Civic welcome for homecoming heroes

A GROUP of TA medics from Pennine Acute Trust who have completed a four-month tour of Afghanistan will join other troops to receive public recognition and thanks at a formal homecoming parade and events in Bury on Sunday.

Included in the seven volunteers are reservist medics from the 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers) whose regular bases are at hospitals within The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester.

The seven volunteers include consultant medical staff, nurses from various departments and a radiologist who left their civilian day jobs last year at local hospitals across Pennine to work at the Camp Bastion hospital, staffed by Territorial Army medic units, for three months.

Included in the seven is Capt Tracey Heath, an accident-and-emergency nurse at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

The home-coming events will include a formal parade at Bury TA Centre (Bury Castle Armoury) where personnel will be reviewed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and receive medals and a home-coming service at Bury Parish Church.

The returning troops will march through Bury town centre at 12.30pm before returning to Bury TA Centre.