The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is giving its support to a charity which hopes to complete a tribute to a soldier from the Island.
Corporal Mike Gilyeat, known as Gilly, was a member of the Royal Military Police and a photographer attached to the media operations team based at Regional Command (South) in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The 28-year-old died when the Chinook helicopter he was travelling in crashed in 2007. Six others were killed in the incident.
Charity Forces Support will travel to the Island in February, with free ferry crossings provided by the Steam Packet Company, to help complete a memorial garden for Gilly’s mum Margaret Gilyeat in Bride.
The charity was established to honour service personnel killed in recent conflicts. It provides general maintenance around the home and garden, the work the lost family member might have done for his or her family, or the jobs that have built up while the family grieves.
Forces Support has completed more than 120 projects in the last two years, including a garden makeover for the parents of Drummer Lee Rigby.
Regional Operations Manager Steve Richardson said: ‘When we were contacted about helping Margaret complete the memorial to her son, we were delighted to get involved. It is our first project in the Isle of Man and will hopefully be a fitting memorial to Gilly.
‘I’d like to thank the Steam Packet Company for providing free transport to and from the Island, which helped make this project possible.’
Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward added: ‘Forces Support has done valuable work for the families of fallen service personnel and when we heard about the possibility of a project in the Isle of Man we didn’t hesitate in offering our assistance.
‘I hope the memorial garden, when completed, brings some comfort to the family and friends of Corporal Gilyeat.’
