ONE of Britain's top Army medics, Colonel Jeremy Rowan, yesterday cut the first turf for a new headquarters building.

The site at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall, near York, will become the centre of excellence for Territorial Army medical services.

Col Rowan is the acting commander of 2 Medical Brigade, which was formed in April 2000 following the Government's Strategic Defence Review, and commands all the UK's TA field hospitals.

It is capable of deploying medical command and control structures in support of military operations.

The new three-storey building will house the brigade HQ and the central Volunteer Headquarters Army Medical Services.