THE mother of a Worcester soldier killed in Afghanistan this summer has spoken for the first time of her pride for her son.

Linda Williams, mum of Private Jason Williams, said: “I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s so sad.

“I look at all the photographs and think of all the things he’s going to miss in his life, in the future. It’s such a shame.”

Mrs Williams was talking after a service of remembrance held at Bishop Perowne CE College where she was a guest of honour.

Pte Williams, who died aged 23, was a former pupil at the Merriman’s Hill school.

He was killed on August 8 after stepping on a roadside bomb while trying to find the body of an Afghan National Army warrior who had been killed in an earlier attack.

Mrs Willliams, wearing the Elizabeth Cross she was presented with after his death, spoke of his love for the Army and his plans to serve for another 22 years.

She said: “He loved the Army. It was his thing. I’m very proud of him.”

Mrs Williams, of Sunnyside Road, Barbourne, also told of the moment she learned of his death.

“She said: “There was a knock on the door and I saw the man in the suit.

“You know as soon as you see the man what’s happened.

“There’s just this little spark, could he have just been injured? But no.

“I couldn’t believe it.”

She described her son, who served with the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), as a happy boy who loved life.

She said: “When he rang me he was so looking forward to the future.

“He had all these ideas about what he was going to do.

“He said ‘Mum, I’m going to buy a property.’ “He was so positive about everything.

“I miss him all the time.

“He’s in my mind all day long.”

At the remembrance service, former pupil Tony Ballard was also honoured and remembered by current students.

He drowned in the river Severn in June.

The pupils fell silent for two minutes to mark Armistice Day at the poignant service. Another former pupil, Corporal Tom Neathway, who lost both his legs and an arm in an explosion in Afghanistan in July 2008 was a guest of honour.

Also at the service were Pte Williams’ aunt and Tony Ballard’s parents.

The families heard about a rose memorial garden planned at the school as a memorial to Pte Williams and Cpl Neathway was presented with a £500 donation for charity Help for Heroes.

A trumpet-shaped candle holder, made by teacher Paul Shepherd as a tribute to music-lover Tony, was lit.

Students listened to tributes to Pte Williams and Tony Ballard and then heard from Cpl Neathway.

Pupils also read poems and prayed before Penny Ashmore sang Somewhere over the Rainbow.

The song brought tears to the eyes of Linda Williams who said afterwards: “It was lovely.

“She made me cry and the tribute to Jason by David King was really nice.”

Headteacher Julie Farr said: “We particularly wanted to honour and pay tribute to Jason, to Tom and to Tony.

“Every year we hold a service of remembrance but this year is particularly poignant.

She praised her students, saying “Their reverence was remarkable.

“The eloquence of the silence as people were leaving was proof of the impact of the service.”

She added: “One of the hardest things a head has to do is to attend the funeral of a much loved member of the school family.

“That was true both of Jason and of Tony.”

“We can’t even begin to understand what the families are going through but all we can offer is support and unconditional love.”

Afterwards Cpl Neathway described the service as very moving.

He said: “I’ve lost a lot of friends out there and it’s a way of us remembering them.

“Last year I was too ill to think about anyone apart from myself.

“This year, now I’m better, it’s given me time.

“Not a day goes by when we don’t think about them anyway but we do today of all days.”