64-year-old resident and former Royal Marines Commando Richard Bright has been pounding the local pavements over recent months in final training to take on his first-ever marathon – in Malta.

It has been an ambition several years in the planning, with ill-health having put a stop to an earlier trip. However, this will make it all the more special when, on arriving in Valletta to take part in the 2024 LifeStar Malta Marathon on 25th February, the years will roll back to the time he spent on the island as a teenager 46 years’ ago as part of 41 Commando Royal Marines.

Since then, life has taken him all over the world but he has never forgotten the treasured experiences of his first posting as a newly trained RM Commando, so when it came to choosing a location of his first-ever marathon, Malta was a no-brainer especially, too, as this year is the 360th anniversary of the Royal Marines.

Richard said: “As a young Royal Marine straight out of training, I was privileged to have served on the Island for two years. The experience had a lasting effect on me, and many of the fellow ‘Bootnecks’ I know measured everything that happened to us after in our careers against the time we spent at St Andrews Barracks and latterly at RAF Luqa.

"It’s really hard to put into words the impact that the experience had on me. I will be thrilled to be back running past so many memorable locations."

"Many "Royals" young and not so young served in Malta. As such it’s a location steeped in British Military history. This year is the Corps’ 360th anniversary and so my aim is not just to complete the marathon, but also to raise funds for RMA - The Royal Marines Charity that offers lifelong support not only to the serving personnel, but also to the RM Veteran Community."

Richard adds he has been touched by the response from many of those he has met when training and running along Exmouth seafront in his charity t-shirt. “One person even stopped me and when he heard my story and what I was going to do, gave me a very generous donation - on the spot! I can’t thank people enough for their support.”