THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD

The Parachute Regiment’s involvement in the race to bring grouse to the dining tables of London eateries on the Glorious Twelfth has a vibrant history. On 27 October 1986, the then Labour MP for Ipswich, Ken Weetch, sought to make political capital at the expense of shooting. He asked if the Secretary of State for Defence would make a statement on the total costs incurred by the race between the three Parachute Regiment battalions to deliver grouse to the Savoy hotel.

With binder and filler tobacco from Nicaragua and wrapper leaf from Ecuador, this is an interesting mixture. I smoked a couple of these when fishing and found they

In response, Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Armed Forces

Roger Freeman MP — a wily bird himself — said the efforts of the Red Devils display team had raised £22,000 for military charities. Weetch asked again for the cost of the flight, including the parachute drop of the grouse. Using his second barrel, Freeman replied: “The Red Devils parachute display team uses its own aircraft, which is financed from its own funds.”