Ivors Visit to Irish Guards Headquarters
Having served for two years in the Home Guard prior to my enlistment with the Irish Guards in 1944 I was very excited and extremely honoured to have been invited to take part in this year's parade at the Cenotaph. A frantic search for my Medals revealed that the ribbons were faded and the clasp was broken, and where could I get them repaired locally ?  I didn't have a clue. Then I had a brilliant idea.  . . . I emailed RQMS Kevin Gannaway-Pitts at Irish Guards Headquarters.  NO PROBLEM  he says, "Put them in the post and I'll get the Regimental Tailor to fix them."
"You can come up next week to collect them "

 
Owen Rice (top left) kindly met me at Charing Cross Station and we strolled leisurely through Admiralty Arch and past Horse Guards to enter St.James Park at the Guards Memorial. It was a glorious day and we sat on a park bench long enough to eat a few sandwiches which Owen had prepared earlier. Then, approaching cautiously the Guard on Duty at Wellington Barracks, and being warned that photographing the guard was not allowed, we were finally allowed to proceed to the RQMS's office. Aware that the great man himself, "Field Marshall Alexander of Tunis", was watching our every move from his plinth across the square, we carefully kept in step until safely inside the building.  
Joe Wilson and Arnold Gregory were waiting to entertain us in the absence of the RQMS who was very busy at the time, but I did see Kevin briefly, between meetings, to thank him for getting my Medals refurbished so expertly, and so quickly.

.
After a quick explanation of the controls of my Video camera I managed to persuade Arnold to take this shot for my Local paper who have expressed interest in my invitation to represent the Home Guard in this year's parade in Whitehall.  Arnold then suggested that it was about time that I joined the Association and as I was out-numbered I agreed. Then, to celebrate the return of my Medals, and swap a few 'Old Mick's Tales' we all retired to the Sgts Mess to toast absent friends with a pint (or two ) of Guinness. I wasn't counting !  My thanks to Owen, without whose support and guidance none of this would have happened, and to John Hyland who sadly was unable to join us as planned.

Thank you all at IGHQ for this remarkable experience