IT’S been 30 years since 23-year-old Michael Robbins, serving with the Royal Engineers, died when his barracks in Mill Hill in London was blown up by an IRA bomb.

Michael was the only one killed during the early-morning explosion and now he has been honoured by having a street named after him on the housing development being built on the site of the barracks.

So it was a poignant moment for his mum, Cindy Dennis, who lives in Alton, when she made the journey to Mill Hill as guest of honour to see the unveiling of the sign on July 30 which reads Michael Robbins Way.

Alongside Michael’s family, guests included Deputy Lord Lieutenant Michael Russell, councillor John Hart who said a few words, a representative from Army unit REME, and representatives from Marengo Communications.

Cindy was presented with flowers and a replica road sign during the ceremony.

Commenting on the ceremony, Millbrook Park project director Keith Hurford said: “We’re so pleased that Michael Robbins’ family enjoyed the special ceremony and I’m sure they will treasure this for years to come.

“It’s wonderful that Michael’s memory can live on at Millbrook Park, with generations upon generations learning about his bravery.”

Michael was Cindy’s only son, a handsome, happy young man who grew up in Liphook and went to Mill Chase School before deciding on a career in the Army.

He joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, following in his granddad’s footsteps, and began to slowly move up the ranks.

With the rank of Lance Corporal he was due to go on leave and when he returned would be made a corporal. He and his friends had been to a disco at the barracks the night before and some were still asleep when the bomb went off at 7.30am on August 1, 1988.

Mum Cindy said: “I have spent my working life caring for people and on that morning I was getting a lift to a care home in Haslemere when I hear the news on the radio of the explosion at the barracks and I somehow knew something had happened to my son.

“When they told me he was dead I was in shock and didn’t believe it.”

Michael was given a full military funeral at Mill Hill before his coffin was brought to Bramshott for burial.

Recalling that desperately sad time, Cindy said: “When they had all gone I sat by his grave for hours, and still it doesn’t seem 30 years since he has gone.

“Who knows what he might have achieved? Certainly some of the men he served with have become high-ranking officers and he might have been one of them.

“He was also a talented footballer who played for the Army and, who knows, he might have played for England. Saddest of all he didn’t have a family as he loved children. He was a happy young man who knew where he was going.”

His comrades, some of whom were seriously injured in the explosion, hold an event every year to remember Michael and on August 4 Cindy and one of her daughters, Julia, went to the party they gave in Edgware go keep his memory alive.

Cindy, who also has another daughter Christine, has bravely got on with her life “although Michael is always in my thoughts”.

“It is something you never get over but somehow you keep going,” she said.

When not spending time in her garden Cindy enjoys meeting up her daughters, one of whom lives in Spain the other in Bordon, and the company of her four grandchildren.

She is proud of the road sign honour given to her son.

“There his name sits on a road in Mill Hill Park and it will be there forever,” she said.