My father is very religious, my mother not so much.
When I was around 13 years old a new priest moved in to our parish.
He made an impact in our family. Not in a bad way.
My father and mother where both confirmed onto the Church of England.
So the journey of my and my middle brother started on the confirmation trail. My brother followed my father to be coming am Alter boy.
Both my brother and I where confirmed by the Bishop John of Stafford.
Then my love of a rest in bed on a Sunday and playing football took over.
Then when I joined the RAF, we had a padre hour. Every two weeks in basic and trade training, an hour of spiritual enlightenment and coffee and biscuits.
Until I asked a very serious question.
" How do you go against the commandment. Thou shalt not kill.?"
The reply " You will be killing for a good cause "
With that reply I lost all my religious thoughts.
I saw and did things that people should not do. I am not proud of some of those things.
I am proud I served.
I will be RAF to my core, and I will bleed Red, White and Blue roundels.