Prestigious awards were given out by Suffolk’s Lord Lieutenant to people associated with the county’s cadet forces on Wednesday.

Clare, Countess of Euston was in Ipswich at the town’s Army Reserve Centre to present six certificates of meritorious service along with other accolades.

Among them was 15-year-old Joseph Long who saved the life of a fellow cadet who was suffering a stroke while at an annual camp.

The first presentations of the evening were to those appointed as the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets, one each from the Air Training Corps, Army Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps, who will accompany Lady Euston at official events.

The meritorious service certificates were presented to personnel from across the county for their praiseworthy actions and commitment to the cadet forces.

There were also special awards for company sergeant major instructor Simon Utting from the Suffolk ACF and Major Keith Humphrey, also of Suffolk ACF, who had been compèring the ceremony.

Following the presentations Lady Euston said: “It is an enormous privilege for me as Lord Lieutenant to be here tonight.

“We all owe those who have received the awards a great debt of gratitude but I am particularly delighted to see everyone’s families here supporting them.

“I just know over the years without their support all the way down the line you wouldn’t all have got where you are today. I know you must be enormously proud.”

Cadet Long, from Felixstowe was praised for his quick-thinking and first aid skills for coming to the aid of a comrade and being able to brief paramedics on his condition when they took over.

Speaking about the incident cadet Long said it was very stressful but his time with St John Ambulance helped. “I’ve had experience of something like that so I put that into play,” he said. “I had to take a few moments to think about what to do next.”

Cadet Long has also been invited to the Princess Royal’s Reception for Young Achievers at Buckingham Palace on March 15.