Fund makes hero medic’s wedding extra special

Hero Army medic Hayley Ridgeway is to marry the soldier who tended her wounds and carried her to a helicopter after a bomb blast.

Hayley and her fiance, Mr Scott Reading, will put the traumas of six months in Helmand Province behind them for their special day on February 23.

Newark Patriotic Fund, which helps wounded Services personnel and their families, organised a discount on the Kelham Hall wedding venue, and paid for a limousine and a wedding night at Langar Hall before they return to their units.

Hayley, 24, of Syerston, said: “I have never been one for dresses. I much prefer khaki and the make-up I’m used to applying is camouflage cream, but my dress is nice and it covers my injuries, which was important to me.

“The whole thing is like a fairytale, including the venue. It’s all so humbling.

“I never expected recognition or help. I was doing my job. My job just happens to be a bit more dangerous than most.”

Hayley’s mother, Jill Ragless, was contacted by Karen Grayson, of the patriotic fund, after the Advertiser reported that Hayley was Mentioned in Despatches for her bravery.

Mrs Ragless said: “I didn’t know if she was genuine or not. It all seemed so fanciful that there was a local organisation that cared so much for Services personnel to want to help with anything that needed doing.

“They are amazing and continue to be so. They have helped to make Hayley and Scott’s day special.”

Hayley, who wanted to join the Army since a careers event at Toot Hill School, Bingham, will marry in a traditional ivory gown made by All Things Bride and Beautiful, of Ollerton.

The dresses of her two bridesmaids and flower girl will be in the dark green of The Rifles, as will the drapes on the tables.

Watching the couple marry will be up to 40 members of 1st Battalion The Rifles, including several whose wounds Hayley treated, despite her own horrific injuries suffered when the patrol she was a part of was caught in a bomb blast.

Watching too will be the mother and family of Lieutenant Dan Clack, whose life she fought to save.

Lieutenant Clack was badly wounded and died on a flight to Bastion Hospital.

Hayley said she had become close to Lieutenant Clack’s mother, Sue, since his death.

“Losing the boss was the worst day of my life but I would go through it all again just to have the chance of bringing him back,” Hayley said.

Hayley and Scott, also 24, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, were already a couple when they sent to Afghanistan.

The Army’s strict code usually prohibits family members or couples from serving in the same unit on the frontline, but Lieutenant Clack was adamant he couldn’t do without either.

On August 12 last year, a patrol commanded by Lieutenant Clack left for the village of Dactran for a meeting of elders.

Only 150 yards out of the gate, a Taliban Improvised Explosive Device went off wounding seven of the patrol, including Hayley.

Despite having ball-bearings wedged in her legs, Hayley refused help for 51/2 hours until the last of the injured was evacuated. She was screaming with pain by the time she was ordered to leave her post.

Scott bandaged her wounds and carried her to a helicopter.

While Hayley’s parents had been aware Scott intended to propose, and sent him a plastic ring in case he did so on the tour, it wasn’t until they were home and on holiday in San Francisco and Hawaii that he asked her.

The couple are both likely to return to Afghanistan in September, though not to the same checkpoint.