A FOREST churchwoman is urging local people top send Christmas cards to members of Beachley-based 1 Rifles serving in Afghanistan.
Rev Patricial Pinkerton, who won national acclaim a few years ago for her work on Foot and Mouth Disease and the local community, said the spirit of troops 'consistently under fire' would be lifted by the gesture.
"I wonder if our area of the Forest, or even wider Gloucestershire, could do a bit to make the Christmas holiday season more special for our lads serving in the 1st Rifles in Afghanistan," she says.
"We know of course that the Rifles are made up of several regiments including what was the Gloucestershire Regiment. Their deployment to the Afghanistan hot spots means that they are consistently under fire which can only be of great concern not only to them but to their families as well.
"It would be really nice if people could send Christmas cards and/or letters to the Battalion, addressed simply to either "A Lad in the Rifles" or "The Rifle Brigade" keeping the title as loose as possible. Mail can come from adults or children.
"Please feel free for to talk about Family, Home, Gloucestershire, the Forest, and Trips, whatever, remembering that these are young men, some of whom are teenagers, and some of whom may not have families."
Mail needs to reach the camp at Beachley before December 5 and it will be sent free by air to Afghanistan ( no stamp needed!).
The Forest of Dean District Council has agreed for a box collection point to be placed in the reception of their main offices at Coleford into which letters/cards may be placed. This box will be closed at the end of business on December 4 and delivered to Beachley in time for the deadline of the 5th.
"I hope we can get a good response. I am happy to have people contact me by telephoning 01594 810321 or via [email protected]">[email protected]."