Mother of lost soldier slams BNP demo (From Hereford Times)

Rifleman William Aldridge's mother 'disgusted' by BNP plans for cenotaph demo

12:00pm Monday 23rd July 2012 in Bromyard By Lydia Johnson

THE mother of the youngest soldier killed in Afghanistan has spoken out against protests taking place at war memorials.

Lucy Aldridge, from Bredenbury, near Bromyard , fears a peaceful protest could be hijacked by a right-wing minority wanting trouble.

Lucy’s son, Rifleman William Aldridge, was killed, aged 18, by a roadside bomb while helping victims of an earlier blast.

Now, just days after the third anniversary of his death, Lucy says she is ‘disgusted’ people have chosen to protest against government cuts to the armed forces at memorials to fallen soldiers – and that they are backed by the British National Party (BNP).

The BNP recently wrote on its website that “peaceful protests” will take place at every war memorial at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday)

Mrs Aldridge said: “A political protest should never take place at a war memorial – it is dreadfully disrespectful. I worry a peaceful protest will be hijacked by a minority who want trouble, like in the London riots.

“I back the protests. They should not cut the forces. I just think they should protest in a more respectful way.”

The National Memorial Arboretum has discouraged people from protesting on the sites.