A SENIOR Army officer whose parent live in Crickhowell has been appointed an OBE in the recent military operational honours list for distinguished service on operations in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Warner, 42, whose parents, Roger and Christine, live in Bryn Nant, Crickhowell is the Commanding Officer of 7 Air Assault Battalion REME based at Wattisham Airfield, Ipswich, which is part of 16 Air Assault Brigade.

For six months last year, Simon was deployed to Afganistan with 16 Air Assault Brigade while 7 Battalion provided the equipment support to all UK vehicle, land and aviation assets.

Educated at the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School from 1977 to 1982, Simon joined the Army as an Apprentice Avionics Technician in January 1983 and subsequently commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in December 1989. Simon has risen through the ranks and now commands the largest Battalion in the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Simon is married to Lindsay, formerly Scott, whose parents, Trevor and Christine, live in Chapel Road, Abergavenny.

While at Wattisham Lindsay has been the chairperson of Wattisham Airfield Childcare Centre and has been the driving force behind gaining grants for a new nursery which is due to be built from April. Lindsay and Simon have two children, Hannah, five and James, three.