Two Norwich airport firefighters are set to meet the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Friday (July 11) to celebrate the Territorial Army's centenary. Deputy watch commander Jonny Feaks (42) is taking his boss Ron Goose to the celebration in recognition of the support for his TA activities.
Jonny was chosen as one of hundreds of TA troops to attend the event, and invited fire service manager Ron to say thanks for his efforts in sorting cover for a tour of duty and an annual, two-week training camp.
A member of the TA since December 1987, Jonny joined up because of his family's military history - his grandfather worked on the Burma railway in World War II and his father did National Service.
Now a corporal in the TA, he serves with A Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, and trains each Wednesday at their centre in Aylsham Road. He lives in Horsford with his fiancee and stepson.
He also served in Basra, Iraq, for six months during 2005 with the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, driving on patrols and escorting vehicles.
Fortunately, he never came under fire and the worst he had to deal with was the heat.
"It was incredibly hot - the heat was the hardest thing to cope with, especially when you have to wear your body armour, helmet and weapons," he said.
He has been with the airport's fire service for 18 years, and got his job after his father, who worked for KLM, mentioned him to Ron Goose.
"I am very excited about the garden party. It is such an honour to go, and we hope to meet the Queen - she might speak to us," added Jonny.