RAF Airman from Littleport Recieves MBE

AN RAF airman from Littleport is set to receive an MBE for his dedication and long service in the military. Flight Sergeant Christopher Read, 52, will be honoured for more than 30 years of service in the Royal Air Force at a special ceremony at Buckingham

AN RAF airman from Littleport is set to receive an MBE for his dedication and long service in the military.

Flight Sergeant Christopher Read, 52, will be honoured for more than 30 years of service in the Royal Air Force at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the coming weeks.

Born in Cambridge, Sergeant Read moved to Littleport as a youngster and grew up determined to join the RAF, a dream he finally fulfilled after leaving school in Ely aged 18.

Since joining, the father-of-three has served more than three decades as an airman, seeing service in Cyprus and the Falklands as well as playing an instrumental role in keeping a watch on Britain's skies as a radar operator.

Flight Sergeant Read's father Christopher who is 82 Was also in the RAF and said he was "extremely proud" of his son, who he said "couldn't believe it" when he found out he was set to receive the honour,

"Christopher thought that when he left the RAF full-time that that would be it and there wouldn't be much more for him so he couldn't believe it when he found out he would be receiving an MBE," he said.

8847: Flight Sergeant Christopher Read.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE