Actor's reading of soldier's final letter helps mother grieve

A soldier's last letter home - read out by actor Daniel Mays at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance - has helped his mother face her grief.

The annual televised event at the Royal Albert Hall honours the service and sacrifice of members of the armed forces and includes personal testimonies from serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Gunner Lee Darren Thornton, 22, of Blackpool, served in the Iraq War and died in 2006.

During the remembrance event, Line of Duty actor Mays read out an emotional letter Lee had written to his fiancée, which Lee's mother, Karen Thornton, said had felt "as if Lee himself was reading it". Mays called it "one of the greatest honours of my life".

In the letter, which came with instructions that it should only be opened in the event of his death, Lee described his fiancée, Helen O'Pray, as the "love of his life".

The couple had planned to marry in August 2008.

He wrote: "I know God put me and you on this earth to find each other, fall in love and show the rest of the world what true love really is.

"You have shown me what love is and what it feels like to be loved.

"There is no sea or ocean that could stop my love for you. It is the biggest thing I have ever had."

His mum, who kept the letter, said she had put it away, along with his diaries, many years ago because it was "hard to look at them".

She said: "I think I've buried everything for almost 20 years. Everything of Lee's had been put away.

"It's the easiest way you cope with things."

But before it was read out during the BBC One programme, Karen said she had decided to get the letter out to prepare herself and had also spent time since the broadcast looking back through her son's diaries.

"The letter shows who he was," she said. "He wasn't just a soldier. They were all individuals. He was kind, considerate and caring.

"He was also very funny. Just someone to be so proud of."

Karen said she "sat in tears for an hour" after watching Mays' performance.

"It really got to me, in a nice way," she said. "The way he read it was absolutely amazing. He must have memorised it.

"It was as if Lee himself was reading it."

Helen, who had been Lee's fiancée, thanked Mays and said it had been "beautifully read".

The performance, which was posted on social media by the BBC and Mays, has been shared widely, prompting hundreds of comments from people who said they had been moved to tears.

Speaking about the tribute, Mays said reading Lee's words had been "one of the greatest honours of my life".

"I was so profoundly moved when I first read his letter home to his fiancée. I knew I had to be part of this incredible tribute.

"God bless you, Lee, for your unbelievable service, bravery and sacrifice. I hope I did you proud mate."

Karen said allowing the letter to be read out had been "the best decision ever".

"At the end of the day, all we want is for Lee to be remembered for the person that he was."

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