Soldier’s festive message from the frontline (From This Is Lancashire)

Soldier’s festive message from the frontline

4:20pm Monday 28th December 2009 in

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A SOLDIER from Bolton has spoken from her Afghanistan base about how much she misses her family — and her horses.

Sgt Sharon Kay, from Edgworth, is based in Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province over the Christmas period and is not scheduled to return home until March.

The region is notoriously dangerous with three British members of the armed forces losing their lives there last week.

Sgt Kay is no stranger to serving abroad having visited Northern Ireland in 1998, 2000 and 2002. However, she admits Afghanistan is very different to Northern Ireland and is “a lot more dangerous”.

Sgt Kay told The Bolton News: “I miss my family but I get the chance to phone home which is good — but I miss my horses terribly.”

The former Turton High School pupil, who works closely with ground troops, has two horses back in Bolton — Alfie and Rambo.

The 29-year-old also enjoys running and participating in pentathlons but her main passion is horses.

When she was aged 11 her father bought her Rambo, who is now 20 years old. She also looks after Alfie, her mum’s old horse, when she’s in the UK.

She added: “The horses can go everywhere I do — except out here.”

Not only is she looking forward to seeing her “two boys”, Rambo and Alfie in March, she will be returning to a new home, having bought her first house just before leaving for Afghanistan.