We hope you were able to gather with Airborne friends to watch the Presentation of Colours this year. On 13^th July our Colonel In Chief, HRH The Prince of Wales presented the new Colours to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalions of The Parachute Regiment. 

Unfortunately, due to the extension of the Step 3 Government restrictions, guest attendance to the event was very limited, focusing on the serving and their families, especially those that could not have a Pass Off Parade in the last year.  

The broadcast started at approximately 1045hrs centred on the parade square in Merville Barracks, there was Three Guards drawn from the three battalions and we saw the Old Colours marched off for the last time. The Consecration Service followed and the New Colours were presented to the three Battalions. Activity on the Parade Square finished with a flypast and freefall display by the Red Devils.

Forces TV broadcast the event live on our Regimental Facebook page for our many supporters that could not attend in person.

There was also a range of commemorative merchandise for sale through the Airborne Shop with profits going towards SUPPORT OUR PARAS, The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity.

Ben Swarbrick, ex-3 PARA, recently attempted the 3 Peaks with a difference.

Starting on 13 June, he attempted to summit the 3 Peaks, 11 times in 9 days. The total distance in terms of climbing is reaching the summit of Mt Everest four times.

Ben is raising money for SUPPORT OUR PARAS with his challenge so he can support his fellow Airborne. Ben said, “I love the mountains, I love a challenge and I love pushing myself.”

Ben smashed his fundraising target, but can you help him go that little bit further? Visit his fundraising page here to donate and send him a message of support!

When Reg Curtis passed away in January 2016 it is believed that he was the last man standing from the original volunteers who called themselves No. 2 Commando, 11^th SAS, 1^st Parachute Battalion, the pioneers who set the bar for The Parachute Regiment.

In 1940, when they answered Winston Churchill’s call for a new type of fighting soldier, there were no special parachutes for jumping from aircraft, and no suitable aircraft. All too often they suffered fatalities or severe injuries in training. They were literally jumping into the unknown.

Before he died Reg pledged income from his book The Memory Endures to our charity. Badly wounded at Arnhem in 1944, which led to his right leg being amputated, he wanted to support his modern-day paratrooper equivalent. Reg’s book was published by his family under their imprint Pilots Publishing and has remained in print ever since, with all profits sent to SUPPORT OUR PARAS.

We thank Reg for his loyalty to the Regiment he loved, and his family for their care with his legacy. Reg’s nephew Geoffrey Holland, who administers Pilots Publishing, appeals for others to join Reg and support our work in his name. Please take a look at his message here: https://justgiving.com/campaign/regcurtis.

Geoffrey says he couldn’t have wished for a better role model than Reg. Frankly, nor could we. Reg, we salute you. You and your comrades will always be remembered.

To buy Reg’s book, visit https://pilotspublishing.co.uk/the-memory-endures. Geoffrey’s email address is there. Copies are available worldwide by mail order.