AN Erskine teenager was given a welcome to remember when he arrived back home after months of training as he starts his career in the Royal Navy.

Jason McCormick, 18, was met by more than a dozen family members when he stepped off a train at Bishopton station on Saturday.

He had just returned from nine weeks of training at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall, where he completed the first stage of his Royal Navy apprenticeship in marine engineering.

Jason’s proud aunt Elaine Gibson said all of the family wanted to congratulate him on his passing out parade, which took place on Friday.

The Gazette: Jason McCormick with his sister Ciara and mum ShonnyJason McCormick with his sister Ciara and mum Shonny

She told The Gazette: “Jason thought it was just going to be his mum Shonny and sister Ciara coming to pick him up, so we hid behind a big metal box outside the station and surprised him.

“We were all wearing t-shirts we had made with the message ‘Team Jason’ on the front and we also put up a banner for him.

“When we saw him arrive, there were tears and everyone was very emotional, especially his mum, who has found it quite tough without him.

“We are a close family but Jason, his mum and his sister are really tight.”

Loved ones in America also sent good wishes from ‘across the pond’ by sending photos of themselves wearing their own Team Jason t-shirts, with family pets joining the celebrations too.

The Gazette: Jason McCormick's relatives in America and their pets joined in with the celebrationsJason McCormick's relatives in America and their pets joined in with the celebrations

Before taking on his four-year apprenticeship, Jason worked part-time as a kitchen porter at the Erskine Home, in Bishopton, and at butchers shop Mitchell’s of Erskine, in Bridgewater shopping centre.

A former pupil at Trinity High, in Renfrew, he is also a member of Renfrewshire Boxing Club, in Johnstone, and hopes to continue pursuing his passion for the sport while he is back home.

Elaine said: “Jason has coped very well while he’s been away, as he loves the training and has smashed every task put his way.

“I think the only thing he found hard was being away from home.

“He’s very dedicated and his fitness levels are very high with all his boxing.

“Jason will be home until the beginning of September and then he moves down to Portsmouth to do stage two of his training, where he will be until Christmas.

“He has made everybody so proud.”