AN HISTORIC York organisation has celebrated its proud affiliation with the armed forces with the presentation of awards to local members.

The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York has enjoyed close links with HMS York, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and RAF Linton-on-Ouse for many years.

The Company marked this bond for the fourth year running with a ceremony at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, in Fossgate.

Trevor Copley, Governor of the Company, presented engraved tankards to regular, reserve and cadet members of the three armed services watched by their families and friends.

The seven recipients were picked by their commanding officers as individuals who deserved recognition for their loyalty and contribution to their units and the communities from which they are drawn.

They were: Private Matthew Loose, of Imphal Company, East and West Riding Regiment, Territorial Army, who lives in Stockton-on-Forest; Leading Cadet Keir Gravil, of TS York, Sea Cadets, who lives in Stockton-on-Forest; Cadet Michael Holden, of 110 (City of York) Squadron, Air Training Corps, who lives in Wigginton; Cadet Corporal Breezy Wilson, of Imphal Company Yorkshire (North and West) Battalion, Army Cadet Force, who lives in Castleford; Private Mark Haxby, of the 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, who comes from Bradford; Sergeant Ron Booth, of RAF Linton-on-Ouse, who lives in Guisborough; and Sergeant John Rush, of RAF Linton-on-Ouse, who lives in Doncaster.

Updated: 16:25 Thursday, March 28, 2002