A SOLDIER who has finished his fourth and final tour of Afghanistan will be given a warm welcome on his return home.
Bombardier Ricky Huntley, 28, will return home to Immingham this Friday, and his family have organised a 1940s-themed party in aid of Help For Heroes to celebrate his homecoming.
The event will also be in memory of Immingham Royal Marine Mathew Ford who was killed in the warzone in 2007.
Ricky's mother Joan Huntley, and aunty Janine Mills, have organised the party – which will take place two days before Remembrance Sunday – at Immingham Golf Club, from 7pm, and tickets are still on sale.
Joan said: "Words cannot explain how excited we are for his return. We have lost so many young men and women out there, it is terrible. Whenever I hear of a soldier being killed, I put myself in their mother's place.
"I am delighted my son is coming home, but at the same time I feel so awful for those who have lost their children out there."
Following Mathew's death, Joan wrote to his mother, also called Joan, and organised a fundraising event in his honour on St George's Day in 2007.
She said: "It was a really big event and it went very well. We always said we would do another one so it seems fitting to do one now that Ricky is coming home."
Tickets are still available for the event, and can be ordered by calling 07811 098850 or can be bought on the door.
