A PHOTO JOURNAL VISIT TO TWO DIFFERENT FAMILIES IN HEREFORD, UK.

Last week my youngest child (about to attend university in the USA) and I travelled from New York to Hereford, England, to catch up on her early memories (prior to moving to the USA 10 years ago), and our family of my other children and grand children who still reside in the City of Hereford.

The other reason of mine was also to catch up on ex military’ friends. At my age now, I found myself talking with more ex military’ friends under the ground than on the ground…although I had turned up unannounced apart from letting my immediate family know.

I don’t get home often enough, only my second trip in 10 years, however my accompanying daughter was going back on her first trip since leaving at the same time aged just 8.

For both of us it was to be exciting and emotional…but for me I didn’t really understand just how emotional, until I returned to New York last night.

It’s always going to be emotional catching up with kids and grand kids, but my youngest grand child I’d never met until last week…and boy she’s a wee smasher!

The other part of my emotions were with my other family, my ex military friends both present today and gone in both the early and distant past.

Hereford is a very special place for me…it’s the home of most of my family, and the home of my SAS family.

So here are a small showing of photos from what we managed to pack into an exciting yet emotional and fast week…perhaps the photos will show why:

I’ve always been a believer of self, family and tribe…it’s a custom of the middle east and probably most of mankind over the centuries too. I believe that if you don’t look after yourself first, then you can’t look after family or/and tribe. Well the first photo is of myself with my Hereford based family…a great evening in a local feeding house.

With daughter No 2, my youngest grandson and youngest grand daughter, chuffed isn’t the word!

Daughters 2 and 3 exchanging notes in the Hereford rain…grand kiddies staying close by.

Testing out the zipwire for the safety of the grand kids…so they said!

…and here comes the youngest, only 2 but adventurous already.

Daughter No 3 (my youngest) was born in London. She was last there aged 8…so a day in London it is.

When your 17yr old asks to see the Cenotaph, it has to be done.

Great to see the memorial unveiled around 2005. I hope that more youngsters get to see it than see the Barbie film…or maybe see both.

Back in Hereford, one evening after a full day of rain, the heaven’s opened and the sun shone. Just before 8pm we chose the best meal in the best spot in the city in my opinion. Fish supper sitting outside the cathedral…what a great call!

It’s important for me to show my children who I respect and why. My utmost respect goes to those who put their mates’ lives before their own. When the SAS came to Hereford after being in Malvern back in the 60s, anyone killed on operations were buried in St Martin’s graveyard along with the people of that area in Hereford. Here lies one of 22 SAS Regiment’s most famous. 30 years young Talaiasi Labalaba BEM, a real Fijian warrior. For decades, there has been a fight to award this man the Victoria Cross…it can all be Googled for those who don’t know of him. He died in the Dhofar War around 3 years before I passed SAS selection. 5 other Fijians who I got to know well, served in the Regiment around the same time. All but one served with B Squadron, they were bright, humble and immense warriors to a man. Just before I joined 22 SAS there was a plot put aside for 22 SAS in the same graveyard. I visit every time I visit my kids in Hereford. Self, family, tribe.

The very old and the more modern Hereford warriors under the same roof of Hereford Cathedral. 22 SAS has it’s own window in the cathedral as seen in the background.

Taking time for a photo and to think of those who had their funerals in the cathedral…the likes of John McAleese, Fred Marafono and just recently the visionary soldier of his time, Mel Parry.

For all those who gave their life during my time in the Regiment, and especially those close to me, I remember them in the old Regimental plot at St Martins which I mentioned earlier. Here I’m having a wee chat with Al Slater and catching him up with what I’ve been up to. I’m not at all religious, but I do feel people’s energy. x

Plenty of people today know about the SAS window in Hereford Cathedral, but not too many know about the original window in St Martin’s church that was located near Bradbury Lines, before becoming Stirling Lines in the 1980s (before it moved to where it is today on the other side of Hereford).

My favourite window with the wars that I served in (Northern Ireland to Iraq), before continuing with going to wars as a civilian until 2010.

St Martin’s Church on Hereford’s Ross Road…the SAS plot being located at the right rear.

I bumped into a handful of good friends last week in Hereford. Here’s one, Jimmy and I have known each other since we were teenagers in our former unit. I joined B Squadron 22 SAS and a year later Jimmy joined D Squadron. I have 7 children and 6 grand children, Jimmy has 5 children and 12 grand children…we’ve done what we can for Hereford. Hereford is Celtic, the world should know that!

Built in the early 1800s, this has always been my and many others’ favourite house in Hereford.

My favourite affordable house in Hereford…minus the car.

As Herefordshire is mainly farming communities and beautiful countryside, we had to have a wheat field photo. Even if it’s been a poor summer, coming from just outside of New York City, this feeling of standing in a Herefordshire field was just wonderful.

The beautiful Victoria Bridge over the River Wye.

The great composer Edward Elgar and his bicycle, looking towards Hereford Cathedral. He’s claimed by Hereford, Malvern and Worcester…all places where he lived. He’s buried next to his wife just outside of Malvern.

My youngest taking a glug of Malvern’s spring water (world renowned since the Victorian days) before we take a wee hike on the hills.

A view of Malvern’s Abbey and surrounds from the Malvern Hills.

A hidden Gem! Malvern Hills’ St Anne’s Well, a Victorian house with an enclosed spring of flowing Malvern water. The garden is magical, and the building lies in a small re entrant high above Malvern and covered by trees. A stunning and oasis of tranquility to sit and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake after a day on the hills…then a steepish walk down an old road to the town.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing the photos of our week in and around Hereford to visit family and tribe…for us it was very special…my 17 year young daughter and an almost 70 year young self.