Felixstowe: Port workers showcase military service

MEMBERS of the Reserve Forces working at the Port of Felixstowe are today swapping their usual work clothes for military uniforms.

They are celebrating Wear Your Uniform to Work Day, which highlights the crucial role played by Reservists in Britain’s armed forces.

The 19 port Reservists and their commanding officers have been invited to a special event on the dock, organised by the port in conjunction with SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers), involving a port tour, private lunch and a flying visit from an army Apache attack helicopter.

David Gledhill, chief executive officer for Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd, which owns the Port of Felixstowe, who is himself a Lieutenant Colonel in the Engineer and Logistics Staff Corps, said: “Uniform to Work Day provides a great opportunity to celebrate the role of the Reserves and to remind both the public and our employees the armed forces are made up of people from all sections of the community, from office workers to crane drivers.

“We are proud of the remarkable work that our Reservists undertake as volunteers and we hope they enjoy their day.”

Kristina Carrington, regional SaBRE campaign director, said: “The support, dedication and commitment the Port of Felixstowe gives to its employees who are members of the Reserve Forces is absolutely vital to the continuing participation of the Reserves in the UK’s defence capability.”

The UK has 38,000 Reservists, who have been deployed around 24,000 times since 2003 on operations around the globe, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus and in support of the NATO mission in Libya.

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