A ROYAL Marines Major from North Petherton has spent several weeks deployed in Sierra Leone as part of the UK’s response to the ebola outbreak gripping the country.

Major Simon Reeves, 46, has been working in the Vanguard Enabling Group Headquarters in the capital, Freetown, where he is responsible for media operations.

It is his role to ensure journalists are properly looked after in Sierra Leone and that messages from deployed troops get home to British media.

Major Reeves, who is based with 40 Commando Royal Marines at Norton Manor Camp near Taunton, said: “There has been a lot of work done in a very short amount of time. We have built a 100-bed Ebola Treatment Centre at Kerry Town and there are another five coming on line in the next few weeks.

“Additionally medics have been training local Sierra Leonean health care workers at the national stadium at a rate of 800 people a week, and once trained these people will be manning the Ebola Treatment Centres across the rest of Sierra Leone.”

Major Reeves deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 and worked as an Influence officer in Sangin district, informing the locals of the good work that the Royal Marines were doing via radio broadcasts.

This role set him up for his current deployment to Sierra Leone, where public information is vital in stopping the spread of ebola.

“I’m extremely proud of the work that the UK as a whole has done in Sierra Leone, but as a military man, it is the selfless commitment of the men and women of all three services deployed here to help and support the people of Sierra Leone that gives me a great sense of fulfilment.

“After 28 years in the Royal Marines it never ceases to amaze me how good our people really are.”

When he’s not deployed on operations Major Reeves is a keen rugby coach, putting his skills to use at North Petherton RFC where his son and daughter, Bryn, eight, and Cyra, 14, both play.

Major Reeves has another son, Holden, 20, and is grandfather to two-year-old Mia.

He added: “Sundays are the worst days out here as I know that I’m missing my kids play rugby. However, I do know they had a brilliant start to the season as I’m following them on Facebook and my friend, Matt Cornish, who heads up the under-nines coaching team, sends me regular updates.”