Siege hero signs on

A MEMBER of the SAS team who stormed the Iranian Embassy in London during the terrorist siege in 1980 added his name to the RAF’s Wall of Honour.

Rusty Firmin led Team Blue during the famous operation to free 26 hostages held by gunmen from the Democratic Revolutionary Front for Liberation of Arabistan during the six-day stand-off in central London.

He was invited to add his name to the Cranwell Wall and speak to the latest graduates on the aircrew survival and evasion course.

Speaking to the graduates, he said: “Whatever you do, keep a sense of humour – because that’s how you get through the bad times. To this day, I refuse to give in.”

Rusty signed up in 1965 with the Royal Artillery Regt before passing Green Beret Commando selection and later joining the elite SAS in 1977.

After leaving the military, Rusty specialised in training international security teams and became the chief instructor at Hereford, home of the legendary Special Forces regiment. He has also written books and is very altruistic, currently the patron of four charities helping veterans and others.