The Parachute Regimental Association

(Nottingham Branch)


Charity Number: 1124238


NOTTINGHAM PRA Branch meetings cancelled until further notice.


Due to the current World wide Covid 19 pandemic the Nottingham Branch meeting nights which fall on the 3rd Wednesday of the month will be closed for the next few months. This is to help stop the spread of the virus to Branch members who mainly come into the vulnerable classification of being over 70 or have conditions which maybe made worse if they catch the virus.


Branch members will be kept upto date via Email and phone and branch minutes and treasurers reports will be sent via Email for members to see, and members will be updated on branch and Regimental related subjects.

If you need to contact Secretary; Brian Williams, Chairman; Kevin Key, or Treasurer; Mark Holding please contact us via phone or Email.


Many thanks for your understanding.


Mark Holding (Treasurer) 16th March 2020


Image description
Image description
Image description

Above:

LEFT: (Ken 16 Company, at the front of the stick, boarding a twin Pioneer in Malaya, August 1962). Centre: (Ken 16 Company just jumping static line onto Malayan DZ).                           RIGHT: (Ken Sellars at one of our branch collection venues Bulwell Feb 2011)

Branch Charities & Events Co-ordinator: Ken Sellars


Ken has been with the branch for over 22 years. He served with 2 PARA and 16 Company Pathfinders (Lincoln), between 1954 - 1969. Ken held the position of Standard Bearer for nine years, and is still our replacement, when George Worthington is unavailable. Ken has recently taken on our new position as "Charities and Events co-ordinator". He has over the past year, been very active in organizing our Hogs Head Hotel social events, and co-ordinating our charity fund raising days with our local Supermarkets. Ken is very keen to promote our branch, and help form close contacts with our fellow Airborne Brothers, at neighbouring branches.


Army Service Number: 23219743


Ken joined the Parachute Regiment on the 30th of September 1954, finishing his regular service on the 29th of September 1957. He served with 2 PARA (B Company) and was trained as a Bren Gunner; he also served with Brigade HQ.


Ken missed out on the Suez crisis, because of his Headquarters posting, and after demobilization was placed on A reserve for four years. In 1955 Ken earned his marksmanship status on the Bren Gun, and was promoted to Lance Corporal.


He was lucky enough to see how Army officers are trained at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, when he was batman to Brigadier Gordon at the Academy. While with 2 PARA Ken was also a member of its boxing team.


In 1961 Ken joined 16 independent Pathfinders Company, based in Lincoln. While with 16 Company, Ken continued with his boxing, and was part of 16 Company boxing team.


Just after joining 16 Company he was fortunate enough to go on an exercise in Malaya, in the Far East. Ken, like many of his airborne brothers, is a very proud member of this former Pathfinder Company, which was to lose its independent status in the 1970s. (16 Company eventually became a detachment, and moved to Nottingham in the early 1990s, as a sniper and reconnaissance platoon. After further cuts the title completely desappeared.)


Ken left 16 Company in 1969. Around 1989 he joined the Nottingham branch of the Parachute Regimental Association, then based at Wigman Road in Bilborough, Nottingham, and has been with the branch ever since. He served as a standard bearer for nine years, and still holds the reserve standard bearer position, as well as holding the new position of Charities and Events co-ordinator.




BELOW RIGHT: Ken while in 2 PARA standing by the Brigadiers staff car. 1956.


BELOW LEFT: Ken's medal for marksmanship on the Bren gun. 1955.

Image description


ABOVE: 16 Independent DZ Flash

Image description
Image description
notesonsingapore.pdf Information for Company members on Singapore.
Enter file download description
exercisetigerbrew.pdf Exercise information for the Company
Enter file download description here
whatmakesaparatrooperfromthesundaytelegraphjuly9th1961.pdf Newspaper clipping on what makes a Paratrooper.
Enter file download description here

Contents


Contents1
Contents2

Contents


Contents1
Contents2

Contents


Contents1
Contents2