Don't sell Afghanistan hero Mark's medals . . take mine

For army veteran Bill Munnoch, his service medals are his pride and joy. For decades he has kept them carefully polished, taking them out to wear to remembrance parades, and promising to leave them to his two grandsons after his death.

But when he read that the parents of fallen Para Mark Wright were considering selling their son's medals to fund their veterans' charity, Mr Munnoch did not hesitate - he immediately offered to sell his own medals instead.

Mr Munnoch, 69, joined the army in 1959 and served as a provost sergeant in the Queen's Own Highlanders and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His medals mark his service in Malaysia, Borneo, Brunei, Aden and Northern Ireland. He also recently received the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal from the King of Malaysia in recognition of his service there 40 years ago.

He said he was prepared to sell all of them if it would help the charity.

"When I read that Bob Wright was considering selling his son's well-earned medals," he said, "I thought 'God forbid, he shouldn't have to do that'. Mine were lying up the stairs, I'd promised to give them to my grandchildren, but I phoned my daughter and she said 'Please, go for it, I'll explain to the children'.

"I wear them when I go to various remembrance parades and they mean a hell of a lot to me. But if they mean raising funds to help keep that facility open then I'd be more than happy to part with them. "

Bob and Jem Wright established The Mark Wright Project following the death of their son in a minefield in Afghanistan in 2006. The centre, in Dalkeith, offers social, emotional and practical support for veterans, particularly those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

The Evening News is backing their campaign to raise money to keep the centre open - without having to sell their son's medals, including his posthumous George Cross.

Mr Munnoch, who lives in Falkirk, said he had been shocked when he heard the Wrights were considering selling the medals.

"My immediate reaction was anger, followed by disappointment that a place like that should contemplate closing. I think the charity is a wonderful, wonderful thing."

Mr Wright said he had been greatly moved by Mr Munnoch's offer, though he was not sure he could bring himself to accept it. He said: "It made me feel humble that he was prepared to go to that extreme. I don't think I could have the heart to take his medals." But he invited Mr Munnoch to the centre later this month, when the Labour leader Ed Miliband is due to visit.