AN Army reservist from Yate has been honoured for completing 34 years of unbroken service.

Corporal Richard Brown serves in the Keynsham-based 105 Battalion as a royal electrical and mechanical engineer.

The 56-year-old received a Certificate for Meritorious Services at a ceremony at the Merchant Venturers’ Hall in Clifton, Bristol.

The award was presented by Lord Lieutenant of Bristol Mary Prior MBE JP, and issued by the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, a community-based organisation which supports the reserve forces in the South West of England.

Richard joined the Army Reserve, formerly known as the Territorial Army, when he was in his early twenties and has served in units across Bristol and South Gloucestershire ever since.

In his civilian life he works as a fitter manufacturer at the Airbus A330 wings at Filton.

“As a youngster, it was always my ambition was to join the RAF.

“But my dad was a toolmaker and found an engineering apprenticeship with a company at Bitton – which took me in a different direction.

“Since then, I have always liked the appeal of mixing a civilian job with the days we spend in uniform.

“Thanks to the army, I’ve had some great experiences, travelling to countries such as Belize, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark and Gibraltar.”

Richard has always had a keen interest in shooting and is now responsible for training armourers across the whole of 105 Battalion.

He is also a member of a small team with responsibility for inspecting weapons held by more than 160 cadet units across the South West and Wales.