A petition to award Britain’s highest civilian honour to the woman who confronted one of the suspected terrorists accused of murdering soldier Drummer Lee Rigby, has been presented to Downing Street.
More than 85,000 people have backed calls to give George Medals, which are awarded to civilians for acts of great bravery, to former Grundisburgh resident Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, as well as Amanda Donnelly and her daughter Gemini Donnelly-Martin.
The campaign to honour the trio, dubbed “the Angels of Woolwich”, has been spearheaded by Woolwich rector the Rev Jesse van der Valk.
Miss Loyau-Kennett, 48, formerly of Charles Place, Grundisburgh, calmly spoke to the alleged attackers while Amanda and Gemini comforted the 25-year-old soldier as he lay on the ground outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, London, on May 22.
Mr van der Valk, who started the petition at Change.org, said: “They showed great courage, selflessness, compassion, and presence of mind. “And their actions brought dignity to Lee at the end of his life.
“I thank everyone who has signed this petition.
“This large number of signatories show the overwhelming support there is all over the UK, and indeed the world, to see these women rewarded for their exemplary actions as citizens. I hope Prime Minister David Cameron can now make this happen.
“As we hand in this petition at 10 Downing Street, we want to remember Drummer Lee Rigby, and to give thanks for his life as a son, husband, father and soldier.”
Mother-of-two Miss Loyau-Kennett, a former Snowy Owl Brownie leader in Ipswich, was travelling on a bus to Victoria when the horrific events unfolded last month. She spoke to the men for around 10 minutes.
The petition, addressed to defence secretary Philip Hammond, says that the women’s actions helped prevent anyone else being hurt that day. It says “the fact that no other bystander was hurt in the incident is testament to the courageous actions of these women”.
Two men, Michael Adebolajo, from Romford, and Michael Adebowale, from Greenwich, have been charged with Drummer Rigby’s murder.
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