Armed Forces honour for Colchester MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2008

Colchester MP Bob Russell has been honoured at a Reception held in The Speaker's House at the House of Commons for completing the post-graduate course of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme - and he was congratulated by The Princess Royal who praised him for his "significant commitment" alongside his Parliamentary duties.

He is pictured receiving a framed certificate from the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, and The Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP.

Over the past 12 months Mr Russell spent 30 days in total with the Army culminating earlier this year with six days in Afghanistan where he met British troops serving in Helmand Province.

He also visited various military establishments in the UK and attended top level briefings as well as participating in a two-day exercise on Salisbury Plain with troops preparing for deployment overseas, yomping over the Brecon Beacons in Wales and being imbedded for four days in the intelligence unit on a NATO exercise in a remote part of Germany.

Mr Russell said: "It was a wonderful experience. I completed the graduate course in 1999 and, proudly representing a major Garrison Town in Parliament, I felt it was time I took a fresh look at what life is like in the Army today. A lot has changed in eight years - notably Britain's commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell is a member of his Party's Defence team in the House of Commons. He is also a Parliamentary Advisor to The Royal British Legion. Two years ago he visited Iraq through his membership of the Armed Forces Bill Committee.