A FORMER Sergeant-Major was bemused to receive a Jubilee medal - a year after he left the forces.

Dave Bowyer left the army after 22 years of service last February. As 2002 was the Queen's Jubilee year every soldier who had been in the army for a set amount of time was entitled to receive a special Jubilee medal.

But Dave, aged 44, did not receive his medal until February 2003 - long after the debris of Jubilee parties up and down the country had been cleared away, and also long after Dave had left the army.

Father of five Dave, who now lives in Bromley Cross, said: "It's nice to get the medal - it's a one off - and it's nice to get the recognition, but I was a bit surprised when it just dropped through the letter box."

Dave has now added his gold Jubilee medal to his collection of medals for general service, campaigns, long service and good conduct that he has been awarded during his long career.