CELEBRATIONS to mark the retirement of a Territorial Army officer saw him going out fortunately- without a bang.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Dave Powis, 55, retired as the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant of Catford's 101 Engineer Regiment earlier this month.

With it being the only bomb disposal regiment in the TA, the former Bromley ambulance officer was wheeled out of the TA centre, in Bromley Road, sat astride a bomb.

Dave said: “After 30 years of service, I am sad to be leaving and will miss it. But, instead, I will be able to relax more and take up my old hobby of swimming once again.”

In his civilian life he has been an ambulance officer in Bromley for the past 27 years and is now concentrating on moving to Strood.