Veterans honoured by MP at special ceremony (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Veterans honoured by MP at special ceremony

July 20, 2009 11:22 AM

David Howarth joins veterans at the presentation

Cambridge veterans, who served in the armed forces, were officially honoured by the city's MP, David Howarth, on Saturday and presented with their Veterans Badges.

Mr Howarth welcomed 10 veterans and their relatives to the special presentation at the Guildhall.

Among them was Geoffrey Rogers who is well-known in the city for his work with the Royal British Legion, raising thousands of pounds for the Poppy Appeal over 29 years.

Ben Harris, who served with the Royal Norfolk Regiment, attended the ceremony on his 77th birthday.

And Christine Sansom, who arrived just as the event was finishing having been told about the presentation just hours before, came to claim her father's medal.

Sergeant Arthur Jolley, a member of the Cambridgeshire First Batallion, died as a prisoner of war in June 1943.

Mr Howarth said during the ceremony: "At times, our armed forces have been there to protect our freedom, our democracy and our way of life and that is something of which everybody should be proud.

"These Veterans Badges should be a reminder of how important the armed forces are to this country."

After the presentation, he said: "I was delighted to meet these people who have all made a contribution to the armed forces. I hope they will wear their Veterans Badges with pride."