Former pupil at Lea School, Steven Sherwood lost his life in Afghanistan in 2005, and 13 years later current pupils joined a moving service of Remembrance for the Lance Corporal, who was just 24 years old when he died.

Steven, known as Shirley to his comrades, joined the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry in June 1999. He served in Northern Ireland, Norway, Kosovo, Belize and Jamaica as well as Afghanistan.

He was a well respected colleague as well as a great mate, Brigadier Martin Vine told the congregation gathered at St John the Baptist Church, Lea on Thursday, October 25th. There were several old friends from his battalion, now just called 1 Rifles, at the Service, along with family and friends from the village where he grew up, and many dignitaries.

Brigadier Vine explained a little of the background to the situation Steven found himself in Afghanistan,

He said that ‘Shirley’ as he was known to his mates, was a member of a military observation team in remote and inaccessible parts of the country, where many of the inhabitants had never seen a European before.

He was part of the move to win the hearts and minds of the people, just the night before he was killed he had administered first aid after a traffic accident involving an Afghan National Army patrol and a civilian vehicle. He mates remembered him as a throughly professional and dedicated soldier who was at his best working as part of a close knit team. Brigadier Vine said:?“Shirley said that he felt that this was what he came into the army for.”

However on October 29th, 2005 Steven’s vehicle was caught in an ambush, but even after he was hit Steven still called out a warning which allowed the driver to take evasive action. Brigadier Vine added Shirley will never be forgotten by his regiment and his close friends there.

His childhood friend, Nic Willett, spoke about her memories of Steven, and how they had enjoyed long summer days of freedom riding their bikes and visiting each other’s homes for tea.

She said her memories of him are treasures.

The RBL has promised that Steven Sherwood will now be officially remembered every year, on the Thursday before Remembrance Sunday, together with Timothy Jenkins, another local man who lost his life in the Falklands.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here