Steve Ragless from Oaksheath Gardens has been bringing a smile to people's faces by wearing his Stormtrooper outfit during his daily walkSteve Ragless from Oaksheath Gardens has been bringing a smile to people's faces by wearing his Stormtrooper outfit during his daily walk
Steve Ragless from Oaksheath Gardens has been bringing a smile to people's faces by wearing his Stormtrooper outfit during his daily walk

Star Wars stormtrooper from Durrington brings a smile to neighbours' faces during lockdown

A stormtrooper in Durrington is bringing a smile to his neighbours' faces during the lockdown.

By day, Steve Ragless from Oaksheath Gardens is a warehouse manager - but during his daily walk, he dons his Stars Wars outfit to bring a bit of fun to the local community.

The 45-year-old said: "I love it. From my own experience, I remember the first Comic-Con I went to in Birmingham and I saw all these stormtroopers standing outside, and I went into full fanboy mode."

The opportunity for him to get his own suit arose when a friend was selling theirs.

He said: "When I finally put it on, I just felt amazing in it.

"I love seeing the looks and smiles, and people tooting their car horns and waving. It brings a few smiles in these very strange times."

His wife Selina came up with the idea for him to wear it after they were put in lockdown, and during their walks around the estate Steve has posed for 'socially-distant' photos with some of the children who have come out to see him.

In his spare time, Steve has donned the costume to a variety of events, including birthday parties, weddings and charity events.

When the Connaught Cinema has done showings of Star Wars films, Steve has turned up in his gear to raise money for Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, a charity which has helped his son Harry, six, who was born with spina bifida.

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