A Sutton Army Reservist has been awarded as the best Officer Cadet on her Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Natalie Gardner, more commonly known for running the St Helier Hospital Respiratory Department, topped her class of 88 potential Army Reserve Officers finishing their eight week officer training programme.

She was honoured with the MacRobert Sword by Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Major General Ranald Munro on Saturday August 5 in front of hundreds of guests including her family and friends.

The Sutton woman has been in the Army reserve since 2008 with the 210 (Sutton) Transport Swaudron and has completed two six month overseas deployments.

In 2009-10 she conducted foot, vehicle and helicopter patrols with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. In 2013-14 she worked in Afghanistan as a driver delivering ammunition, rations, medical supplies and personnel.

The reason Natalie became an officer was to “be able to lead men and women under the conditions that the Army present you with is both a challenge and an honour, and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. I believed that I could be that person, that leader, that role model”.

Lieutenant Colonel Dave Miller RLC, Commanding Officer 151 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps said: “I am immensely proud that 2Lt Natalie Gardner has been awarded the MacRobert Sword as Best Cadet on Commissioning Course 172 , and has achieved her long-standing ambition of Commissioning into the Army Reserve.

“She is a hugely talented servicewoman who embodies the best qualities of our volunteer force drawn from across society, enjoys challenges and comradeship which are rare in civilian life, and yet capably balances her military service with family and career responsibilities.”