Tanks a lot Tony

The 21-year-old found himself showing Tony and Cherie Blair around his army camp during their recent morale-boosting visit to front line troops in Macedonia.

Having welcomed the Prime Minister aboard his Challenger tank, Aron then helped other soldiers who form part of the Kosovo Force to brief him on the training they had received and how they were helping out at a nearby refugee camp.

It then fell to Mr Blair to praise the soldiers for their hard work, patience and tolerance, passing on the thanks of himself, the British government and the nation.

Said Aron: "It was really good to hear such words of thanks and that the Prime Minister took the time to come and see us and shake our hands. The visit was well worthwhile."

It certainly was for Mrs Blair who was keen to see for herself how the soldiers lived in the field during long periods. It fell upon Aron again to play host.

"She was amazed that we sleep on the back decks of the tank and was fascinated by our living and cooking arrangements," he said.

"But she was genuinely interested in and impressed by our efforts to make things as homely as possible.

"Mrs Blair also talked to us about our experiences in the refugee camp. She was on her way to see it so we told her what we had done and a little of what to expect."

He added of the refugees: "The children leave the biggest impression on you. They seem to cope so well despite what they have been through.

"We were often invited to sit with them in their tents and hear their stories. When you see it for yourself you think a lot more about what they have been through.

"It hits you hard to see people crying, people who had everything and now have nothing."

Aron is a former pupil at Knowle High School and his parents still live in Blackpool. He ends his tour of duty in September.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.