AN INSPIRATIONAL ex-soldier from Worcester revisited his old school for a poignant Remembrance service.

Former Corporal Tom Neathway - who lost both his legs and his left arm during a tour of Afghanistan - shared his experiences with students at Bishop Perowne CofE College.

Mr Neathway, who has left the Army and now works in private security, was introduced by the school's head teacher Julie Farr as "a true Bishop's boy, who was injured serving his country, fighting for his friends and fighting for peace in Afghanistan".

He was wheelchair-bound when he previously appeared at a Remembrance service at the school in 2010, following an incident in Afghanistan in July 2008 when he was injured by a booby-trapped sandbag.

"It's nice to come back and see the progression of the school and the people and for them to see my progression as well," he said.

Mr Neathway spent weeks at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham before being moved to the defence medical rehabilitation centre at Headley Court.

He gave a speech about his time in the Parachute Regiment, which he joined in 2001, to the assembled crowd.

Mr Neathway, who celebrated his 31st birthday on November 3, served in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

In his speech, he detailed how on July 22, 2008, he was a sniper in a reconnaissance unit posted in the latter.

When out on a routine patrol he went to move a sandbag, which detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) and led to a fierce firefight with the Taliban.

He was forced to self-administer first aid, including tying a tourniquet on his own arm, before a combat medic arrived in an armed ambulance.

"It sounds bizarre, but I had got injured and your training just kicks in when that happens.

"First aid training is one of the things you do on a Friday and you don't care about really at the time but it helped.

"Other than the loss of my legs I was fine - fully with it, taking, drinking water.

"Because I lost the nerve endings [of my legs] I couldn't feel it that much, that's what I put it down to."

On route to an air ambulance, the vehicle hit another explosive, killing the driver.

In his speech, Mr Neathway said Remembrance Day was an important way for him to pay tribute to lost colleagues.

He said: "Remembrance for me is remembering the First World War, the Second World War - but also remembering the guys I've served with who have died unfortunately.

"I also reflect on how I was before I got injured - I was a boisterous young lad, who used to go out partying.

"Remembrance Day is a big part of my life."

Looking back at his time at Bishop Perowne, where he studied between 1995 and 2000, he said: "I wouldn't say I was a bad student but I wasn't the best.

"I always knew what I wanted to do with my career - I always knew I was going to be in the Army.

"There were six or seven of us who joined the Army at the same time and who had known each other from St Barnabas Primary.

"We've always stuck together and they're still my close friends."