News
HRH visits RAF Brize Norton
25th October 2007
The Prince of Wales was reunited today with the man who taught him to parachute-jump 28 years ago.
The Prince, who is Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force, was visiting the Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
In the hanger where he learned the ropes in 1978, The Prince chatted with retired Warrant Officer Glan Evans who put him through his paces nearly 30 years ago.
Mr Evans, 58, was a sergeant when The Prince, who was due to take on his role as Colonel-in-Chief to the Parachute Regiment, joined his class.
His Royal Highness said at the time that he felt he could not wear the Parachute Regiment's famous beret and wings badge unless he had done the course.
Fifteen years after the course, The Prince told his biographer Jonathan Dimbleby: "I felt I should lead from the front or at least be able to do some of the things that one expects others to do for the country.”
Today, former Warrant Officer Glan Evans said: "Because he was going to become Colonel-in-Chief he wanted to do the parachute course and he was very conscientious.
"This is his first time back to the hanger since he trained. We started with landings just like the boys do now and then moved onto flight training."
The Prince was reminded of one of his class mates who is still serving in the RAF and reminisced with his former teacher.
Earlier in the day, His Royal Highness met Medics and Nurses from the Critical Care Air Support Team who treat injured aircrew in the air as they are flown back to the UK from battle-grounds like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nurse Helen Gilchrist said: "We can do everything on board that they can do in intensive care in a UK hospital. Except x-rays of course!".
But the medical staff are working in extraordinary circumstances as Medic Sergeant Barry Kirkland explained: "You've got the noise and the movement to contend with.
“And we are awake for 40 hours sometimes. Before you even get there you have often been awake for 15 hours flying."
The CCAS treats only the most seriously ill aircrew and helped more than 60 individuals last year out of more than 4000 wounded.
The Prince spoke to them about their work and climbed aboard a C-17 passenger plane which is used as a mobile hospital for injured personnel.
The 99 Squadron which flies the craft are celebrating their 90th anniversary this year as are the 101 Squadron, who fly the VC10 craft.
The Prince also cut a cake to commemorate the occasion of the 70th anniversary of RAF Brize Norton's operation.
Click here to read more about The Prince's military career.