The sister of a Medway soldier who died in Afghanistan has
congratulated the brave GP who cared for him in Helmand and has now
been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

Rebecca Huntingford said she was very proud that Col Peter
Gilbert, who treated Captain Dan Read for shrapnel wounds, has been
given the honour.

Capt Read, a former Rainham Mark Grammar School pupil, was
treated by Col Gilbert when he was badly injured in October
2010.

The 31-year-old had only just returned to the front line again
when he was killed while dismantling bombs as part of the 11
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, on
January 11 this year.

Col Gilbert, one of last year's Pride in Medway finalists and
pictured, has now been chosen for the honour of
representing Kent as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Rebecca, of Old Castle Walk, Rainham, said: "We were introduced
to Peter at the Pride in Medway Awards last year. He made a point
of coming over to speak to me and my family. He was ever so kind
and it was comforting for us to speak to someone who had been part
of the team which treated Dan.

"Peter was able to tell us that Dan was flirting with the nurses
and having a laugh when he was in hospital, so it was very
comforting for us to know he wasn't suffering.

"They decided to send Dan home and we are very grateful that we
got to see him. It is fantastic that Peter has been recognised in
this way.

"As a family we are very supportive of the Armed Forces and we
are so pleased that a local person such as Col Gilbert has been
honoured. It makes us very proud."

Col Gilbert, who practises at Thorndike Surgery, in Rochester,
spent three months treating soldiers injured on the front line
while running the main hospital at Camp Bastion.

He joined the Territorial Army aged 17 and was commissioned in
the Royal Artillery before transferring to a Regular Army Short
Service Commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

He served until 1990, when he rejoined the TA and settled in
Rochester.

Col Gilbert has been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan and commanded
the UK hospital in Camp Bastion from 2009.

Six Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed, each for their
contributions to the nation.