SOLDIERS were cheered yesterday by loved ones and well-wishers as they returned home from Afghanistan.
About 50 soldiers from 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, part of 170 (Infrastructure Support) returned to Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell, after spending six months in the Middle East.
As their coach pulled up at the barracks, the soldiers were met by the sound of "welcome home" and the sight of their proud loved ones waving banners and Union Flags.
Mum-of-two Kirsty Fenton was particularly excited to see her husband come home, four weeks after she gave birth to daughter Frankie.
She said: "I am over the moon. I have been looking forward to him coming back, now to a family of four."
Husband, Kevin, a staff sergeant, was on a two-week rest and recuperation period when Kirsty gave birth – although he had to return to Afghanistan just three days later. He said: "It's good to be home. I am happy and I am looking forward to the home comforts and spending time with my son and the little one."
Stephanie Cooper, who gave birth to son Matthew two weeks before husband Daniel set off, said she was also looking forward to the family spending some quality time together.
The mum-of-two said: "I am so happy. It was a long tour and I had the baby two weeks before he left. I want to spend time together as a family of four."
Their seven-year-old daughter, Alyssa, said was excited at the thought of spending time with her father, a staff sergeant. She said: "I am happy. I want to get tickles and I want to go the park with daddy."
Nichola Hatcher, who had just been reunited with husband Gavin, a lieutenant-colonel, said she was happy he was home in time for son Benjamin's birthday. Gavin said: "Six months is quite a long time, so it's nice to come home. I am away a reasonable amount, so I look forward to spending some time with my family."
Benjamin, who turns five tomorrow, said: "I feel really happy because it's sunny and my dad is back. I missed him a lot. I want to play Star Wars with him."
