Page 61 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

We chatted for a while about ours and past courses and as he got up to go,
he said “Enjoy tomorrow son, give it your best, from what I’ve seen you’ll all
be more than good enough for the show”. And with that he was on his feet
heading toward the instructors’ corner where they had a drink waiting for
him.

Figure 30 Our dining in night gathering

The Passing Out Parade

Wednesday night after the Dining In evening, I slept like
a baby. The next day was our passing out parade and I
was happy that my kit was immaculate, and my
marching skills wouldn’t let anyone down.

Thursday morning came, bags half packed on the bed
ready for the homeward journey the next day. We
gobbled our breakfast down and started to assemble in
the roads leading up to the parade square. My wife
and her brother were among the crowds waiting for the
spectacle to start. They would all now bear witness to
our display of marching in formation to music that we
had spent the last ten weeks mastering. How we
performed would reflect on how well Tom Trickett had
done his job. Page61
Figure 31 June 1980