Plaque commemorating Middleton soldier Lee Rigby installed in Middleton Shopping Centre

Gavin Vitler and Marie Gribben, Middleton Shopping Centre manager, with the plaque

A plaque commemorating Middleton soldier Lee Rigby has been installed in Middleton Shopping Centre.

The plaque was installed on what would have been Lee’s 36th birthday, 4 July, by family friend Gavin Vitler and was made by custom board maker Neville Greenhalgh.

He said: “To mark Lee’s birthday, I've had this plaque placed in the Middleton Arndale Shopping Centre, special thanks go to Marie Gribben, centre manager, and her team for allowing this.

“Also, thanks to Neville from the Heywood Veterans for making the board and to the people of Middleton for the continued support over the last 10 years in keeping a Middleton son’s name alive.

“10 years ago, hundreds, if not thousands, of you came out in shared grief and support of the family, and you all continue to do this.

“Again, on behalf of the family and the Lee Rigby Foundation Team, thank you.

“The foundation is still currently fundraising so they can open a second respite holiday caravan for bereaved families and military veterans; if you can donate, please do so and help a great cause www.leerigbyfoundation.square.site.”

Marie added: "It is a real honour for Middleton Shopping Centre to be able to display a permanent memorial to Fusilier Lee Rigby in his hometown of Middleton. We hope that this memorial plaque will provide a lasting tribute to Lee, which is befitting to his memory. Ten years on, as always, our thoughts are indeed with Lee’s family."

Fusilier Rigby, 25, was killed in May 2013 outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south London, while he was off duty. His killers were sentenced to life in prison in December 2013 after they were found guilty of his murder.
 

Read more: Remembering Fusilier Lee Rigby 10 years onPublished: 22 May 2023

Fusilier’s Rigby memory is kept alive each year with the annual Lee Rigby Memorial Ride, which sees bikers from across the country come together to remember Lee.

In recent years, the ride also honours the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing, and Lance Corporal Scott Hetherington, who was accidentally shot by a fellow soldier.