A ROYAL Marine, a former student at Queen Elizabeth's Community College, Crediton and a member of Crediton Rugby Football Club was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list.

Colour Sergeant Martin Ash from Commando Training Centre Royal Marines was awarded the honour for his work with injured marines and his contributions to service charities.

Martin (45), lives in Exeter and currently works in Hunter Company at the Lympstone training base. This company specialises in rehabilitating Royal Marines recruits who have been injured during training or failed a physical or professional test.

He supervises the instructors in Parker Hall - a state of the art gymnasium opened in 2012 dedicated to helping injured recruits. Not only is it a multi-role gymnasium but it also has physiotherapy facilities that allow recruits to receive treatment between fitness sessions.

The MBE also recognises the work he did with injured Royal Marines at 40 Commando in Taunton and the "Not Forgotten Association" (NFA), which is a tri-service charity that provides entertainment and recreation for injured soldiers and for ex-service personnel who have suffered life changing injuries.

FULL STORY SEE PAGE 3, ISSUE 963