The Volunteer - NWRFCA - Northwest Reserve Forces & Cadets ...

207 FD HOSP
‘207’ EMOTIONAL
WELCOME HOME
SSgt Colin McMullen and family.
The day finally arrived when
the families welcomed back
their loved ones as more than
40 members of 207 (Manchester)
Fd Hosp from the Greater
Manchester and the North West
returned back home to the main
Headquarters at Stretford having
spent four months caring for
soldiers in the British Military
Hospital in Afghanistan.
There were tears of joy as they
filed in to form a parade in the
main hall prior to them being
released to enjoy an emotional
family reunion and to celebrate
their safe return before returning
Pte Philip Keogh and daughter Erin.
home once again to be with their
families to enjoy a well-earned
break.
During the parade the CO, Col
Robin Jackson hailed his team’s
efforts and branded the tour ‘the
most challenging and rewarding
thing he had ever done’. He
also took the opportunity to not
only thank all of the families,
employers and Rear Party
personnel for their unstinting
support throughout the whole
tour but the level of support that
was also provided by the general
public from across the North West
region in particular.
Bury pays trib
homecoming
HUNDREDS of people lined the
streets of Bury to give a warm
welcome home to honour the
medics from ‘207’ who had
recently returned from a most
successful and challenging
operational tour of duty in
Afghanistan.
‘207’ were met with rapturous
applause from friends, family
and well-wishers as they paraded
down through the streets of
Bury. Flags were waved by young
and old as they watched over
44 soldiers on parade, led by
the Band and Corps of Drums of
the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
(Lancashire) as they proudly
marched through Bury town
centre. The days celebrations
started with a formal medal
presentation ceremony taking
place in the main hall of the
Castle Armoury TAC at Bury and
medals were presented to the
troops by the Lord Lieutenant of
Manchester, Mr Warren J Smith;
Mayor of Bury, Councillor John
Byrne and the Comd 2 Med Bde,
Brig Jeremy Rowan.
This was immediately followed
by a thanksgiving service at Bury
Parish Church before setting
off on the homecoming parade
through the town culminating
in a formal reception back at
the Castle Armoury TAC. The
CO, Col Robin Jackson, who
was also undertaking his final
duty in command, handed over
command to Col Kerry Trow
following the parade and said:
“I was astonished with the
reception. It was really heart-
18 THE VOLUNTEER www.nwrfca.org.uk