Knitting enthusiasts in Westerleigh raise funds for Help for Heroes (From Gazette Series)

Knitting enthusiasts in Westerleigh raise funds for Help for Heroes

2:07pm Tuesday 1st June 2010 in

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KNITTING enthusiasts in Westerleigh have been flying the flag for the Armed Forces.

Volunteers in the village contributed to a 13ft sq knitted Union Jack flag which was displayed in St James the Great Church on Saturday.

The flag was the brainchild of Ali Aldridge, from Kingswood in Bristol, whose nephew was killed in action in Afghanistan last year.

Rifleman Will Aldridge became the youngest soldier to lose his life in the battle when he was killed in action trying to save an injured colleague during an ambush near Sangin, in Helmand.

Following his death, Ali quickly set about recruiting volunteers from all over the country to help knit 736 squares in red, white and blue which she sewed together to make the flag.

"We had many people from Westerleigh who had helped contribute turn up on Saturday," she said. "It was a really positive day and we had great feedback from people."

The exhibition raised £467 for Help for Heroes.

The event was the first in a series of displays which will be held up and down the country, including one in Hereford on Armed Forces Day and a poignant event in Wotton Bassett on the first anniversary of Will’s death.