Family party in Lilli’s honour
Saturday 1st January 2011, 11:30AM GMT.
An Army family separated by seas and war have come together in Shropshire to celebrate the birthday of their baby.
Little Lilli Mead turns one today — 1-1-11 — and it’s the first time she has seen her whole family.
Parents Nikki and Stephen Mead are both sergeants in the Army, one based in Germany, the other in Surrey.
Thirty-year-old Nikki, from Shifnal, gave birth to Lilli at just after 10pm last year by emergency caesarian at Royal Shrewsbury hospital after three days in labour.
Stephen, from Hartlepool, managed to attend the birth and spent a week with his two special girls, but then had to return to London on public duty to guard Buckingham Palace.
Mother and daughter then had to fly back Gutersloh, Germany. Stephen has only seen them once since then for a few days.
Nikki says that the distance has been difficult but was part of Army life. She said: “We have been married for three years and it’s been tough being apart.
“Two years ago Stephen was in Iraq and I was in Germany, and I could be going to Afghanistan this year.
“Lilli stays in Germany with me so Steve has been missing her terribly.
“But this Christmas has been even more special because we have all been together, a real family. We have managed to visit Stephen’s family in Hartlepool and mine here in Shifnal.
“I’m driving back to Germany tomorrow with Lilli, we can’t fly because of all the presents she has. We would need our own cargo plane to fly back.”
The couple will be separated again next year because of different postings.
Nikki says her dream is to find an opening in the Army near Stephen so they can settle down in the UK.
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