General Chat

My big brother Ray is 60 today. Not only do I want to wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, but add a bit to the tale... See below... updated please see last post..

Today is a very special day for the big fella. His birthday always triggers memories of 39 years ago, when he was serving in Aden. He lost a lot of friends on his 21st birthday, one he, like many others will never forget. I will never forget the sight of that motorbike pulling up at the door, the telegram man... my mom's face drained of colour and I legged it out to the garden to get our dad. We were expecting the worst... 'I am sorry to inform you'... mom couldn't read any more. The telegram was to tell us he'd been shot, but we didn't know the full story then... the local paper the following day carried the headline 'North-East soldier shot in eye' - talk about chinese whispers - if the telegram hadn't got to us first, my mom would've flipped. He hadn't been shot in the eye, but the THIGH! No-one could understand why I wasn't crying, after all he was my hero, my brother, my best friend, even though we were almost 15 years apart... but I knew he'd be OK. We had our own routine, his regiment wore a 'hackle' in their beret's, and before he left he always gave one to me...'hold this for me kid, I'll pick it up when I get back', and in my then childlike wisdom, I somehow knew he was coming back to collect it. I still have that 'hackle', and I'm one of the lucky ones from 1966. I still have my brother too. They hold the reunion today in Newcastle, 400 plus squaddies hitting the toon. A fitting birthday celebration for a man still troubled by the memories, Enjoy your birthday 'Nashy', I'm pleased I'm not carrying you home tonight... :) Your loving 'kid' sister Magi

Happy Birthday Ray, you are indeed a fortunate man, having a kid sister like Magi. Enjoy your birthday celebrations, those comrades who are no longer with you in fact, will perhaps look on with happiness on a 'good do'. I shall be celebrating my 70th next Sunday by going into hospital for a heart- by pass, which should give me a bit more energy in order to celebrate the71st in more style. God Bless you both

I hope Ray enjoys his special day. What memories his birthdays must rekindle but I hope he can find some comfort in recalling the good times too. Carry on enjoying having a big brother Magi. I loved to hear of your childlike assurance that he would return to you. Gwyn

Hi Magi. What a wonderful story to add to a thread, i enjoyed reading it all. It is one of the nicest threads i have read, dedicated to a sibling. Yes, big brothers are hero's to there little sisters. Happy 60th Birthday to Magi's brother, Ray. Tony Oz

Happy 60th Ray, with MANY more to come. Have a wonderful day, Christine.

I hope you have the best birthday ever Ray, what a lovely sister you have. June xx

hi maggi you have just brought back memories too brothers B I L S were stationed there too and they will all be 60 this yr as well also from N E so happy birthday to them all ann xx

Magi....a wonderful story and I want to add my very best wishes to Ray for a truly great Birthday. I adored my own older brother in much the same way and will never forget him walking in the door, back from Korea. Sadly he died some years back. A toast to all brothers! XX BC

Oh Magi what a lovely story and how you hero worship your big brother and rightly so,Happy birthday Ray and I hope you are as proud of your little sister as she is of you.You should be because she is a sweetheart. Davex

Happy Birthday Ray. Lovely story Magi, I hope it's recorded in your Family History notes. Gwynne xxx

Happy Birthday Ray! I hope you have a good day:o) Magi, thank you for putting Ray's story on the board - it's a wonderful one. I'm glad he came back home safe and sound and that he has a lovely sister like you. Helenxx

Happy Birthday Ray, I hope you have a fantastic day :-) c x

Thanks to you all for your messages, Clive, I wish you a happy 70th in advance, and don't go flirting with the nurses too much. Looking forward to the 71st party. Gwynne, it sure is along with a few more for Stinkerbell. I have 19 years to get it ready, so I may get some research done before her 21st. Dave, don't you go ruining my reputation...sweetheart indeed...lol... June, Ann, BC, Helen, Christine, Julie, Tony & Gwynn thank you again, I'll make sure he gets these, but after the reunion... Magi

Happy 60th Birthday Ray What a lovely story Magi, thank you for sharing that with us. I remember my cousin dating a soldier who was in Aden, he was one of the lucky ones and they married 33 years last week. I remember how excited my cousin was when he came home on leave and how handsome he looked in his uniform.

Many happy returns for today Ray, hope you have a lovely Birthday, and a good old celebration today! :)) that's a lovely story Magi, one very special brother you have there, thanks for sharing this with us :)

happy birthday, Ray. :-) Joy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY. That was a lovely story Magi Best wishes to all Germaine x

Happy 60th Birthday Ray, i hope you have a wonderful day. Yvette

Hi Karen, spot on, I've been on the web-sites myself this morning and found some pretty interesting stuff. I'm sitting here wondering how Newcastle is about to cope with them all...lol... I also remember the day the lads arrived home form Aden... my brother came home in a Police car! At that time British Forces could still travel in uniform, they got off the train at the Central Station and made their way up to the then Haymarket bus station to go their seperate ways. The haymarket was under renovation and someone started up a Pneumatic drill. You can imagine the scene as all those lads in uniform hit the deck. My dad's reaction was 'what's he done now?' until the policeman explained... Magi