An ex veteran who had his motorbike helmet stolen while paying his respect at a Remembrance Sunday service has been left 'overwhelmed' when friends all clubbed together to buy him a new one.
Andrew Jessie James, known as Jessie, 49, was just waiting to observe the two minutes silence at the service in Atherton, when two males on a scooter rode past and made off with Jessie's motorbike helmet, which was resting on his parked motorbike.
Without a helmet the veteran, who has served in the armed forces for 22 years, was unable to safely chase after them and had to return home for another helmet, missing all of the service.
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Jessie, who lives in Westhoughton, Bolton, is a volunteer of the The British Legion Riders and other Armed Forces charities.
His friend and fellow volunteer Alex Kershaw, 30, from Stalybridge says he was determined not to let him be out of pocket.
He said he posted out over a hundred private messages on social media to people who knew Jesse and asked if everyone could chip in - raising over £400.
He says he then asked Jessie to meet up with him outside Motorbike accessory shop J&S Manchester in Openshaw where he handed him the money in an envelope.
He said: "It brought a tear to his eye.
"He always volunteers with the Veterans and I wanted us to give him something back."
Jessie, who is originally from Atherton says: "I started crying, it was emotional
"I don't do things for charities for something back.
"On November 11 at 11 am everything should be safe.
"Colleagues of mine are suffering from PTSD, who have come back from operational conflict and are still paying the a sacrifice.
"So I am disgusted. I was gob smacked - there were friends, colleagues, school children who witnessed it.
"But there are good people out there and this proves it.
"It was fantastic what Alex and the Chairman of our branch, Mike Bennett, did in a short period of time.
"It will be making me well up until next Sunday and beyond."
The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police.
