Just to continue the fellowship theme, once a season some of my (older than me!) army friends get together for a regimental shoot. Its always a good day, meeting up with old friends and recounting old warrior stories.
Last summer we lost the chap who had started it all and acted as shoot captain, though come to think of it he was a colonel, so perhaps that should read shoot colonel! Anyway, he was out walking his dogs on the stubble and had a massive stroke. So at this years shoot, which went ahead at the insistence of his widow, who is also a picker-up, we had a few quiet moments and a small eulogy during elevenses. That is all the guns, the beaters, the pickers-up, the farm owners as well as several friends.
This photo captures that eulogy and a part of the group of us. There is a fully minted field marshal amongst them too! It was poignant, yes, but at the same time he had been a most cheerful and friendly chap that we could not but help to recall his bonhomie, leg pulling and good nature, thus lifting our spirits. And at the end of the last drive of the day, we all stood still and the guns fired a salute to him. I'm sure he loved the spectacle from high above us.
Tim
