Tonight I have not one but two nominations of this remarkable ACHIEVEMENT

Clifford Symes

Defence Courier Clifford Symes, joined the Royal Engineers Junior Leaders in December 1961 aged 15 years 6 months. He joined the Royal Engineers Training Regiment and at this point decided to join the Postal and Courier specialisation and completed his Basic Level 3 trade training at Mill Hill in 1964. He rose through the ranks and completed his service as a Warrant Officer before retiring from the Army in 1991.

He joined the Defence Courier Service directly after leaving the Army in Apr 1991 where he remains 22 years later! He has now worked for over 50 years for HM Forces and the Civil Service combined.

During his military career as a Postal and Courier Operator, Cliff was assigned to various locations within the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland and he also served in Yemen during the troubles, the Netherlands, Thailand, Brunei and Belize. For this Service he was the first member of the Postal and Courier trade to be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as well as the Long Service and Good Conduct medal and the General Service Medal 1962 with Clasps for Northern Ireland and South Arabia.

His 22 years service as a Defence Courier has literally taken him all over the world and frequently at very short notice! He was awarded the Iraq Medal and came under rocket attacks in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Whilst also exceptionally demanding at times, his more routine courier tasks have taken him to the United States of America, Canada, Singapore, Diego Garcia, Italy, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Germany and to The Falkland and Ascension Islands.

Professional, dedicated and thoroughly loyal by nature, Cliff has upheld the values and standards within both HM Forces and the Civil Service with exemplary execution. The Defence Courier role requires the utmost professionalism, trust and resourcefulness; Cliff has displayed these qualities in abundance throughout. Cliff is already one of the longest ever serving Defence Couriers and it is to his credit that he remains capable of completing any task worldwide including providing support to Op HERRICK, Afghanistan.

Richard Bullock

Defence Courier Richard Bullock, joined the Army in December 1963 at 18 years old. He chose the Postal and Courier specialisation and completed his Basic Level 3 trade training at the Home Postal Depot, Inglis Barracks, Mill Hill. He rose through the ranks and completed his service as a Warrant Officer Class One before retiring from the Army in 1987.

Richie then joined the Territorial Army (TA) in 1988 as a Warrant Officer and was commissioned in 1989. He retired from the TA in 2001 having reached the rank of Major. He joined the Defence Courier Service in November 1988 and is the longest serving Defence Courier with over 24 years service! He has now worked for almost 50 years for HM Forces and the Civil Service combined.

His travels across the globe increased due to the nature of his responsibilities when he became a Defence Courier. His 24 years service as a Defence Courier has literally taken him all over the world and frequently at very short notice! He was in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War on the ground in a VC10 aircraft when an incoming Scud missile was shot down by 2 Patriot missiles fired 100 metres from him. He has also been to Kabul, Kandahar and Camp Bastion since the conflict in Afghanistan commenced in 2001. Whilst also exceptionally demanding at times, his more routine courier tasks have taken him to the United States of America, Canada, Singapore, Diego Garcia, Italy, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Vanattu, Germany and to The Falkland and Ascension Islands.

Professional, dedicated and thoroughly loyal by nature, Richie has upheld the values and standards within both HM Forces and the Civil Service with exemplary execution. The Defence Courier role requires the utmost professionalism, trust and resourcefulness; Richie has displayed these qualities in abundance throughout. Richie is the longest ever serving Defence Courier and it is to his credit that he remains capable of completing any task worldwide including providing support to Op HERRICK, Afghanistan.

The magnitude of the responsibility involved in the safe and secure escort of the nation's classified material cannot be overstated and to be involved in the Postal and Courier specialisation for almost 50 years (and counting) is nothing short of remarkable.