Former Inverness journalist Mike Edwards has been appointed an Honorary Colonel in the Army Cadet Force.
The 59 year-old’s role with the cadet force in Glasgow and Lanarkshire began on January 1 after the appointment was approved by the King.
Mike, who began his career in journalism at the Inverness Courier, has served in the Army Reserve for more than 30 years and is a commissioned infantry officer.
He was mobilised for operational tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan where he came under repeated enemy fire.
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Mike is thrilled with the appointment.
“I am over the moon and hugely privileged to be given this opportunity,” he said.
“I am due to retire from the Army Reserve in April and I look forward to continuing to serve. I cannot wait to get started.
“I am very keen to start working with our inspirational cadets and their committed officers who give up their time to pass on invaluable training.’
Commandant of the Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion of the Army Cadet Force, Colonel Derek Coulter said he was delighted to welcome Mike to the battalion as its Honorary Colonel.
“With Mike’s wealth of experience in the media and his long and outstanding reserve career, he will be a great asset to the Army Cadet Force,” he said.
Mike, who now lives in Argyll, started his career as a junior reporter in1986 at the Inverness Courier ahead of a 40-year career as a newspaper, radio and TV journalist.
He was the face of the STV news for 26 years.
A published author of fiction and non-fiction, Mike is a trustee of the Erskine veterans’ charity, the Highlanders Museum at Fort George, the Cameron Youth Club and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.
After caring for his elderly mother Margaret, a well known Inverness nurse, midwife and tutor at Raigmore Hospital, through her dementia journey, he started the lobby group Heading Out to campaign for heading the ball to be removed from football to protect players from diagnoses of dementia.
He was awarded the OBE for public and charitable service in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee birthday honours list.