A NEW Commander of Colchester Garrison has been announced.

And it will be the first time Lieutenant Colonel Ciaran Griffin OBE has been posted home.

He's lived in East Anglia for the last decade but has always worked elsewhere in the UK or on operations overseas, most recently in Afghanistan.

Now he has assumed command at Colchester Garrison and is looking forward to serving on the home front.

He said: “It's a rare honour in Army life to be able to command a garrison in your home town.

"I am grateful to have this opportunity to contribute to life in Colchester and I shall do my utmost to support the town and its people.

“I have two priorities. One is to welcome new forces families to Essex and help them integrate into the local community. The other is to ensure the people of Colchester enjoy the benefits of having the military in their midst.

"This relationship has prospered in recent years and I'm looking forward to promoting it further.”

Lt Col Griffin's last job was a nine-month posting at the Afghan National Army Officers' Academy near Kabul, nicknamed Sandhurst in the Sands.

He served as mentor to the Afghan Chief of Staff at the British-funded facility, which is training the next generation of Afghan National Army leaders.

He has also served in the Balkans, the Falklands and Northern Ireland and commanded his regiment, 1 Kings, in Iraq during the 2003 Gulf conflict. He was awarded the OBE for his leadership.

While in Basra he met his wife Sarah, then working as a newspaper foreign correspondent.

The couple settled near Colchester and have two sons aged nine and five who attend school in Essex.

In his spare time Lt Col Griffin is a keen runner and is looking forward to taking part in several races in Colchester.

As Commander of Colchester Garrison, he is responsible for the management of Merville Barracks in Colchester, Wattisham Flying Station and Rock Barracks in Woodbridge, as well as overseeing community relations in Essex.

He said: “It's my job to be the public face of the Army and to connect with the civilian community here in Colchester and across the county. Everyone on the garrison is grateful for the heartfelt support we receive from our local community and I will do all I can to ensure we continue to earn it.”

Lt Col Griffin has taken over the role from Gary Wilkinson who left the Army after 20 years in August after wanting to try a different challenge.

He was made a CBE in last New Year's Honours after completing four tours in Afghanistan.