VETERANS from Malmesbury and Tilshead nominated for awards were joined by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Endeavour Fund Awards last week.

The Endeavour Fund Awards are held annually to celebrate the achievements of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women who have taken part in remarkable sporting and adventure challenges to help with their recovery and rehabilitation.

Andy Phillips, from Malmesbury, was nominated for the Henry Worsley Award, recognising how he has excelled and reaching his own goals and helping others achieve theirs.

He served with the RAF as an armourer until his career was cut short by a chronic back injury.

He joined the Flying for Freedom team in 2015, and since then has trained to become one of the most experienced pilots within the organisation, using his talents to fly other wounded, injured and sick veterans on air experience flights with the aim of introducing them to the sport.

Mr Phillips, said: "The French expedition hugely increased my confidence as a pilot and a person.

"Flying other wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women over the battlefields of our forefathers was a real privilege and also a very moving and humbling experience."

Cornelia Oosthuizen, from Tilshead, was nominated for the Celebrating Excellence Award, recognising how she has endeavoured to achieve excellence in her chosen sports.

The former British Army officer was diagnosed with an illness that seriously impairs her mobility, and represented the UK Armed Forces for the first time at the Invictus Games in Toronto 2017, competing in Golf, Swimming, Cycling and Wheelchair Tennis, winning Gold in Golf and Bronze in Tennis.

She said: "Being part of the Invictus Games benefited my mental state immensely. It’s important to realise there’s so much you can still do when you’re determined. Competing gives me the chance to show how you can adapt to playing sport in different ways while meeting some great people."

Despite not coming home with the awards after last Thursday's ceremony, they were met by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who not only presented the awards, but met the inspiring nominees and supporters of the Endeavour Fund.

Sean Gane was the winner of the Henry Worsley Award, and Dan Claricoates was the winner of the Recognising Achievement Award.

David Wiseman, Head of Armed Forces Programmes at The Royal Foundation said: "These Awards are an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the achievements of a group of extraordinary individuals who have utilised support from the Endeavour Fund to excel across a range of sporting and adventurous challenges throughout 2017. During these challenges, the nominees have promoted their own recovery and inspired others to do the same, all whilst overcoming adversity and never losing the distinct and unshakable humour for which our Forces are well known."