Dad's tattoo is a tribute to hero son John (From Echo)

Dad's tattoo is a tribute to hero son John

7:50am Wednesday 6th August 2008 in

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THE proud dad of a fallen soldier is doing more than simply wearing his heart on his sleeve – he now has his hero son’s face tattooed on his arm.

Stephen Thrumble decided to honour the memory of son, John, a private in the Royal Anglian Regiment, who died in Afghanistan.

John, 21, grew up in Westcliff, and was killed alongside comrades Aaron McClure and Robert Foster, both 19, in a “friendly fire” incident last August.

Tattooist Giselle Stock, based at Shamanic Body Art, in Westcliff, worked for nearly nine hours to complete the tattoo – and said it was a privilege to do the job.

She copied a photo of the young soldier on patrol in Helmand province.

Below the tattoo are red and yellow roses – regimental symbols, along with war poet Laurence Binyon’s famous lines, ending “We will remember them”.

Mr Thrumble already has a number of tattoos, but says he and John had talked about getting matching ones when he returned from his tour.

He explained: “John was up for it, so I was going to design something for us. I was looking forward to doing that with him when he got home, but we didn’t get him back.

The photo is one of many he took out there. It is great picture and I thought it would make a fantastic tattoo.

“I wanted something to remember John by and this is my way of wearing my heart on my sleeve.”