Information on Loughborough

LOCAL SOLDIER PROUD OF FREEDOM.

Posted on 14/06/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk

police cctv pictureA SILEBY Sergeant has announced his pride in getting the Freedom of Entry to his own Borough.

Sergeant Tom Crabbe (28) from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, will be among the 220 soldiers that will exercise their right of Freedom of Entry to the Borough when they march through Loughborough next week (Tuesday, 19 June).

Sgt Crabbe, said: "All the lads seem to be taking the honour of the Freedom of the Borough in their strides but it is a proud moment. Im sure our family and friends are even prouder though, I know my grandparents, parents and wife will be there to see the march and theyre really looking forward to it.

Sgt Crabbe, who now lives in Sileby, has lived in Charnwood all his life, including in Loughborough and Shepshed. He went to local schools including Humphrey Perkins School in Barrow, Shepshed High School, Shepshed and Rawlins Community College, Quorn.

Sgt Crabbe, added: "Ive been in Royal Anglian Regiment or The Poachers as were known, since I left school; Id had enough of education and wanted to travel and this offered me the perfect opportunity.

"I live with my wife, Alison and Charnwood has always been home to both of us and now were based in the UK, I get to come back at the weekends, which is great but it was different when we were based in Iraq, last year.

When asked about what its like to be in The Poachers, Sgt Crabbe spoke from the heart: "Were all a big family " it sounds cliché but its true. Weve all grown up together, we spend so much time together " youre friends, more than colleagues and I think once youve been a Poacher, youll always be one! This reflects the regimental ethos which is stated on the snd Batallions website as

We are a county based Regiment, bound together by a closely-knit family spirit.  Our approach is classless, based on mutal repect and trust, where developing and believing in our soldiers is paramount.  We are a forward looking, self-starting and welcoming team for whom the mission remains key.  By living this ethos, we the Royal Anglian Regiment aspire to constantly deliver excellence.

The Royal Anglians current complement of troops, have served in Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq in the last 15 years. There will be 220 troops parading on the day.

More information of the Royal Anglian Regiment can be found on their website www.army.mod.uk/royalanglian/index.htm