This evening came the phone call I'd been waiting for. My son Will has successfully passed the 32 week Royal Marine Commando training course and been awarded his green beret. Today was the final test: a 30 mile yomp across Dartmoor in full uniform with backpack and gun - to be completed in 8 hours.
Will, as they say, barely troubled the scorers during his five years at Carmel. After working for a couple of years and building up his strength and endurance, he set off for Lympstone in Devon in the spring.
He'd wanted to be a Royal Marine Commando since the Royal Navy came to Carmel to meet the pupils when he was 13. Obviously I had reservations about his choice of career, but he was so determined, nothing would stand in his way. The change in him over the past 8 months has been remarkable - both physically and in his maturity.
So, next week we're off to Devon for his Passing Out parade, as he is formally accepted into the elite of the armed forces.
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Elected to Darlington Borough Council in May 2007, Mike Barker tells what it's like to be a councillor and the Liberal Democrats' Parliamentary Candidate in Darlington.
About Me
- Mike Barker
- Liberal Democrat Councillor for North Road Ward on Darlington Borough Council. Parliamentary Candidate for the Constituency of Darlington. Previously Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, 2005. Father of three great grown-up kids, life-long follower of Reading Football Club, keen walker and cyclist, lover of modern literature, film and theatre. MD of local food retailing and bakery business.
Getting in touch with me
To get in touch with me, you can leave a comment on this blog, you can email me (mikebarker@cix.co.uk) or you can phone me (07703539516).
9 comments:
Congratulations!
Alan Macnab wrote....
Well done and congratulations.
It's all happening in the Barker household. Dad standing for Parliament and son being accepted into the elite regiment in the British Army.
" son being accepted into the elite regiment in the British Army"
The Navy. They're very touchy about these things. (And, they have guns so it's best to get it right!)
;)
Congratulations,
you are right to be very proud.
Alan Macnab writes....
Aaah you got me Mike T.
I always assumed that the Royal Marines were part of the British Army. I suppose the clue is in the name and the maritime connections. Anyway the sentiments remain. Congratulations.
I think it's great that they take the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) course as part of the training.
Out teacher on that course is ex-RAF :)
Congratulations to you and your son Mike.
congratulations and well done to will have a nice day on is passing out parade.
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments.
I'm just as proud of all three of my kids - as we all are of our children. It's just that Will really struggled at school and was particularly badly hit by his mum dying when he was 10, and it's really great that he's been able to prove to himself, and to his friends and family, that he can achieve something really special. Mike
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