Soldier's ashes are fired over town hall

The ashes of fallen hero David Kirkness were fired over Morley Town Hall in a rocket at the climax of a firework display to mark the first anniversary of his death while serving in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Kirkness, 24, from Morley, near Leeds, was killed alongside an 18-year-old rifleman from Kent while preventing a suicide bomber from causing carnage at a marketplace.

The actions of the pair, both of 3rd Battalion The Rifles (3 Rifles), may have saved the lives of dozens of innocent people.

L/Cpl Kirkness's daughter Brooke was just three years old at the time.

He had told his mother Maggie beforehand that if the worst should happen while he was on his tour of duty, he wanted to be fired in a rocket over Morley Town Hall.

"He was so much fun, and that's typical of his sense of humour," Mrs Kirkness said.

Last night she wept as his final wish was carried out before a watching crowd of several hundred.

Her son's picture was displayed on a big screen as the fireworks exploded in a sea of colour and the Last Post was played.

The final rocket carried some of the ashes of the fallen soldier, the rest having been interred at Crigglestone Cemetery in Wakefield in July.

Mrs Kirkness, 44, also used last night's memorial event to raise money for veterans charities Help for Heroes and Care for Casualties.

She has already raised more than 7,000 over recent

months.

In October it was announced a new housing development in Morley was to be named after the heroic soldier.