Local MP, Justin Tomlinson, has spoken of his pride and admiration for our armed forces, after he presented a Second World War veteran with a campaign medal, almost seventy years after combat operations ceased in the conflict.
Brave Ron Weller, a veteran of the Arctic Convoys, was proudly presented with his medal by his locals MPs, Cllr. David Renard and Mayor of Swindon, Cllr. Nick Martin. Veterans of the perilous Convoys, a number of whom were from Wiltshire, kept troops and vital supplies moving around the Arctic Circle and northern Europe in conditions Sir Winston Churchill described as the 'worst journey in the world'. Despite the danger faced by service personnel, it was only after a prolonged campaign supported by Swindon MPs, Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland, that the Ministry of Defence finally began to award the Arctic Star Medal.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: "Myself and Robert worked hard to support the campaign for this medal to be awarded and I am delighted Mr Weller has finally received the recognition he, and his brave colleagues deserve. Once I was asked to help present the medal by Mr Weller's son, I asked my colleagues Robert Buckland MP, Cllr David Renard and the Mayor Cllr Nick Martin to join me so we could collectively on behalf of Swindon show respect for his unsung heroics."
