Kent ACF with k13eod

thumb_burra_sennybridge Part Two - Sennybridge (7-19 August 2009)

A week spent doing very little was suddenly spoiled by K13eod loading up his car with kit to deploy on Kent ACF Summer Camp in Sennybridge, Wales.

Here we go thought I; another trip where I will be pawed by grubby faced urchins and expected to carry out all sorts of military skills. Still, at least the journey there would be in K13eod's sparkling Jaguar XJS and not by public transport. So there I am expecting to be strapped into the passenger seat when the old fool puts me into a box and then into the boot! You cannot imagine how disgusted I felt, but on the plus side it meant that I didn't have to listen to his constant moaning about M25 and M4 traffic on a Friday afternoon! But when we got there 7 hours later he was in remarkably cheery mood mainly because the sun was shining and the cadets wouldn't arrive until the following evening. I spent the first 36 hours at Sennybridge lounging on K13eods bed and sharing the odd gin and tonic.

And then the buses turned up and the place was awash with kids in ill fitting uniform being shepherded into groups for the following two weeks instruction. As K13eod was required to do a course for the first week, I was handed over into the loving care of Sergeants Sedge and Sedge, a married couple from Gravesend. I soon found that they were in charge of the 1 Star training and I would be helping out at drill, first aid, SAA and map reading. I would even get to spend some doing rock climbing which I looked forward to with anticipation, heights not being something I am comfortable with. The first week passed fairly quickly, practicing all my skills and helping out with instruction. The evenings were equally busy being required to spend time in the WOs and Sgts Mess ensuring that the collecting tin was rattled at the bar. Although I have to say that the constant karaoke was a little, shall we say, under-toned!

K13eod finished his course early (I heard he got RTU'd) and I thought that I might be returned to his patronage but fortunately they sent him out to the field on exercise. This means I got to do all the fun stuff in camp which included frequenting the place they sold whiskey! I was finally to meet back up with K13eod on the Sunday when Kent ACF had a big parade. I was able to watch the parade and offer advice regarding drill and then at the end met up with the Commandant, the Padres and some other senior officers ... that's right I was big wigging it!

The last week of camp was spent in the company of the 2 and 3 star groups and this included some adventure training as well as very informative visit to Big Pit mine. When I went underground I couldn't believe the lowness of the tunnels and thought that even bears would struggle down there. As for the stables for the ponies ... you wouldn't have got me living like that, I can tell you. During the last week I was also given into the care of different female cadets who would take me over the NAAFI to try and prise pennies away from people. All very nice apart from along the way my right arm got all a bit wobbly until it nearly fell. I had to undergo emergency surgery to have it reattached with a safety pin! I left Sennybridge with K13eod on 19 August and this time he did let me sit up front. All in all a fun time was had and I enjoyed meeting all the cadets who did us proud and raised nearly a hundred quid ...