Browse Sections

• Business
• Education
• Special reports

A brolly good idea

31/ 7/2008

SOLDIERS fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan are going undercover — thanks to the latest gifts from a pub in Heywood.

They are sheltering from the blistering 48C heat beneath black umbrellas, sent out by special delivery from the Brown Cow pub in Bamford Road.

It’s the latest, and most unusual, gift so far in a scheme which has sent more than 1,000 parcels out to Afghanistan and Iraq to cheer up the troops and remind them that folk back home are thinking of them.

The brolly good idea was hatched after a paratrooper home on leave called in at the Brown Cow to thank licensees John and Julie Barrett.

John said: "We couldn’t believe it when we asked him if there was anything he could think of that the soldiers really needed out there and he said ‘black umbrellas’.

"But it’s no joke, the heat out there is so intense that the lads need a bit of shade when they are not fighting and they reckon there’s nothing better than the roll-up black umbrella you see city gents carrying round.

"So we have sent off 33 and they should have arrived in Afghanistan by now."

Staff and regulars at both the Brown Cow and The Heywood pubs have been working flat-out to collect items for the parcels, which are particularly aimed at soldiers who don’t have anyone back home sending them gifts.

Ex-para John said: "We will be winding down the appeal soon, but we still hope to send out another 350 parcels before the end of September and we would welcome gifts of things like baby wipes, cordial in one litre bottles or less, biscuits, noodles, boiled sweets, fruit drinks in those soft pouches and even things like sticking plasters and over-the-counter headache tablets.

"We have had a brilliant response so far and the feedback we are getting from the troops is that they are really moved by the generosity of Heywood people."

Gifts can be left at either the Brown Cow or The Heywood.