Family raise £10k for fallen Earby soldier's troops (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Family raise £10k for fallen Earby soldier's troops

11:27am Friday 14th October 2011 in Earby By Chris Gee, Reporter

THE family of fallen soldier Jordan Bancroft has handed over £10,000 to help troops in his regiment and help ‘keep his memory and spirit alive’.

The money was generated by sales of a calendar in which relatives posed at the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment barracks in Fulwood.

Jordan, a Lance Corporal from Earby, died in a gunfight during an operation in Afghanistan in August, 2010.

The 25-year-old was a hugely respected soldier, having spent nine years in the Army serving in Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Iraq twice and Afghanistan.

His aunt Mandy Paul, 43, from Chatburn, was the inspiration behind the calendar, and was helped by people including Jordan’s brothers Paul and Leighton, sister Toni and girlfriend Lauren O’Hara.

The pictures show them with military artefacts hiding their modesty.

Mandy said: “We wanted to raise money for Jordan’s regiment and I thought of this.

“Those lads and lasses put their lives on the line for us every day so the least we can do is bare all for them.

“The 2011 calendar generated this money and we’ve got a 2012 one on sale now which was shot at Brickhouse Farm in Langho with military vehicles including a 70 tonne Chieftan tank.

“I intend to do a calendar a year until I’m 90 – then I’ll pass it onto someone else.”

Mandy added that the regiment remained important to all the family: “We look at the young soldiers with their joy for life, energy and bravery and know that a part of Jordan lives on in them.”

Jeff Ashton, regiment secretary said: “This is a significant donation to our benevolent fund, which will help the welfare of many serving and ex-soldiers and their families. Jordan’s family has been so supportive and are always welcome.”