PUB landlord Joe Stone is proudly awaiting the arrival of an engraved shell that is incoming from Afghanistan in honour of continued fundraising work.

Mr Stone was overwhelmed when the Dorset Echo revealed that the 847 Naval Air Squadron had gone to great lengths to celebrate The Wyke Smugglers’ fundraising efforts.

The shell, which is engraved ‘To Joe, the staff and all the regulars of the Wyke Smugglers our thanks and appreciation for the money raised for Help for Heroes. 847 Squadron-Op Herrick 2011, Afghanistan’ will be arriving next month.

It will be presented to Mr Stone by Weymouth Petty Officer Paul Holmes, who teamed up with the Echo to surprise and thank his local pub for raising thousands of pounds for Help the Heroes, following the squadron’s homecoming.

Not only did PO Holmes get an armourer to engrave the shell but he also took it flying over Helmand Province and photographed its adventures.

Mr Stone said: “It’s a massive honour, just huge and I’m humbled. I feel very privileged.

“I’m just one of thousands of people who raise money for charity and I will be accepting the shell on behalf of all the customers, staff and all the people who came for the events.

“Paul rang me from Afghanistan to ask if the squadron could come here for a barbecue and presentation ceremony later this summer.

“We’re really looking forward to it and we’re hoping to get local bands in and really make it special for them.”

He added: “I will be getting a special case made for the shell.

“It won’t just be on the shelf, it will be in pride of place on its own.”

PO Holmes, 36, of Ferrybridge, said: “We lost guys in 2006 and I know Help the Heroes helped their families, it’s nice that the pub regulars and people who aren’t connected with the services are prepared to put their hand in their pockets.

“This is our way of saying thank you to the people back in the UK.”

PO Holmes said his squadron were looking forward to a decompression day in Weymouth following their tour of duty, where it was hoped Olympian Saskia Clark would help teach the servicemen to dinghy sail.

He said: “We have also been loaned a rigid inflatable boat from Portland dive boat company Scimitar and Steve Parker who owns The Dorothy Inn nightclub has given us free entry for that evening.

“I’d like to thank everyone for donating or giving up their time, we really appreciate it.”