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Airborne soldier statue unveiled in Colchester

Alexander StevanovicEssex
LAURA FOSTER/BBC The statue is green and is standing on a plinth. There are cannons either side of it with flags adorning the surroundings. Trees are in the background.LAURA FOSTER/BBC
The life-sized statue of a soldier in full parachute kit stands on Flagstaff Road

A life-sized bronze statue of a soldier in full parachute kit has been unveiled in Colchester.

The statue of the soldier, which looks ready to jump into action, marks 25 years of 16 Air Assault Brigade being based at the city's Merville Barracks.

Troops alongside civic dignitaries, veterans and the public were on parade for the unveiling on Friday on Flagstaff Road.

Brig Ed Cartwright, commander of the brigade, said the statue "gives a focal point" for people to reflect on what it has achieved.

LAURA FOSTER/BBC The life-size statue is green and standing on a plinth. There are cannons on either side with troops seen standing in the background.LAURA FOSTER/BBC
Brig Ed Cartwright said the statue represented a "strong bond" with people of the city

He added that the statue celebrated "the strong bonds between the city and its airborne soldiers".

The brigade has been based in Colchester since 2000 and deployed from there on operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Turkey, and Tristan da Cunha.

It was granted the Freedom of Colchester in 2008.

The Mayor of Colchester, Andrew Ellis, said: "This remarkable statue is a deeply moving tribute to the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of our airborne soldiers, and to the families who stand beside them."

Money for the statue was gathered by fundraising activities and donations from serving soldiers, veterans and the public.

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