A veteran soldier has been reunited with his lost medal after a chat with a mate over a cuppa led to a surprise presentation.

Ronald Brown, 91, was having a brew with Rocky Troianai, a charity worker and author, at a Gillingham cafe when he mentioned he had misplaced his badge of honour awarded for 40 years of service and good conduct.

Rocky reached out to his military contacts and arranged a surprise presentation to Ronald at his home in Twydall.

Widower Ronald joined up with the East Surrey Regiment when he was 15 and travelled all over the world serving his country.

He left the Army after seven years and spent 37 years supporting the Territorial Army.

He has also been in a military band for years playing the clarinet and saxophone and loves to sing his favourite Frank Sinatra tunes.

Representatives from the Army made a six-hour round trip to his home in the Towns to replace his medal.

Ronald said: “I lost the medal a while back and never dreamt I would get it replaced. I’m now keeping it safe on my mantelpiece.”

Rocky, who lives in Luton Road, Chatham, said: “He’s a lovely old boy and deserves that medal.

“We just got chatting in the cafe one day about five years ago and struck up a friendship.”

He added that Ronald suffers from dementia and has spent the last three weeks in hospital after a fall.

So the visit from Anthony Frith and Gordon Moore, formerly from the Staffordshire Regiment, proved to be a much-needed welcome home tonic for Ronald.

“It was a lovely surprise,” he explained.

Rocky runs a charity BEKS, Bring Every Kind Smiles, and has taken part in many weightlifting and strongman challenges to raise money for a range of worthy causes.