MP praises Brinnington community's support for soldiers in Afghanistan

May 21 2010

Stockport MP Ann Coffey will visit Brinnington Community Centre on Monday to show her support for local men and women serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan.

She has been invited by Brinnington residents, who have shown great generosity in collecting boxes of personal items for the soldiers, which will be collected on the day by Captain John Elms of the 1st Mercian Regiment (Cheshires)

Local mum Sharon Moult of Hereford Road sends regular parcels to her son, Private Liam Somerville, who is currently serving in Afghanistan. She also wanted to send supplies to the lads who don't have families to support them. This idea was quickly taken up by her neighbour Beryl Clarke, Bob Kearsley and Eric Forshaw at the Community Centre, and the response from local people has been fantastic.

Sharon Moult said: "I am very proud of Liam – and of each and every one of them out in Afghanistan. And I am really overwhelmed by the generosity of people in Brinnington, who have donated so much. My neighbour Beryl, and Bob and Eric at the Community Centre have done a fantastic job organising this, and I'm very grateful."

Ann Coffey said: "This effort shows the strength of the community in Brinnington. Liam's mum is not just thinking about her son – she wants to help all the others, and people in Brinnington have rallied round. All these little luxuries being sent out today mean more home comforts for our brave soldiers. I am very grateful to them for what they do for our country."

And she added: "Don't forget if you'd like to donate, the boxes at the Community Centre are still open."

Items which our troops like to receive include: toiletries, shampoo (no aerosols), hard sweets, savoury snacks, magazines, copies of the Stockport Express, socks and underwear and, not least, England Flags!