As a former member of TSW and having retired from the RAF in 2008, I tended to steer clear of reunions and associations. My reasons for this was that it was time to move on and forge something new, or so I thought! 

I did the moving on, new business, new friends, different circles. That was great for a while, but something always felt like it was missing, that something was the friends and experiences I had whilst serving on TSW. 

On recognising this I joined the association 3 years ago, this rekindled old friendships and created new ones along the way.

The reason I’ve highlighted this, is to point out that more new friends and experiences were created when I attended this year’s Operation Market Garden battlefield tour over the 21st -24th September.

The tour itself was outstanding, it encompassed many things, laughter, education, lots of banter but most of all the camaraderie that I missed.

I met many former TSW members that I didn’t know, that made no difference, everyone just sparked and had lots of laughs.

I considered myself a bit of a historian on WW2, but this trip highlighted so much of what I didn’t know, I loved it! 

It didn’t matter how old or grey we may have become or what we may have done since leaving the RAF, for a few days we were back in the fold, telling the same stories that made us laugh back then, but at the same time managing to make new stories that should run for a while! 

I came away from the trip with several things, these being more knowledge about the Arnhem campaign, less money in the bank, dog tired, but the highlight was getting together with a group of people that have a shared history, that despite various advancing years can still have lots of laughs and still make a 5am bus ride!!!!

I cannot overemphasis how good the trip was, don’t sit on the fence, get involved, you won’t be disappointed! 

Massive thanks to the committee for sorting the trip.

Finally, for those that are attending, I’ll see you in November at the Cenotaph’.

Regards

Mick Dwyer