Burwell soldier Rob Hayes honoured ten years on

A rugby match played to mark the tenth anniversary of the death in Afghanistan of a soldier from Burwell has raised £1,200 for a regimental charity.

Pte Rob Hayes, of the Royal Anglian Regiment, was 19 when he was killed on January 3, 2010 while on a security patrol.

The 45 players who took part in Sunday’s match and the crowd of 200 people who came to honour the young soldier stood in silence before the game, which was the idea of his girlfriend Jemma Redfarn.

Pte Hayes had played for Newmarket Rugby Club alongside Harvey Bell and Matt Dyer, now club chairman and captain respectively, who helped to organise the game.

Mr Bell said Pte Hayes was a talented and popular member of the club.

“He was known as ‘110 per cent’ because that’s what he always gave,” he added.