honour that Dorchester was the place that they wanted to come home to.”

Coun Rennie added: “It will also be nice as a lot of the boxes that were sent out to 4 Rifles went to A Company.”

Her son, Alex, a soldier in the Rifles, has served in Afghanistan and his experiences were among the reasons she launched the Shoebox Appeal.

The march comes after the soldiers finished a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in April.

The Salamanca Band of the Rifles will lead 150 uniformed officers and soldiers from A Company 4th Battalion The Rifles through the county town.

The soldiers will march in desert combat uniforms from Poundbury Barracks at 12.30pm to the War Memorial and back.

The soldiers and their families will also be welcomed into Dorchester shops, museums, businesses, pubs and restaurants offering special deals for the soldiers as part of the Heroes Welcome scheme.

Coun Rennie was contacted by Lt Jesse Leach of A Company about the shoeboxes and he also helped put her in contact with other company officers.

Coun Rennie said: “This is the chance for people to show how much the soldiers are valued.

“At other homecoming marches you can see how visibly happy everyone is and this is the chance for people to say ‘thank you’.”

The mother of fallen soldier Phil Allen also issued a rallying cry for people to support the Rifles march.

Karen Charman-Allen added: “Dorchester has been fantastic and has supported the soldiers full stop and has also introduced the Heroes Welcome initiative.

“I think the town has led the way and others are starting to follow.”