A NAVY reservist has brought forward his wedding and will marry two days before obeying a call-up, as the Government prepares for war with Iraq.

David Foster, of Progress Close, Ledbury, will tie the knot with fiance Christine Brooks at the Market House on March 1, having brought the wedding forward by six months.

Mr Foster, aged 48, who has been ordered to report at Portsmouth, said he had not been expecting the call up.

He is expected to be posted to Kuwait, one of Iraq's neighbours.

His duties will be as a theatre technician, with the rank of chief petty officer.

On Miss Brooks' response, Mr Foster said: "She has mixed feelings. You ask 40,000 other wives whether they are happy and they will say no."

Miss Brooks said: "It was a bit of a shock, to say the least but duty calls. It's a pleasant shock, being asked to get married; though he didn't ask me to marry him on Valentine's day, but the day after!"

Mr Foster has been a Naval Reservist for 18 years and has always known, and accepted, that he could be called up at any time.

In spring 2001, he was awarded the long service and good conduct medal for 16 years as a medic with the Royal Naval Reserve.

Until now, the closest Mr Foster has got to the call up was during the last Gulf War, when he was put on stand-by.

The happy couple, who have lived together for six years, were planning to tie the knot this autumn, but events have overtaken them.

Now their wedding, at 2.30pm, a week tomorrow, will have a military feel.

Several uniformed Royal Navy officers are likely to be in attendance, including Mr Foster's Commanding Officer, Commander Stephen Collins, from the HMS Forward Royal Navy Unit in Birmingham

The ceremony itself will be taken by Ledbury's superintendent registrar June McQuaid.