A SOLDIER from Ellesmere Port defied the odds to win two prizes at his passing out parade.

Richard Hughes, 27, will now become an avionics technician with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, carrying out maintenance on Apache helicopter for two years.

Proud mum Sue Hughes, of Ellesmere Port, attended the event on June 28 and was surprised to see her son step forward when the prize winners were announced.

She said: “He never told us he’d won them. Richard slowly put his gun down and came marching along.”

The former Whitby High School pupil won two of eight prizes given to a regiment of nearly 100 – Best Recruit and Soldier’s Soldier, voted for by his comrades at Arborfield Garrison in Berkshire.

“They said it was very rare for one recruit to win both awards,” added Sue.

“He worked extremely hard. They all did.

“It’s something he’s always wanted to do. He was going to join the Marines when he was 19.”