Murdered soldier Lee Rigby’s mother ‘is being forced out’ of the charity house that was given to her after her son’s death
- Lee Rigby, 25, was murdered by Islamic extremists outside his barracks in 2013
- His mother Lyn set up the Lee Rigby Foundation to help other bereaved families
- Foundation was gifted a four bedroom house to work from by Kendo Nagasaki
- The 1980s-wrestling-star has now told Ms Rigby she must ‘buy, rent, or lose it’
Lyn Rigby, 52, was told she must ‘buy it, rent it, or lose it’ by 1980s-wrestling-star Kendo Nagasaki
The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has been told she may lose the retreat she set up for bereaved families of soldiers in memory of her son.
Lyn Rigby, 52, was gifted the property for the Lee Rigby foundation’s use on the estate of 1980s-wrestling-star Kendo Nagasaki after the brutal murder of her son in 2013.
Drummer Lee Rigby, 25, of the Royal Fusiliers, was killed in broad daylight before witnesses in a Woolwich, south east London street in 2013.
Ms Rigby set about renovating the large four-bedroom house as a usable space for the bereaved families of soldiers, starting a foundation in her sons name; The Lee Rigby Foundation, before opening the retreat in October 2017.
The former wrestler has now told her she must ‘buy it, rent it, or lose it’ due to his financial difficulties, reports The Sun.
As the foundation is unable to afford to buy or rent the property Lyn told The Sun on Sunday she now faces losing everything she’s worked for and her home.
Lyn, husband Ian, 60, and their daughters Courtney, 17, and Amy, 14, will now have to find another home, having moved into the property in 2017, sacrificing the memory rich childhood home of son Lee to take on the responsibility of the retreat.
Lyn Rigby, 52, was gifted the property for the Lee Rigby foundation’s use on the estate of 1980s-wrestling-star Kendo Nagasaki after the brutal murder of her son in 2013
Father-of-one Lee Rigby (left) was murdered outside his barracks in Woolwich, London, in 2013. Lyn Rigby at the opening of the Lee Rigby Foundation retreat in 2017 (right)
The knock for the family, three weeks before the sixth anniversary of Mr Rigby’s murder ‘couldn’t have come at a worst time’ told Lyn Rigby to The Sun on Sunday.
Mr Rigby was murdered by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale who were convicted of his murder and given a whole life jail term and a minimum of 45 years, but have never shown remorse.
Mr Rigby’s devoted mother said it had been a difficult journey of grief, but that finding a new purpose in life, running the retreat, saved her from the brink of suicide.
The retreat for bereaved families of British servicemen and women offers them some ‘comfort, tranquility and togetherness’.
The retreat is part of Kendo Nagasaki’s country estate. Lyn said at the time she was thankful for the support
Lee Rigby House was jointly funded by the Lee Rigby Foundation and former wrestling star Kendo Nagasaki, who was moved by the Fusilier’s story