ARMY born and bred - and hungry to recruit new blood to the famous Fusiliers.

That is Sergeant Lee Snelling, who has taken over as regiment recruiting sergeant for the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from Sergeant John Brockhouse. Based at Wellington Barracks in Bolton Road, Bury, Sgt Snelling (27) will lead a team ten Fusiliers as they visit schools and colleges to promote a life in the RRF.

Sgt Snelling was born in Gibraltar where his father was stationed with the 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He was educated at schools throughout the world before he decided to take the Queen's shilling himself.

And, it was very much a case of following in his father's footsteps when he joined the rank and file of his father's regiment and has since served in numerous overseas postings including Bosnia, Germany, Belize, America, Northern Ireland and Canada.

Sgt Snelling said: "John will be returning to the battalion while I'll be carrying on where he has left off.

"I'll be spending some time getting my feet under the table and then expand our recruitment drive in this area."

One of Sgt Snelling's first tasks will be to man a desk at Bury Job Centre where his predecessor has already recruited 18 new squaddies for the regiment in just a few months. Sgt John Brockhouse (left) is pictured welcoming Sgt Lee Snelling.

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