A LUDLOW family says that it has been saddened after being told that it can no longer place poppies on a plaque in St Laurence Church.

The plaque is dedicated to the life of Wilfred Norman Price, who died fighting for his country more than 75 years ago.

Ever since his death the family says that they have been placing poppies on the plaque, which was specially made and is near the entrance to the church.

This year Wilfred Norman Price, known to family and friends as Norman, might have been looking forward to his 100th birthday.

No one can ever know if he would have made the milestone because he was one of countless other young men killed in the prime of his life fighting for his country in the second world war.

The 24-year-old had only recently been married when he was chosen to fight in the battle for Normandy following the D-Day landings in the summer of 1944.

It came as the latest and last assignment for the young man who had started the war as a private in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

He had joined up in 1940 and after a few months was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry and had been made up to a lieutenant at the time of his death.

Sally Hughes from Ludlow is the latest of a long line of family who has been placing poppies on a plaque in his memory inside St Laurence Church.

The plaque was made shortly after his death by his mother Emma and father William, who was a former Mayor of Ludlow.

But Mrs Hughes says that she was told by the Rector of Ludlow, Kelvin Price, that placing poppies on the plaque is no longer allowed.

But he says there is an alternative place for tributes and that the church places great store on remembering the Fallen.

“It came as a huge shock and I was not really given any reason for this other than that it was no longer allowed,” Mrs Hughes said.

“I hope the Rev Price will reconsider so that we can continue honouring his memory.”

Lt Price died on Saturday, July 1, 1944.

It is believed that he was shot in the back and was initially taken to a casualty clearing station for treatment but died of his wounds on the same day.

His body was initially interred at St Pierre and was subsequently moved to the Tilly-Sur-Seulles War Cemetery in June 1945. On is gravestone are the words “Greater love hath no man than this. In loving memory. Meg”.

This is reference to his young widow Margaret Price, nee Baker.

“They did not have any children as they had not been married long when he died although his wife, who died some 40 years ago, did go on to re-marry and have a son,” said Mrs Hughes.

Having been buried in France, it was not possible to regularly visit his grave but the plaque in his own local parish church allows the family to mark their

remembrance by the placing of poppies on his plaque.

St Laurence Church stages the annual service of Remembrance on Sunday.

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