Son and husband both serving in Afghanistan (From Warrington Guardian)

Son and husband both serving in Afghanistan

8:10am Friday 13th April 2012 in News

A MUM-OF-TWO is bracing herself for a much quieter time at home than normal as both her husband and son serve their country in Afghanistan.

Julie Groom’s son Matthew, aged 19, will be flying out later this month with the Royal Artillery while her husband Steve works for NATO and spends most of the year away.

The 47-year-old, who lives off Battersby Lane, said: “It’s going to be very strange.

“I chat to other mums who have sons flying out and when I tell them my husband is out there too they always say ‘oh my God’.

“I don’t know anybody else who has their husband and son out there at the same time.

“But like everyone else I stay positive about it and try to support them.”

Julie, who is a support worker at Long Lane garden centre, thinks Matthew was influenced by stories from his dad, who served with the Royal Signals when he was younger.

She said: “I think it was the thought of travelling that influenced him and he has already been skiing twice with the Army in France and also been to Kenya.

“There are so few opportunities work wise it seemed like a good thing to join the Army and it could do him a world of good.”

Matthew, who went to high school in Bangor and Harrogate Army training college when he was 16, will celebrate his 20th birthday while he is away and is hoping to meet up with his dad in Afghanistan.

Otherwise it will be Christmas before they next catch up and for the next few months it will be girls only with Julie and her daughter Jessica, aged 22.

She said: “It makes the time together more special.

“We have got lots of girls things planned to do and will be watching what we want on TV and eating what we like.”