A widow of a Royal Marine killed by the IRA explosion in Deal in 1989 is one of the first people in the country to receive The Elizabeth Cross.

Mandy McMillan wore the sterling silver emblem with pride for the first time at the annual private service at the memorial garden off Canada Road, Walmer, near the spot where the explosion took place.

The Elizabeth Cross was created to provide national recognition for the families of Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism.

It is the first time the name of a reigning monarch has been given to a new award since the George Cross was instituted in 1940 by King George VI.

She said: “I really feel that receiving the Cross is something positive that has come out of a very negative situation in my life.

“I was extremely proud to wear it for the first time at the memorial service.”

She added that she was also pleased to wear it on September 22 for her mother-in-law Margaret and on behalf of her husband David, who was 26 and a band corporal when he died.

She heard about the new award, granted from August 1, from a friend of her husband’s. After applying by downloading a Ministry of Defence form from its website, she successfully made a plea for the Cross to be delivered for September 22, the day of the bombing.

Mrs McMillan, 45, was a hairdresser in Deal and left the town in 1994 to live in the West Country. She now lives in Hampshire, but still has family in Deal and her mother lives in Ripple.

For the full story, and details of this weekend’s rugby match to remember the bombing victims, see this week’s East Kent Mercury.

See www.mod.uk for more about the award.