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Old soldiers look forward to a Loyal appointment
A pair of soldiers who signed up for National Service 50 years ago are inviting others to a reunion at a Lancashire Army barracks.
Sascha Welch, 70, from Longridge, and Bob Wade, 71, from Preesall, were part of the Loyal Regiment which served in Germany from 1960 to 1961.
The pair have organised a visit to Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, for January 7 and are inviting other ex-Loyals to join them.
Father-of-one Sascha, who has been married for 40 years, said: "It's 50 years since Bob and I were in the army, in the Loyals, so we were the tail end of National Service."
The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) was a line infantry regiment which was active until 1970.
It was formed in 1881 and fought in conflicts including the Boer War, Peninsula Campaign and the Malayan Emergency.
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Bob, a grandfather-of-two who has been married for 47 years, said: "We've been having a get-together in a pub in Whitehaven since 2000.
"I suggested it would be nice to go to Preston. They agreed so we have rounded up some lads from Fleetwood and Blackpool. We've tried to get one or two at Preston with no luck. We've got one coming from Outer Mongolia!
"We're going to have a look in the museum and stamp the parade ground if we can."
Remembering his time with the Loyals, Bob said: "If the sergeant said the grass was pink then the grass was pink. You didn't argue."
The group, of around 18, will meet at the barracks before going to the nearby Sumners pub for lunch.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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