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Crowds cheer on our brave troops
SOLDIERS from the Mercian Regiment were given a heroes' welcome when they marched through Amber Valley on Monday.
Close to a thousand people, including schools and the families of the soldiers, turned out in Ripley to show their support and respect for the brave men who returned from their last tour of duty in Afghanistan in November.
Among them was Private Michael Hennessy, 23, from Belper. He said: "It's nice to do parades which are closer to home. It's great to see so many people. My mum, wife, sister and four-month-old son were all here and all of them were very proud. It will be hard leaving my son when I go away again."
The parade started at Ripley Market Place, before going down Church Street and up Grosvenor Road where the salute was taken outside the library.
Lieutenant Colonel, Colin Marks said the day had been "absolutely fantastic". He said: "It was very emotional for the guys – we had a hard tour and lost men – to come home and march through their home towns and see the public so welcoming, it's fantastic."
He added: "This is about experiencing our right of freedom of the borough. It was the right thing to do as it will keep ourselves in the public eye."
He said hopefully the the regiment would march through Ripley again. He said it had been heartening to see such strong support.
Lance Corporal Gavin Eley, 26, from Kilburn, said: "Everything is a culture shock when you return. I've been back three times now and every time I come back it's changed here. You just have to take it how it comes.
"I don't tend to talk about Afghanistan as much, it's not fair on myself to keep talking about it."
Mayor of Amber Valley Peter Makin, said: "I am so proud of the soldiers and residents of Amber Valley because the turnout was excellent. "The lads have been supported so well and it's nice to send a message to the lads that we are so proud of them."
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Weather for Belper
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
