Ben Hyde's untimely death has had a long-lasting impact on his hometown.

In March 2005, Northallerton Silver Band performed a special concert for the 23-year-old, and the memorial trust in his name was launched. It has gone onto raise about £200,000 for charities and good causes.

Ben Hyde was one of six military police officers known as redcaps killed in an ambush at Al Majar, 120 miles north of Basra, in June 2003 in one of the most high-profile incidents of the time.

His parents John and Sandra Hyde organise an annual memorial dinner, which is being held this year on Saturday, June 24 at the Golden Lion, to raise money for the trust, which has become the legacy of his devastating death.

The Northern Echo: Lance Corporal Ben Hyde was killed in a firefight at a police station in Iraq in 2003

They will be joined by friends and military supporters, including the Catterick Military WAGS choir and guest speaker Lt Col Barney Barnbrook, the regional director of ABF, The Soldiers Charity. John has also done many long distance walks, including the Cleveland Way and Coast to Coast with friends, carrying a stretcher with a soldier dummy, as part of the fundraising.

The thousands and thousands of pounds raised have been used to pay for a huge range of events, equipment and support.

The Northern Echo: John and Sandra Hyde at the opening of Ben Hyde Way in Northallerton

John says: "This has enabled us to help not only the Royal Military Police Central Benevolent Fund but many community services such as the local hospital, many youth organisations, Scouts, junior football teams, an amateur swimming club, Northallerton College and the Dales School at Morton-on-Swale We have also sponsored several amateur athletes, one of whom, Laurence Whiteley was a member of Team GB in the 'adaptive rowing' for the Rio Paralympics, winning a gold medal."

The Northern Echo: John Hyde with a picture of his son Ben

He adds: "Setting up the trust was a way of coping, we didn't think about it at the time, we didn't realise it would get to where it has got to. It was a way of keeping Ben's name alive, he was our only child. An awful lot of people have a reason to remember Ben who never knew him before.

"It has changed our lives completely. There isn't a day goes by when we don't think of Ben. For us it means there was never the possibility of grandchildren.

"The people of Northallerton are still turning out for the dinner and raising money for the trust, Ben loved Northallerton and the town has taken him to their heart."

Northallerton Silver Band dedicated a piece of music to Ben, "Ewcote", which they play at almost every concert they perform. They always announce that it is dedicated to Lance Corporal Ben Hyde, "a peacemaker who lost his life so others could live in peace".