Wednesday 8 February 2012
Published: 12/03/2010 08:15 - Updated: 12/03/2010 09:15

Family of Harlow soldier killed in Afghanistan plant a tree in his memory

By Dan Phillips
THE family and friends of a Harlow soldier killed in Afghanistan gathered to plant a tree in his memory at the Town Park on Monday.
 
Tree planting
Tree planting
Private Robert Foster’s parents, John and Lisa, were joined by relatives to remember their son who died alongside two comrades when an American plane bombed their position following a mix-up over grid references.
 
They planted an English oak sapling in the park’s Specimen Garden.

But the event was not a sombre affair as those present shared humorous memories and celebrated the life of the popular 19-year-old who was  known as ‘Frog’ to his friends.
 
“One of the Chinese lanterns we lit ended up getting stuck in a tree which we had a little laugh about,” said Mr Foster, of Great Plumtree.
 
“We thought it was Robbie’s spirit that blew it that way. He was a lovely lad with the right amount of devil and a wicked sense of humour. That would’ve been Rob.
 
“We didn’t expect that many people to turn up and we spoke about what he meant to us all.

“As one family member put it, he was a small pebble dropped in a big pond. He made a lot of ripples and had a big affect on a lot of people’s lives.”

The planting ceremony was jointly organised by Harlow Council and Rob-ert’s uncle, Peter Ginn.
“We wanted to do something for John and Lisa,” said Mr Ginn. “It is somewhere where they and others can go to remember Robert.
 
“He was a proud soldier from a military background and he was very keen. I can remember him coming home on leave; he could not wait to get back again.
“I think it was the sense of comradeship he had. He will never, ever be forgotten.”

Private Foster died alongside Aaron McClure (19), from Ipswich, and John Thrumble (21), from Che-lmsford, while engaged in close-quarter fighting on August 23, 2007.
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