Congregation urged ‘no porn in parcels’

Kind-hearted churchgoers have been warned not to send porn to soldiers serving in war zones.

They have contributed to more than 1,000 parcels collected by campaigning Saddleworth pub landlady Debbie Hardie for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mrs Hardie (43), whose son Barry served with the Grenadier Guards in Iraq, first launched her “shoebox soldiers” initiative after problems over postal charges for parcels for troops.

Since then, backed by parishioners from Saddleworth Parish Church and dedicated locals, she has sent a constant stream of parcels.

But a notice to Sunday worshippers at St Chad’s Church, Uppermill, said while the parcels may contain gifts of toiletries there should be “no porn”.

One of the note’s authors, said: “We thought it prudent to issue the warning about pornography after reading the support soldiers website.

“But we are not for one minute saying our congregation were sending porn to the troops.”
Debbie said: “No one has ever put anything pornographic in the parcels — magazines or otherwise.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Providing it is legal, it’s a personal choice whether they get such items.”

Meantime, Debbie is gearing up to send another batch of shoe-boxed sized parcels to the troops.

Her son Barry (25), a serving soldier, was praised for helping save the life of a seriously injured colleague when he carried him to safety on a home-made stretcher during an intense mortar bombardment in Iraq.


Gifts to soldiers,which can include toiletries but no aerosols, can be delivered to Debbie Hardie at The Granby Arms, High Street, Uppermill, or call: 01457 873028.