Bear-faced facts of being in TA

Soldiers from 75 Engineer Regiment, based in Failsworth, have been working in the Scottish Highlands — building a new house for a polar bear.

The 80-strong Territorial Army team, including Corporal Mark Wilson from Saddleworth, have deployed to the Highland Wildlife Park, near Kingussie, to build a new enclosure for Mercedes, a polar bear currently in residence at Edinburgh Zoo.

The Sappers, working as part of the military aid to the civil community scheme, are also putting their engineering expertise to good use in building a footbridge over a stream at a nature reserve further north, near Rosemarkie.

Soldiers from 75 Engineer Regiment regularly support operations, such as that currently in Afghanistan, so these projects in Scotland offer ideal opportunity to brush-up on their construction expertise.

Cpl Wilson (38), works, in his civilian life, for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. As a watch manager based at the service’s HQ in Swinton, he helps to maintain the fleet of vehicles within the fire and rescue service.

But, for 16 years, he has led a double-life as a part-time soldier, currently serving with 75 Engineer Regiment’s 202 Field Squadron, based at the TA centre in Failsworth.

“I am a driver specialist in the TA,” explained Cpl Wilson, who is married with two children, “so I get to drive the cranes and the low-loaders.”

He added: “Doing the jobs like this one in Scotland is important, because you can practise using the equipment in a real environment, dealing with whatever problems might arise.

“There is also something to show for it at the end.

“It would be nice to come back afterwards, once the polar bear has moved in, and be able to say ‘I helped build that’.”

Lt Col Henry Ricketts, Commanding Officer of 75 Engineer Regiment, said: “As engineers, it is vital for us to keep on top of our construction skills.

“Moving from North-West England to Scotland gives us chance to complete some challenging tasks, in an unfamiliar environment. We can also make a real contribution to the community by providing worthwhile causes with some new infrastructure.”