CO's BIRTHDAY AWARDS!

This week was a memorable week for many members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, not least the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Colin Risso MC who was celebrating his 40th birthday.

In a short ceremony in the CO's office, Captains Stuart Bensadon and Tito Danino were handed their 'Majors' badges of rank and WO"s Roger Ali and Ian Martinez were handed their 'Captains' rank slides. All four were toasted with a glass of the CO's finest port by all the officers!

In front of Regimental Headquarters, a muster of all the Regiment's Regular soldiers then said its farewell to Major Eddie Asquez who is leaving the Regiment after a career of over 25 years.

'It is with great sadness that I say farewell to Eddie,' said Lt Col Risso. 'All the young soldiers of the Regiment should aspire to a career like his: they should aim to be the Regimental Sergeant Major and then be commissioned as an officer, just as he did.'

The CO presented Major Asquez with a cut glass wine jug from Headquarter Company and with a sword from the Regiment.

In his reply, Major Asquez described the Regiment's progress with a footballing metaphor: 'The Regiment has gone from the 2nd Division, to the 1st Division and then from the Championship into the Premier League,' he said. 'I am proud of my contribution to that progress and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the Regiment and for the opportunity to have had such a superb career.'

At the muster, the CO also promoted Colour Sergeant Julian Valverde to WO2 and four Sergeants to Colour Sergeant. One of those promoted was Colour Sergeant Elaine Philips, the first female ever to be promoted to that rank in the Regiment.

Three Corporals were also promoted to Sergeant and six Private Soldiers to Lance Corporal.

It was a truly memorable day for the Regiment and many of its members.

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