by Alan Quick

DO YOU know a young person from the Crediton area who deserves some recognition for something they have done?

Nominations are now open for the annual Jamie Fleming Award, which will be presented to a young person who has done something outstanding or exceptional.

The award is given in memory of Lance Corporal Jamie Fleming, from Spinning Path Gardens, Crediton, who spent four-and-a-half years in the Army, in the Royal Signals based in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

He died, aged 21 years, following a road accident on Good Friday in 2014 on the A487 Felindre Farchog to Cardigan Road.

Despite his young age, he had a highly-regarded military career.

Born in Milton Keynes, the Fleming family moved to Crediton when Jamie was aged one and he attended both Hayward’s Primary School and Queen Elizabeth’s in Crediton. He then went to Exeter College with the Army’s Further Education Bursary scheme.

He was the first young person in the South West to achieve this (as reported in the "Courier" at the time) doing a sports-based course.

He received £1,000 after completion of his course and then another £1,000 after completion of his Army basic training at Pirbright Training Centre.

Jamie was the youngest recruit of that in-take, going off at 17 years, three weeks and five days (which was the exact age his dad was when he joined the Army).

Whilst at Pirbright he won the Drill Medal for best at drill in his platoon. He then went to Blandford Camp, Dorset to train as a Communications Systems Operator.

Following this he went to Chicksands, Bedfordshire for further specialist training as an Electronic Warfare Operator.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on completion of his trade training when he was still only 18-and-a-half. He was posted to 237 Signal Squadron, 14 Signal Regiment (EW) in Brawdy, West Wales as a Light Electronic Warfare Team (LEWT) Commander.

The year 2012 saw Jamie and his squadron preparing for a seven-month deployment in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. He was attached to 4 Mechanised Brigade. Jamie stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his infantry colleagues in the Forward Operating Bases.

He returned from Afghanistan in March 2013. July 2013 saw Jamie attached to 30 Commando Royal Marines.

He was part of the Operation Cougar 13 Task Force involving military exercises with various nations in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. January 2014 saw Jamie on exercise in France working with French airborne colleagues.

The award has been launched by family-friend, former five-times Mayor of Crediton, Mrs Gillian Ponsford, who knew Jamie well.

She launched the annual award, to be presented to an admirable young person in the town, which will be presented at the Town Council’s End of Term reception, in memory of Jamie.

The award is supported by the Fleming family, his former regiment and members of the community.

In 2015 Jamie’s parents, Stewart and Alison Fleming presented the award to Staff Sgt Hannah Stubbs, who was a member of Crediton detachment of Devon Army Cadet Force.

Last year the award was presented by Mr and Mrs Fleming to Cadet Warrant Officer Matthew Cordwent, a member of Crediton detachment of the Air Training Corps.

During his time with the Air Cadets he undertook the role of Cadet to the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and also gained his Gold level Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as well as a BTEC in Teamwork and Personal Development.

Mr Fleming thanked those involved in making the award possible and Jamie’s Regiment, which had donated the trophy.

• If you know of a young person you would like to suggest for the award, please contact Alan Quick as soon as possible at the “Crediton Courier” on 01363 774263 or email: [email protected] .

Please include as much detail about the young person and the contribution they make or have made.

Applications will be considered by a panel of trustees and the Award will be presented at the Crediton Town Council End of Term Reception.