A 10-YEAR-old Welshpool boy will have his request for soldiers returning from Afghanistan to be rewarded considered by the Prime Minister.
Joe Mills-Hogg, who attends Maesydre Primary School in Welshpool, was inspired to write to the Prime Minister after watching a Help for Heroes programme before Christmas, and felt immense pride for the work that our troops carry out on the front line.
Joe’s mum, Lynsey, said: “We had been watching the Help for Heroes programme and lots of football players were on there.
“Joe asked how much money a soldier earns and couldn’t believe the comparison with a footballer.”
Joe, an avid Manchester United fan, wrote a letter addressed to David Cameron saying: “I was very proud of the soldiers that fight for our country in Afghanistan.
“I am a huge Man United fan so I thought that when all the soldiers leave Afghanistan they should be rewarded with something.
“I think you and your Government should, with all the football league teams, let the soldiers and their families have a season ticket for their favourite teams.”
Joe signed the letter off “I look forward to hearing from you.”
He was astonished when, just a week later, a letter from Downing Street dropped through the letter box of his family’s home at Little Henfaes Drive.
“We didn’t expect a reply,” said Lynsey.
“We were so excited that we just ripped the letter right open.”
The letter from Downing Street said that Mr Cameron “very much appreciates the time and trouble you have taken to get in touch,” adding that they will be passing it onto the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who will in turn reply to Joe directly.
Joe said he was excited at the prospect of hearing back from the two departments and that he hoped they would listen to his suggestion and put it into action.
Some football clubs already provide individual match tickets to returning soldiers and Joe hopes that his ideas will spread to all the teams in the country.