Give our troops a lift

THE day Natasha Kerrigan waved her partner off to fight in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of people attended an anti-war rally in London '“ and that opposition has played on her mind ever since.

She has heard very little from boyfriend Stephen Scaddan in the 16 Air Assault 7 Para over the past six weeks but knows morale was affected by the anti-war effort. Now Natasha is determined that when he and his colleagues come home they know that the hearts and minds of people here were with them.

'I am very aware that many of the lads out there believe that they do not have the support of the public,' Natasha told the Express.

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'I have been collecting messages of support for my partner's regiment. I would like to take this further and collate a book of support, something tangible to show them for their brave efforts, to show that so many people believe in them.'

Natasha, 23, moved to Downsview Crescent, Uckfield, on her own last month to start a new job with Wealden Council where she is a surveyor. And on Wednesday night she went along to the Uckfield annual town meeting to ask whether she could keep her book of messages for people to sign at the Civic Centre.

There was immediate support for her idea and Natasha, who comes from Portsmouth but lived with her partner in Aldershot, was delighted.

She is now planning to contact other councils to see if they are prepared to open similar books in which people can write messages and prayers for the troops.

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