AN Army reserve soldier from Bury has been honoured for his work while on tour in Afghanistan.

Calum Macgregor was one of nine engineers to be awarded the Brigadier Coin in recognition of his duty.

The 40-year-old was part of a voluntary six-month posting in Afghanistan with the Army Reserves 75 Engineering Regiment.

Their role was to decommission and strip out bases that were closing and to extend other posts for improvement, ready for handing over to the Afghan Army.

Calum’s wife Gail, aged 43, said: “We were really made up because he works so hard and it’s really nice that he was recognised.”

The Brigadier Coin is awarded to those who demonstrate “outstanding unflappable temperament and determination”.

Calum did not tell his family that he had been awarded the coin till he returned home from his tour. Gail, who has been married to Calum for 16 years, said: “I think he was surprised himself that he’d been honoured.”

The married couple have two children, Cameron, aged 10, and Georgia, aged 13, who, along with grand-mother-in-law Mary Jane Cusack, were delighted Calum had received the honour.

Father-in-law Ken-neth Cunliffe, aged 66, said: “The whole of the family is extremely proud of him.”

Calum joined the Army when he was just 16 and was a full-time soldier for 11 years before becoming a reserve.

He now works full-time as a police officer in Manchester city centre.

Calum said: “It was a surprise, and made me proud to be chosen.”

Earlier this year, Calum and other reserve soldiers visited Parliament to talk to MPs and Army officials.

He added: “It was a good opportunity to talk to MPs and to see higher ranks of the Army.

“It was good to get your points across, and talk about the future of the Army force.”