1974 arrived Duke of Boots. Joined the rear party at Ballykelly, few weeks only. Moved to Mons Barracks Aldershot.Drank at the George and South Western. Bought my first car from a Cpl in Drums Platoon (red vauxhall viva) Attended a 4 week course at RAOC Depot in Surrey. Cannot remember where exactly, nearest train station was Brookwood. The best four weeks of my 6 year Army career. The only time I worked with women. How I wish I had got serious with those Welsh WRAC. Used to spend evenings in North Camp listening to a drummer’s solo spot in the local pub.

Spent 1975 with UN in Cyprus. Our job was to move Turkish cypriots from Melandra and Pelathusia up towards Nicosia. Lost my virginity in the Venus Cabaret Bar in Paphos. Had five weeks R & R in Malta. Introduced to the Navy & Marines, stayed at St Andrew’s Barracks Enjoyed my days drinking at the Kenner Club in Valletta. Happy days! Back in Cyprus visited sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dekhelia, had nights out in Larnaca. Lovely weather throughout my duration; little did I know the UK was also having a heatwave!Before leaving Cyprus I was ever so flattered after picking up a beautiful blonde in a dark romantic nightclub in Poliamedia. It was only when I got her outside in the street lights I realised she was a hairy gender=bender. Enough said!!! I have my reputation to think about. Saw the Tremeloes & Bilbous Baggings at the local CSE show.

My first real tour of Northern Ireland was spent in Bandit Country. I served in the main HQ at Bessbrook bouncing between Operations & Intelligence I watched the CSE show starring a comedy duo called Hope & Keane. During their gig they drew swords to fight each other only on this occasion it went terribly wrong. One of them cut his partner’s head open. He was supposed to swish the sword above his partner’s head. Naturally, the audience laughed!After all,they were comedians!!! Introduced to areas such as Newry, & Crossmaglen. saw trouble spots like Warrenpoint

In 1977 arrived in Germany for two year tour. Spent many nights in the NAAFI and company club drinking Herfordder lager or brandy On the streets of Minden you had the Heck-Meck & Metronome nightclubs The Scala cinema would regularly show hard-core movies, not to mention the local bars. Everywhere you went seemed to have its own quota of sexual entertainment. To get away from the military I would spend quiet nights at the Pondarosa in the town of Buckeburg. Weekends away in Dusseldorf and Hannover. Always finishing the evening with Bratwurst & chips covered in ketchup/mayonaise.

My final tour of the Provinces was at RUC Strand Road, Londonderry. The policewomen there were real lookers!! Again, I would bounce about between Operations & Intelligence. One night in July I was offered an evening at home with a policewoman. She lived in the waterside district. Our officers had placed a ban on all ranks. No one was to leave the station. To get around this mishap I was smuggled out in her car boot and enjoyed an evening at her home. The following morning I was smuggled back in the same way. On leaving Derry in October, the whole battalion from Bogside,Creggan,Bridge & Strand Rd congregated on the tarmac of Aldergrove Airport on route back to Germany. I was told by the company commander I had been chosen at random to have all my kit searched. What bad luck I thought, only three of us out of 600 men. The police sifted through everything including my soiled garments. Years later I sat up in bed and realised the police knew I was being smuggled out of Strand Rd because my girlfriend’s colleagues whom she lived with were telling their superiors.After all, she was a catholic from Antrim which meant she was probably under scrutiny throughout the whole duration of the troubles....The moral to this story...trust no one!!! MEMORIES NOW GONE BUT NEVER LOST!!