My Brother, Terry
I remember going to his passing out parade when he was 16 (I think) when he joined the Gloucester's. I was only about 6 at the time, but I can remember feeling so proud of my big brother and thinking how smart he looked in his uniform. His passing out parade was in Folkestone at the Junior Regiment Battalion Camp.
He had several postings in Ireland, which he didn't mind.
He was posted to Mexico & bought me back a teddy bear, which I've still got. I remember something about an earthquake and I was worried. I used to love it when he came home on leave, but hate it when he had to go back, I used to cry on my way to school (junior's) knowing he would not be there when I came home.
There was a time when we lived at the Quay when he bought some of his Army buddies round, one being Mickey. They were sat in the front garden overlooking the docks, one of them told me to dance but I didn't want to so he got hold of my tortoise and told me to dance again, I still didn't, so he took my tortoise over the road and threatened to throw him in the river. I burst into tears, again I wasn't very old. Terry got hold of him and kicked him out along with the others including Mickey who was asleep at the time.
He got promoted and demoted, never one to shy away from things/people who gave him hassle.
I can remember when we went elvering over the river. I helped him make a frame up and then he used some of mum's net curtain to cover it with, she was not best pleased. We did catch some elvers though. We also went just across the road to fish, catching eels, (yuck)
He was always sending me to WH Smith's to buy the latest chart records which he did not have.
I don't know if you're aware of Terry being able to draw? I used to watch him draw. He used to use hankies and draw, skull and crossbones, roses and other things.
I used to watch him play rugby on a Saturday, if it was to wet and they were playing at home, I used to watch from my bedroom window with a pair of binoculars. They had to clear sheep of the pitch first. He always stuck up for me if the rugby players started getting lippy.
I also remember him coming to my passing out parade.
I used to clean Terry's boots after rugby, which included all the muck and sheep poo on them.
The things my brother used to get me to do, but I willingly did them, as I thought he was the bees knees.
He came up to us (Kent) to drop Jenna off ready for a holiday she was coming on with us, and he endured the school play, which my three girls were taking part in.
Again he came to watch my three girls participate in cross-country at Crystal Palace on more than one cold Saturday morning.
Last year he came to watch my husband Andy do the triathlon at the London Excel Centre. When he turned up on the Saturday he took the girls to McDonald's for lunch, for a treat, he had his Ibiza music going full blast and he was sweerving down the road, which the girls thought was great fun. He also had to endure the girls showing him their new dance routines, but he thought they were good.
As Jessica put in her story, he will take time out, when available, and help anyone out who needs it. He's a great brother to have, love you.
Kim xxx