View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 5, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Paper demands Hoon honours soldier’s bravery

By Press Gazette

The Burton Mail has launched a campaign to honour a local soldier killed in Iraq.

Corporal Russell Aston was one of six Royal Military Police who lost their lives in a gun battle outside a police station in Al Majar Al Kabir in June.

The Army has told the parents of the soldiers it is highly unlikely that they will be honoured as there were no “credible” witnesses to the incident.

The Mail is running a campaign on behalf of the Aston family. It has launched a petition and is urging its readers to back the campaign.

Editor-in-chief Paul Hazeldine has written an open letter to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon calling on him to intervene and ensure that Aston is honoured for his bravery.

The paper also travelled with the Aston family on Wednesday to meet Hoon and present him with the letter.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Hazeldine said: “It is sad that my newspaper has had to launch this campaign for Russell Aston to receive a bravery medal. It should be a foregone conclusion.”

By Jon Slattery

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network