Beer we go for the airmen
Gunners from RAF Honington earned their tasting stripes by sampling unique brands of beer for the homecoming of 15 Squadron from Afghanistan in March.
Willing volunteers savoured seven beers to create the perfect blend for the 150 airmen, who will each be presented with their own bottle of real ale on their return.
The public can 'buy the boys a beer' and leave a personalised message on the bottle, priced 2 each, of which 50p will go to the Help for Heroes and RAF Regiment funds.
Sgt Steve Simms, 36, from the regiment's training wing, was one of 12 men to test the beers on Wednesday, from the rich, red Woolly Pig to the devilishly dark Crazy Dog stout.
He said: "It must be a great feeling if someone you don't know buys you a beer.
"A lot of guys out in Afghanistan think they haven't got much public support, so the message on the beer will be the best element."
The volunteers will choose the exact taste, colour and name of the beer, with Rock Ape, a nickname for members of the regiment, being top of the tipple so far.
Taster Cpl Will Eddy, 26, said: "It's nice to get something with a personalised message.
"If you get someone completely random buying you a beer, you think the general public understand what you are doing and support us."
The special mixture will be prepared by Kevin McHenry, creator of Red Rat craft micro brewery, which is based in a barn in the garden of his home in Troston.
Mr McHenry also created a beer with special messages for the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, who returned from Afghanistan in October.
"I think it's a great idea," he said. "The boys want to know people support them as it is frustrating to think people don't care."
Mr McHenry said former messages have ranged from political to funny, while some girls even left their phone number for a lucky drinker.
He added: "The message is the most important part. Some people aren't privileged to know someone well enough to buy them a beer so this is a nice was of showing they care."
Messages can be left and bottles of beer bought online at www.redratcraft brewery.co.uk
n Meanwhile, airmen from RAF Honington's 1 Squadron will remember fallen comrades at a service of thanksgiving in Bury St Edmunds.
The servicemen, who returned from Iraq before Christmas, will present in full dress uniform at the ceremony in St Mary's Church, Bury, on March 4, along with the families of four airmen who died during the conflict.
Sqdn Ldr Jason Sutton, Commanding Officer of 1 Squadron, said: "The service is an opportunity for the men of the squadron to join with the families of our fallen comrades to remember, honour and celebrate their lives and service in the RAF."
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -7 C to 0 C
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