A much-loved soldier from Handforth who was killed on his second tour of Afghanistan has been honoured in the name of a new road near his home.
Local housebuilder Jones Homes has paid tribute to local hero Lance Corporal Jamie Webb at its Sanctuary Wilmslow development in Wilmslow, by naming the gateway to the new community Jamie Webb Drive.
L Cpl Webb’s parents Susan and David and brother Luke, along with a group of uniformed soldiers and veterans, many of whom served alongside Jamie in the 1st Battalion of the Mercian Regiment attended a ceremony held by the housebuilder to celebrate the naming of the new road.
The family were presented with a replica of the street sign at the event, which gave those attending the opportunity to share their memories. They also met with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, prior to the ceremony. L Cpl Webb died in March 2013 aged just 24 following an attack on his patrol base in Helmand Province.
Luke Webb, L Cpl Webb’s brother, said:
“We are really honoured and proud to have a road named after Jamie. We really want to thank Jones Homes for all their help and all the hard work that they have put into this day.
“Jamie was a true hero and It’s great that he is being commemorated in the naming of this road. Future generations will pass this road and will remember him.
“It’s more than just a road sign to us, it’s a memorial, another way to celebrate Jamie’s life. It means so much to us that the sacrifice that Jamie has made will not be forgotten.”
L Cpl Webb served in the British Army for six years, enlisting at age of 18. In this time, he was deployed on four operations, firstly to Northern Ireland, then to Iraq, followed by two tours of Afghanistan. He was promoted from Private to Lance Corporal after his first tour of Afghanistan.
Lt Col (Retd) Bill Temminck said:
“The Mercian Regiment would like to thank Jones Homes and the local councillors for the honour they have granted in remembering Lance Corporal Jamie Webb by naming this location Jamie Webb Drive.
“The day Jamie was killed in service with 1 Mercian in Afghanistan remains a day that is not forgotten by all his comrades who served with him.
“This is why so many of the soldiers that knew Jamie have attended this event, to pay their respects to him and show Jamie’s family he is not forgotten.
“I know that Jamie still lives in the hearts and minds of David, Sue and Luke, and he is remembered every day. Our Regimental Headquarters remains committed to supporting them whenever they need it.
“I would like to thank all the soldiers and veterans from both the Mercian Regiment and the Cheshire Regimental Association who have attended this dedication naming ceremony and are able to share the memories of Jamie with the family.”
Jones Homes North West, which is based in Alderley Edge, also made a donation of £500 to the Mercian Regiment Benevolent Charity in memory of L Cpl Webb.
Gemma Pownall, Sales and Marketing Director at Jones Homes North West, said:
“We were honoured when Jamie’s family approached us to ask about the possibility of naming the entrance road at Sanctuary Wilmslow in his memory. It was clear to us just how much this would mean to them and we were more than happy to contact the council to make it happen.
“It has been wonderful to hear all about Jamie and what a popular and kind-hearted person he was, and we can think of no one more deserving of this tribute. We are extremely proud to have a road at our Sanctuary Wilmslow development named after Jamie, and it was a pleasure to welcome his family and friends to the site for the ceremony.”
Jones Homes’ Sanctuary Wilmslow development, located off Coppice Way, is a new community providing bespoke mature living for the active over-55s. For more information about the development visit jones-home.co.uk.