Spalding Private is the Paras' best
THE Paras' top training award has gone to a Spalding man who gave up a well-paid job to pursue an army career.
Private Andrew Osborne will tomorrow be awarded the Champion Recruit prize for the Paras' Rhine platoon during a pass out parade ceremony.
An army spokesman said: "To be Champion Recruit he has really gone through the mill."
He added that the former Gleed Boys' School student was one of only ten men of his platoon intake to survive the gruelling training in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
He was outstanding during the 28-week PARA Combat Infantryman's Course.
Typically, there are around eight platoon intakes per year for the Paras, with about 30 men hoping to make the grade.
Platoon commander Lieutenant Ivan Rowlatt, said: "His commitment was unrelenting and he's absolutely self-motivated.
"Asked who they would take to Afghanistan tomorrow, the training team chose Private Osborne.
"He thoroughly deserves this award."
A civil engineer earning very good money before joining the army, Pte Osborne said: "The salary was great, but the job had lost its spark.
"Joining the army was something I'd thought about, so I did it before I got too old.
"Joining the elite paras certainly gave me the sort of challenge I was looking for.
"I was shocked and proud as punch when I was told I'd got the award. It's a real honour.
"I'm really looking forward to joining the battalion and getting on operations to do the job I've been training for."
After some well-earned leave Pte Osborne will join his new unit the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Colchester.
The battalion is due to go to Afghanistan later this year.
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Weather for Spalding
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
