Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

LONDON — Drummer Lee Rigby was a loving father who only ever wanted to be a soldier and “live life and enjoy himself”, his family said last night.

The 25-year-old soldier, from Crumpsall, Manchester, was walking towards the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, on Wednesday when he was run down by a car and murdered by two terrorists.

MoD Crown Copyright“He was a real character. Larger than life, he was at the heart of our Corps of Drums,” Drummer Rigby's commanding officer said.

A moving tribute from his family described how he was always there to protect his loved ones and played the “big brother” role to his sisters.

Since childhood all he had wanted to do was to be in the Army, it added.

Former colleagues also paid tribute to Drummer Rigby as a “true warrior” who had served with distinction in Afghanistan.

He was estranged from his wife of six years, Rebecca Metcalfe, and leaves a two-year-old son, Jack.

A statement on behalf of his family said: “Lee was lovely. He would do anything for anybody, he always looked after his sisters and always protected them. He took a ’big brother’ role with everyone.

“All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy, was to be in the Army. He wanted to live life and enjoy himself. His family meant everything to him. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle, and a friend to many.

“We ask that our privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

Drummer Rigby’s colleagues from 2nd Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, described him as one of its “great characters”. Lieutenant Colonel Jim Taylor, the commanding officer of the Second Fusiliers, led tributes to the “dedicated and professional soldier”, a talented parade drummer who performed outside the Royal Palaces and whose strong personality marked him out to work in Army recruitment.