On the morning of the last day at Kirton we were woken by the Orderly Sergeant, his voice ringing out "Come on gentlemen, 'ands off cocks" well before Reveille so that we could get all our kit together and prepare ourselves for the final Passing Out Parade.
Instead of passing out in May as I should have done, my turn came on June 3rd, 1952, when, as Parade Right Marker, I was the first to march on to the parade ground before the assembled guests, including my parents. Lord de Lisle and Dudley took the salute as we marched past. I was now an Acting Pilot Officer and was given 6 days leave. My parents took me, and my kit, home by car. My name appeared in the 'London Gazette' two or three issues later.

On leave, between courses, with my grandmother in the
newly laid out garden extension at our cottage in Shropshire.
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