Thousands line streets to mourn a fallen hero (From The Northern Echo)

Thousands line streets to mourn a fallen hero

9:40am Thursday 4th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(8)

The death of Corporal Lee Brownson united a community in grief yesterday. The people of Bishop Auckland, the young and the old, stood side-by-side with his family to mark the soldier’s passing. The Northern Echo joined them as they paid their final respects.

THE applause that rippled along the route of Corporal Lee Brownson’s funeral procession yesterday came straight from the heart.

Few people in the crowd lining the route from his funeral in St Andrew’s Church, Bishop Auckland, through the town centre knew the young soldier, but they came to honour his courage all the same.

They stood silently waiting for his coffin to arrive, throwing roses and breaking into spontaneous applause as it passed.

The funeral cortege passed Bishop Auckland Territorial Army Centre where, as a teenager, Cpl Brownson enjoyed his first taste of Army life.

He would have taken the same route as the hearse many times along Cockton Hill Road to Newgate Street on his way to the shops or a night out.

Yesterday, his car turned right on Theatre Corner to pass his old school, now called King James I Community Arts College, where students lined up outside the gates.

One of them, a young uniformed cadet from The Rifles Army Cadet Force, saluted the hearse and stood to attention as the cortege drove on.

There were so many wreaths they were loaded on to two flatback trucks.

Decked in the Rifles’ colours of red, black and green they spelled out Cpl Brownson’s life in flowers.

Youngest daughter Morgan, aged four, sent a heart. Ginalee, ten, chose a pound sign because she enjoyed sharing his money-making schemes and to both the girls he was “Dad Our Hero”.

He was “Brother” to David and Stephen and “Del Boy” to his mates, with “Swift and Bold” the motto of his regiment.

Alan Tonge, from Watling Road, Bishop Auckland, said: “The lads are out there doing a brilliant job for us. It is sad that Lee is not coming home.”

It was an emotional day for two service veterans, retired airman Johnnie Walker and George Todd, whose national service was with the Royal Signals.

Both travelled from Newton Aycliffe to pay their respects.

For Mr Walker, who served with the Nato force in Europe, the war in Afghanistan is a lost cause.

He said: “I don’t believe in what is happening out there.

They haven’t threatened us so we shouldn’t be threatening them. It is a waste of young lives.”

A Territorial Army veteran of 25 years, former Scots Guardsman Fred Taylor, from nearby Toronto, said: “The soldiers deserve all the respect we can give them.

“They are dedicated and brave people who are doing a wonderful job.”

In the crowd, a group of teenage students from an entry to employment course paid their respects.

Amy Fairless, 16, knows the Brownson family. She said: “Lee was a lovely lad. The whole family are lovely. I feel very sorry for Leeanne and the children and the one on the way.” Tutor Dawn Hartfree said: “The young people know that people have died to allow them freedom to express their opinions.”