Moray soldier's thrill of meeting Cheryl Cole
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A MORAY soldier serving in Afghanistan has described how meeting pop sensation Cheryl Cole lifted the spirits of his regiment.
Mark Henderson (21), from Hopeman, chatted with the Girls Aloud star during her visit to his base in Helmand Province, and told ‘The Northern Scot’ she was singing the praises of him and his troop.
"It made everyone’s day," Mark said. "I had a quick chat and she was saying that she’s proud of all of us and that she respects every one of us."
The 28-year-old former X Factor judge became the new forces’ sweetheart when she flew out to Afghanistan to meet troops at Camp Bastion.
Donning her own army fatigues, Cheryl met Mark and his colleagues in the Royal Engineers regiment and happily posed for photos with the delighted soldiers.
"Cheryl came into my area and we were showing her what we do," Mark explained. "She was getting to go around in the armoured vehicles and see a bit of how we work.
"I’m not really a fan, but I wouldn’t have imagined meeting her out here."
Former Lossie High pupil Mark, who is serving in the Royal Engineers along with his brother, Alan, is based in Germany and is on his first tour of his four-year army career.
He will be stationed in Afghanistan for between six and seven months, during which time he will be given a 12 day break to head home and visit his girlfriend, Kirstie McKerron, and his parents, Frank and Shirley, who live in Hopeman.
Mark told the ‘Scot’ that his brother is the only fellow Moray soldier he has met so far, but he has settled in to life in the baking desert heat, travelling all over the country on operations.
"I’m glad to finally get out here after all my training, and it’s good to be a soldier out here. You just need to be professional about the situation, but the banter with the boys is what keeps you going," he said.
Meeting one of the UK’s most famous faces in Cheryl Cole was a personal highlight for all the soldiers serving at Camp Bastion.
The singer even took part in a staged explosion, mocking her alleged fall-out with X factor boss Simon Cowell, who reputedly axed her from the show’s series in America.
Cheryl was given the chance to blow up a dummy of the music mogul, which she happily agreed to.
