Shields presented in honour of brave Daniel (From Stourbridge News)

Shields presented in honour of brave Daniel

4:09pm Monday 9th February 2009

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COMMEMORATIVE shields in memory of Black Country soldier Daniel Probyn, who was killed while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, were handed out at a bash organised by Quarry Bank Royal British Legion.

The event, at Quarry Bank Labour Club, saw Daniel’s heartbroken father Tim presenting the awards to Mount Pleasant Primary School - in honour of their fundraising efforts for the legion’s Poppy Appeal, which in total topped £14,000.

The school raised £175 and history teacher Helen Darcy collected the Daniel Probyn Memorial Schools Award on behalf of staff and pupils who helped to pull in the pounds.

Event organiser Gloria Donovan said: “Out of all the Quarry Bank schools they collected the most for our Poppy Appeal in 2008.

“The presentation will now become an annual event in memory of Daniel as he was a local lad and his parents Tim and Ann always attend our Remembrance Day service.”

Twenty-two-year-old Daniel, of the 1st Batallion Grenadier Guards, was killed in May 2007 in an explosion in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province during an operation to clear a Taliban compound.

As well as the memorial school shields presented in the young soldier’s honour, the legion event also saw chairman George Parker presented with his ‘chairman’s jewel’ by Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho.

Attracting more than 150 people, the bash also marked the start of the legion’s latest drive to recruit new members.

Gloria said: “We hope to have a ‘club’ again in Quarry Bank, but need new members to achieve this.

“During the year we will be having other events for people in the community.

“Everyone is welcome to join us, you don’t have to have served in the forces to become a member of the British Legion.”

Legion members meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 8pm at Quarry Bank Labour Club.

Anyone interested in finding out more or becoming a member can call secretary Eric Homer on 01384 860913.

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