Peoples Stories
Friendship Lt Col (Retd) John Edwards OBE recounts some of the friendships made during a long and varied career in the REME. Scribe Lt Col (Retd) John Edwards OBE
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ntil I read the April edition of The Craftsman, I didn’t know that there was an “International Day of Friendship” to be held on 30th July. That date is not in my diary, my wedding anniversary the following day is! As for REME friendship, where do you begin? You make friends right from the start. I still keep in touch, and meet up, with friends going back to school days from Welbeck College (1973-75) then the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (1975 – 77), and then to the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham (1978-82). Jon, a REME friend from my youth, was going to be my best man but found himself in the Falklands War (1982) and I was forced to have a Sapper replacement. There are many stories about our (Jon and I) friendship from RYO Courses (what goes on courses stops on courses) to my mum doing his washing, to later, my wife doing his washing (he eventually bought a Hotpoint), and to bumping into him on the helipad in the Green Zone, Baghdad (2006). I could go on, especially as our friendship blossomed when he was Regt Col and I worked for him on Corps recruiting but having spoken to the editor, I have been limited to 500 words.
Bill and I dressed appropriately to watch the annual Warrant Officer John Muise ice hockey tournament at the Andy Anderson arena, Base Borden So, my special friendship story is about the time (1995-97) spent in Canada, at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Borden, when as a British Exchange Officer, I was OC Artisan Company responsible for overseeing the technical training for all Canadian EME soldiers/technicians in the trades: Fire Control Systems, Materials and Weapons. It was a wonderful 2 years, and my
Maj Bill Thompson (left) and I in our day, 1996, prior to the annual CFSEME Parade
Capt Greg Crowe (left), Bill (right) and I in 2019 having Canadian refreshment
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