IN TUNE WITH TODAY

Thursday 4 December

1952, I started my National Service for two weeks at an army camp at Worcester. The first weekend we had our jabs. We were in gym kit, sat astride benches, wedged in one behind the other, shoulders bared. The medical staff came down each side and gave us our vaccines, two in each shoulder. Some fainted, but were held firm by the ones fore and aft. We were then excused duties for 36 hours. As I was deferred till 21 as an apprentice and the others were 18, my nickname became Grandad!

Two weeks later I was posted to Cove near Farnborough to No 9 Royal Engineers and became a Sapper. I stayed there until I was demobbed on 2 December 1954. We had 16 weeks of drill training. The first six weeks were drill and square bashing and my nickname here was Bunny because of the way I hopped when coming to attention after marching. I still answer to it.

It was the first time I had been away from home. But

being used to working with my hands, I was introduced to all kinds of new activities. Bren guns, rifles, explosives, watermanship, mines and bridge building. Eventually I received a medal for being the best man of the party. This was given at the Passing Out Parade from a Brigadier. He tried to persuade me to sign on as a regular. I declined as the small family business of plumbing and heating was awaiting my return. I became a tutor NCO teaching the new skills I had learned for the rest of my two years.

The fellowship and life experiences I acquired whilst doing National Service still live with me today. On 27 August this year I attended the Pass Off Parade of my 24-year-old grandson Zak at Pirbright. He has just completed his Sapper training. Zak’s sister Ellie pushed me in a wheelchair all the way from the square to the NAFFI. The similarities to my own experience were evident. Brian Waite, Rawdon,

Leeds