A SOLDIER serving with 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery has been named a finalist in the We Are The City, Rising Star Awards which showcases female talent and celebrates 100 female role models across a variety of different industries and professions.

Staff Sergeant Yvette (Kempy) Kemp, joined the other women from across the United Kingdom, as she and the top five winners in the Defence category were recognised for their contribution and talent in their chosen career.

Yvette joined the Army in 2008 and trained to be a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME). She deployed on Operation Herrick, Afghanistan in 2013 as part of a forward repair team.

The former Gloucester City Ladies who played football at the club for 17 seasons transferred to the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) in 2018.

Her passion for football has been a constant throughout her army career, she joined the REME football team in 2008 and a year later made her debut for the Army Women’s football team, winning accolades across the board - the Inter Services and Army Managers player of the season - and the REME sports person of the year award.

Kempy received her Rising Star Award 2022 for Defence at a gala dinner ceremony held at London’s Pan Pacific Hotel:

“I’m very honoured and grateful to receive this award. Thank you to my regiment, 1RHA for the nomination, I am extremely proud and humbled.”

Mercian Medal Parade

Last week after returning from 10 weeks on Exercise Iron Storm,1 MERCIAN conducted a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals parade in the presence of Commander 12Armoured Brigade Combat Team Brigadier Mike Cornwall.

Falklands Plaque Unveiled

A plaque commemorating 43 Battery (Lloyds Company) of 47 Regiment was unveiled at the Falklands Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College to mark the conflicts 40th anniversary.

Red Devils Record

The Red Devils have been awarded a Guinness World Record title for the largest flag down-planed.

Last Friday, the Army Parachute Display Team received their Guinness World Record certificate for the largest down-plane flag down while skydiving.

The record was set in Netheravon as a team of two flew a Union Flag measuring 450 square metres.