Battle for free post for soldiers is won

1:00pm Tuesday 20th November 2007

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A BOURNEMOUTH woman is celebrating her part in a successful campaign to scrap postal charges for soldiers on active service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lydia Tomlin, 21, of Cornish Gardens, in Bournemouth, is the Dorset campaigner for Parcels43 - a campaign to scrap postage costs for families of soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Lydia's partner, Justin Danville, has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Royal Horse Artillery.

Now the government and Royal Mail have reached an agreement for free postage to personnel in Afghanistan and the Gulf.

"It's fantastic news. I saw the result on our website and couldn't believe it," he said.

Lydia sent two parcels a week to Justin during his tour.

"Each parcel cost £6.50 to send," she said.

Home comforts and supplements to Justin's basic rations were frequent inclusions in her twice-weekly postings.

"I would send every day things like tablets, soap and shampoo. I would also send foodstuffs like crisps and health food bars - things that can be carried in pockets," said Lydia.

The government introduced a pilot project for free postage in the summer. A traditional amnesty for Christmas post would have seen the free period last until the new year.

But campaigners seized the momentum and demanded a permanent waiver of postal fees.

The agreement was welcomed by North Dorset MP Bob Walter, who said he had been pushing for the deal.

"I think it's terribly important for the morale of service men and women," said Mr Walter, whose constituents include service personnel stationed at Blandford camp.

Lieutenant Colonel Howard Fairman, the Royal British Legion's County Manager for Dorset, said the decision was wonderful and would definitely raise troop morale.

"When I was on operations in Northern Ireland I received a pot of home made pate and it send my morale through the roof," said Mr Fairman.