Hundreds march in memory of James

A huge crowd gathered at The Crown pub, in Rawmarsh, on Tuesday  afternoon to take part in the six-mile march to Don Valley Stadium ahead of Rotherham United’s pre-season friendly against Leicester City.

Friends and family wore T-shirts printed with an image of the 20-year-old and many customised their own with personal messages to the former trooper.

James, of St Nicolas Road, Rawmarsh, was part of D (The Green Horse) Squadron, The Viking Group, The Royal Dragoon Guards.

He was killed while on patrol in an armoured vehicle in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province almost three weeks ago, leaving behind his parents, Neville and Sharon, his three brothers, Neville, Lewis and Jack, and his pregnant girlfriend, Tiffany Lound.

Money collected along the route to Don Valley Stadium on Tuesday will be donated to Tiffany and the couple’s unborn son.

Rotherham United also donated a signed shirt which was raffled off at half-time in support of James’s family.

Paul Clarkson, who helped organise the fund-raiser alongside James’s friend Rachel Robson, said that the event had raised around £1,500.

“The support we got from the public and everyone at Rotherham United was fantastic,” he said.

“People really wanted to show their support to James’s family and I think that showed.

“We passed through Parkgate, Rotherham town centre and past Magna on the way to the ground and people were beeping their horns and stopping to give us money along the way. The public response was fantastic.”

On their arrival at Don Valley, the exhausted walkers congregated outside Fara’s pub, on Stadium Way, and gave three cheers for James.

Family friend and professional Roy Chubby Brown lookalike, Paul Williams, brought some cheer to proceedings outside the Rotherham United ground.

James’s brothers, Neville and Lewis, drew the raffle for the signed Millers’ shirt.

James’ funeral is expected to take place on July 29.