Veterans into Logistics pay tribute to Fusilier Lee Rigby at truck naming

Rochdale-based Veterans into Logistics unveiled their latest truck earlier this month, showcasing a tribute to Fusilier Lee Rigby, from Middleton, on the eighth anniversary of his death.

Approximately 400 riders came together on Sunday 11 July to remember Middleton soldiers Lee Rigby and Scott Hetherington, and the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing.

Before a memorial ride began, a service was hosted at Rochdale Sports Club by Revd Gavin Vitler, and the truck naming ceremony commenced.

 

Read more: Hundreds gather to remember Lee Rigby, Scott Hetherington and the Manchester 22 with annual memorial ride and truck namingPublished: 12 July 2021

 

The ceremony saw a HGV Class 1 training vehicle named in memory of the fallen soldier, which will now be used to train unemployed ex-military personnel into becoming HGV drivers and into new careers.

But this isn’t the first time the non-profit organisation, based at Birch Mill Business Centre, have dedicated one of their trucks to a fallen soldier’s memory. Their first training vehicle is dedicated to the memory of Sergeant Jamie Doyle, a close friend of the Veterans into Logistics’ founder.

Considering the mutual hometown roots, Veterans into Logistics approached The Lee Rigby Foundation for their blessing to dedicate their truck to the local fusilier.

The Lee Rigby Foundation is a charity which offers retreat facilities to bereaved military families whilst Veterans into Logistics is dedicated to training and supporting ex-military personnel into new careers within the Transport sector.

 

 

25-year-old Rigby was brutally murdered while off duty outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south London on 22 May 2013. His killers, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were sentenced to life in prison in December 2013 after they were found guilty of his murder.

Lee’s mother, Lyn Rigby, attended the event with members of the Rigby family, joined by serving members of the military community, nationwide logistic company representatives, the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Aasim Rashid, Chris Clarkson MP and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

Major Ian Battersby, one of Veterans into Logistics’ directors and chairman, chaired the truck naming ceremony, highlighting the great work that both Veterans into Logistics and The Lee Rigby Foundation do for the extended military community.

Since founding in June 2020, Veterans into Logistics has grown strength to strength and gained the support of Chris Clarkson MP, Sir Graham Brady MP and Lucy Powell MP for their work in training ex-military personnel into new careers within the logistics sector and coming up with a solution to the substantial shortage of LGV drivers in the UK.