Group Captain Andrew Hall from RAF Honington signs the Community Covenant at the Suffolk County Council, which is an agreement pledging support for armed forces community, their families and veterans in Suffolk.

SUFFOLK’S links with the military have been formally marked with the signing of the Military Covenant by all the county’s major local authorities.

They were joined by the commander of RAF Honington, Group Captain Andrew Hall, who signed the agreement on behalf of all the county’s service personnel.

The covenant commits the authorities to support serving personnel, their families, and veterans and to work with them to make life as easy as possible for those in the military.

Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk Lord Tollemache said there were 120,000 people in the county with links to the military – currently serving, with family members serving, or service veterans.

He said: “Some of our veterans are only 19 or 20 years old facing a future with life-changing injuries and it is vital that we show them that society understands and appreciates what has happened.”

Gp Capt Hall said service personnel and their families would welcome the signing of the covenant: “It is hugely important.

“With our role in life it is important that we feel that the country and our own communities are behind us and supporting our work.”

Suffolk is now home to thousands of service personnel, at Honington, Wattisham, Woodbridge, and is near Colchester with its huge base.

The importance of supporting service families was emphasised by a performance by the Wattisham Military Wives who entertained the guests at the county council’s Endeavour House headquarters during the signing ceremony.