Afghan blast victim JJ's best man triumph

A SCOTTISH marine who was left clinging to life after suffering major injuries in an explosion in Afghanistan two months ago received a standing ovation after giving the best man's speech at his brother's wedding via video link.

JJ Chalmers, whose full name is John James, gave older brother David the traditional ribbing live from Selly Oak military hospital, in Birmingham.

For a family that has held a bedside vigil during a difficult recovery, which has included facial reconstruction, it was the perfect wedding gift.

David, 26, from Linlithgow, who is going on honeymoon to Vietnam with new wife Jen, 27, said: "The day was everything we hoped for and more.

"It was a superb day for both of us, the weather was perfect and it was great to see so many of our friends and family, and we were so happy they were also able to see JJ, who many of them had visited in hospital."

JJ, a reserve in the Royal Marines, works as a design technology teacher at Balerno High School, Edinburgh.

The bride and groom, are also teachers and the profession provided much of the material for the speech.

"He explained how I met the criteria for the curriculum of excellence," David said. "It was all very tongue in cheek. I was impressed, he told stories about me that I had almost forgotten, showing how I am a 'very successful and responsible citizen'!"

In the explosion that badly injured Lance Corporal Chalmers in May, his friends Lieutenant Ollie Augustin, 23, and Marine Sam Alexander, 28, were both killed.

His brother said: "Sitting in hospital eight hours a day, we were all very much aware of the casualties and fatalities in Afghanistan.

"The reality really hits home when you are there surrounded by the guys and their families."

JJ suffered head, body and leg injuries. On his return to the UK he was on a ventilator for a time and required large doses of morphine to manage his pain. Two fingers on his left hand were blown off and the others had to be wired back together.

He required facial reconstruction surgery and one of his eyes was damaged in the blast, although it is hoped he will regain his sight.A chunk was taken out of his right arm and surgeons repaired it with bone from his leg and skin from his stomach.

The family said the wedding at St Mary's cathedral and reception at the George Hotel, in Edinburgh on Saturday, gave him something to aim for.

His father, the Rev John Chalmers, principal clerk of the Church of Scotland, said: "It was a glorious day for the wedding, one of the nicest days of the summer.

"Friends of mine who are technical geniuses had web streamed the wedding into the hospital on a live link so both JJ and his girlfriend Kornelia were able to watch it in the hospital ward.

"We had cameras in the reception area and five foot screen in the reception room so JJ was able to watch us and hear all the speeches.

"The stand-in best man at the service read some greetings and toasted absent friends then introduced JJ and right on cue he appeared on screen dressed in a shirt and bow tie."