L to R: Steve, Mink, Billy and Bob…same cap badge.
I don’t get home these days as much as I’d like to.
But when I do, apart from spending time with family, I always enjoy bouncing into members of my other family. Those with whom I spent time with in the military.
Walking through the centre of Hereford City on my way to seeing my kids and grandkids, I bumped into these three, having a brew and catchup in High Town.
You could say different eras, in that we all joined at different times. But during my almost 20 years in 22 SAS, I served at the time of all three.
Steve, I took on selection, a terrific soldier who appeared to breeze it, even though he may say differently.
Mink, he and I were in B Sqn for years together. Worked closely in training and on ops.
Billy, known today for his TV fame, came to the unit as I was leaving. He’s been there and he’s done it, many times over.
What we all have in common is that we all did our time and had a full career in 22 SAS.
It always makes me proud to walk through town and have a coffee thrust into your hand, in order to sit and chat for a while…a good catchup.
Cap badge and wings of 22 SAS in my time.
For me, it shows that the unit is all about the lads, their endeavors to hold that unit to the highest of standards. Not win the Winged Dagger, sit back and live off of the cap badge.
No, that famous cap badge and the equally famous wings, will forever live off of those who work their arses off from the time they join 22 SAS to the time they leave it.
Here’s to many brews in the future.
PS: I was slightly late meeting up with my kids and grandkids…but for good reason.
Bob Shepherd 
That’s fantastic, Bob. It’s one of those quietly beautiful moments life hands you. You’re walking through a place steeped in your memories, maybe not expecting much, and then there they are: familiar faces from a different time, shaped by the years but unmistakably them and unmistakably the same – well, almost. It’s funny, I met Billy in Weatherpsoon, or should I say I went over to say hello. I spoke of the regiment being a family to me and mentioned dad and my respect for him. Do you know what? He stood up before I spoke. That’s honour. Well, all the best. A great meet-up. Mark Jickells