On Thursday 13 October, I had the pleasure and honour of joining the Chief Royal Engineer on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Corps of Royal Engineers in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
I am proud that the Royal Engineers have called Chatham their home for centuries, being the centre of their training while our community received the excellence of their skills. It is often that people underestimate our rich military heritage in Medway, and while much of it has moved on I am thrilled the Engineers have remained and were able to stage their 300th anniversary celebration at Brompton Barracks.
That Her Majesty the Queen devoted several hours of her time to celebrate and congratulate members of the Corps is a great recognition of the service they have also performed to the United Kingdom. Her admiration, enthusiasm and support for our Armed Forces is fantastic to see and deeply appreciated by all who attended that day.
I have always enjoyed my visits to Brompton Barracks, of which I am pleased to have made quite a few in the past couple of years. The Engineers are a valuable part of our community and I go as far to say they have given to us far more than they themselves have received.
For that reason I will continue to offer them my support both locally and in parliament to help them continue to flourish in Medway and in their ongoing operations across the UK and worldwide.