A Suprise At Hardwick Hall

Hardwick Hall is a stately home that is within walking distance of my house. I know this for a fact having done so several times in the past in what I will refer to as my youth. If you Google it you are bound to come up with references to being an Elizabethan House, having been built for Bess of Hardwick (Elizabeth Talbot Countess of Shrewsbury) and one of the Great Houses that Mary Queen of Scotts was held prisoner. Well two out of the three facts is true enough, Mary was actually held for a time at Chatsworth House not so many miles away by Elizabeth's soon to be ex-husband.

But that is not the reason of this post, one link to Hardwick hall that you may well struggle to find is the fact that the fledgling arm to the army that of the Parachute Regiment called Hardwick it's home and training grounds for the first stages of the Paratroops lengthy training. During refits, expansion and replacements Hardwick took in it's recruits and turned them from infantry to something more. Today was the Parachute Regiments 70th Anniversary and to mark the event Hardwick had been chosen to host the event. 10am was the planned start and my sister (a Ranger there) advised to get there early as it was going to be busy. Cath was not feeling so great and I think liked the idea of getting rid of the three of us so I took Alice and Joseph (7 and 5) and they were golden.

Red Devil Coming to get me.

The first item on the program was a display by The Red Devils Freefall Team, eight of them were to jump from a small plane and land in the grounds. The full team is 25 man strong and is split into two, so to be able to perform two jumps around the world at the same time. They jumped from behind the hall and came back and round navigating the hall, it's walls and the trees all to land in a fairly tight area. It was a great spectacle to be sure and really excited the kids.

The Iconic Red Smoke.

It was great to be able to chat with these guys who made themselves very available. Before joining the display team they have to have made a minimum of 200 jumps and will remain with the display team for three years before being transferred back to their original Battalions.

Safe and Sound.

Next up was the forming up of past and present members of the Parachute Regiment ready for the dedication service. Once formed up a single Dakota made a number of passes over us at a low altitude and nice and slow. I really could have done with Cath's camera and as such the pics are not fantastic but I will live with that.

Yes it really was that low.

For the correct feel.

Then a Service that was marred by a steady wind and a PA System that as always failed to work. Still it was moving stuff and when they marched past me I was not ashamed to have the odd tear in my eyes. To see some of the original member's, other veterans and most poignant current active soldiers really made you feel humble.

As you can see a really good turn out.

The Current Crop.

Three more members were on crutches when they marched onto the field and a few more in trainers who did not partake in the march past. I assume all these are in various stages of recovering from training accidents.

When all Else Fails.

In an attempt to get the message across all avenues were tried, even this was not loud enough to reach most of us.

Two wreaths were laid at this plaque one of the few permanent reminders of the existence of this chapter of Hardwicks history. I really think they fail to promote what is a important part of both this area's history but also our Nations. This is not the first event held at Hardwick for the Paratroop Regiment but with almost no advertising and no promotion the event seemed to be supported by anything but local people. Indeed it almost felt like a gatecrasher at someones private function as the vast majority seemed to be sporting Para pins or other Regiments.

Between the car park and the hall was a small number of vehicles and equipment from the Second World War and after, I will post a separate post at a latter date with the pics from this. A great half day with the kids were they asked the right questions and I did the best to answer in a way that they could both understand and realise that they owed these people a great deal. Alice walking up to a very old man and telling him "Thanks for doing all you did for me" was a moment that both the gentleman and myself will treasure, so maybe I did good.

EDIT. More information can be found on Hardwick Halls own Blog here. Shame I can not add it to my blog roll but any history related posts I will post a link.