War hero Ben aims to walk

Ben, who lost both his legs and suffered brain damage in a landmine blast in Afghanistan, has been fitted with "kneelers" - the first procedure necessary to fit artificial legs.

The kneelers mean Ben can begin the process of standing up independently by lifting him a few inches off the ground.

Mum Diane Dernie said: "Just three weeks ago doctors were warning us that Ben would never get even this far. It was a very big day for us all. We don't know when he'll be able to progress on to the next stage, we'll just have to see how it goes."

Finding out about the kneelers was momentous for the family for another reason.

Diane said: "Ben made his first phone call to tell us about the kneelers. I was just wonderful to hear his voice. We can understand what he was saying though a lot of people struggle a bit.

"What was particularly good news was that he remembered to call - he suffers from memory loss because of the blast injury he suffered to his brain, so the fact he remembered was really special."

Ben, whose family live in Wheatley Hills suffered a catalogue of injuries when an army landrover he was travelling in ran over a landmine in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Last week it was revealed by The Star that, after a Government rethink, Ben will be eligible for the maximum amount of compensation - 285,000 - nearly double the 152,150 he was originally offered. His family had launched a campaign protesting at the amount of compensation offered to soldiers injured in action.

Now a call will go out at Monday's full council meeting for brave Ben to be made a Freeman of the borough.

Scawthorpe resident Simon Mitchell will ask Mayor Martin Winter if he will consider adding Ben to the list of Freemen - to which six new members were added last month.

Diane said: "Ben would just love this. He's the most patriotic and loyal person you can imagine. He can't wait to come home - he's Doncaster through and through."

Wheatley councillor Moira Hood said: "I think making Ben a Freeman would be a nice gesture on the part of the town. Ben's certainly a very brave young man and his life, sadly, has been changed considerably. I'm a mum of three sons and I remember recently being at the ceremony when The Rifles regiment were granted Freedom of Entry to the borough, and thinking what brave young men they were. That, of course, goes for Ben too. He has made a tremendous sacrifice."

Independent councillor Mick Maye added: "It would be a nice gesture and Mr Parkinson certainly needs a lot of help and support. But it's important to remember to keep him in our hearts. People sometimes only remember these things whilst they are in the headlines, but he will need support for the rest of his life.