Interviews
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Interview with
Group Captain Sir Charles Richard Edmunds II DSO DSC
Conducted by
Steven G. Williams
SGW: Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak with me while
you are in Bangkok. Should I call you Group Captain or Sir Charles?
GC: Well, I was never much for fancy titles I don’t mind telling you.
Either one will do. I always fancied Group Captain. Captain of a group.
That is something.
SGW: Indeed. Are you retired now?
GC: Well, one doesn’t really retire from the service of the Queen, mind
you. I may not go to the base every day, but I am still quite occupied.
Always something to do. I still like to pop in to the officer’s mess on
Wednesdays. Bloody good corned beef.
SGW: How are you liking Bangkok?
GC: Well, I can tell you this: This heat is damned inconvenient. I’ve had
to strap a canteen back on me belt. Look like I am about to go chase
Rommel.
SGW: That canteen looks pretty old.
GC: It was issued to me on my first day in Her Majesty’s service I am
proud to say. See here, that is a knick I got in the Falklands. Bad
business that.
SGW: That’s what I heard. There are a lot of Englishmen here in
Bangkok. Have you had a chance to get to know some of them?
GC: Look a bit soft, don’t they? All that beer drinking. I don’t mind a
pint or three on a Sunday after I have taken care of the garden but
these lads have a cot at the bar. A man needs to be clear.
SGW: Well, it looks like the bars have started closing early now. They
passed a new law.
GC: Not a bad idea. Get these lads back home to their missus. My dear
old father, rest his soul, was home every night at 6:30 and not a minute
past. My own mum called the local precinct at 6:35 one night when he
missed the mark. It was raining cats and dogs and the trains had shut
down. But he made it up the next night. Arrived at 6:25 he did. That
was my old Dad.
SGW: Stability is important. How do feel about all these British here who
have taken up with Thai ladies?
GC: Well it makes sense, really. Course there is nothing better than a
real English girl, but a man gets lonely this far from home. As I
understand it, the King here is a right old gentleman. We have our
Queen and they have their King. A country without Royalty is missing
something.
SGW: Like America?
GC: Well now, the colonies are a bit on the shoddy side these days. I
am not a political chap as it is unbefitting a military man, but these are
the days when they could use a return to British core values.
SGW: I couldn’t agree more. I also think these girls are so beautiful here,
it is hard to keep your hand out of the cookie jar.
GC: Well, 35 years in Her Majesty’s service and I know a thing or two
about men and women I can tell you. Many has been the night on
patrol when the company of woman was all I could think about. That
is why I keep a picture of the Queen with me. Whenever I feel, well, as
a man does from time to time, I just take out that picture and look at it.
SGW: Well, I guess if there are no magazines available, but a bust shot is
not much to go on.
GC: I am not sure I understand what you mean.
SGW: Let’s move on.
TO BE CONTINUED
Group Captain Sir Charles Richard Edmunds II DSO DSC
Conducted by
Steven G. Williams
SGW: Thank you so much for taking a moment to speak with me while
you are in Bangkok. Should I call you Group Captain or Sir Charles?
GC: Well, I was never much for fancy titles I don’t mind telling you.
Either one will do. I always fancied Group Captain. Captain of a group.
That is something.
SGW: Indeed. Are you retired now?
GC: Well, one doesn’t really retire from the service of the Queen, mind
you. I may not go to the base every day, but I am still quite occupied.
Always something to do. I still like to pop in to the officer’s mess on
Wednesdays. Bloody good corned beef.
SGW: How are you liking Bangkok?
GC: Well, I can tell you this: This heat is damned inconvenient. I’ve had
to strap a canteen back on me belt. Look like I am about to go chase
Rommel.
SGW: That canteen looks pretty old.
GC: It was issued to me on my first day in Her Majesty’s service I am
proud to say. See here, that is a knick I got in the Falklands. Bad
business that.
SGW: That’s what I heard. There are a lot of Englishmen here in
Bangkok. Have you had a chance to get to know some of them?
GC: Look a bit soft, don’t they? All that beer drinking. I don’t mind a
pint or three on a Sunday after I have taken care of the garden but
these lads have a cot at the bar. A man needs to be clear.
SGW: Well, it looks like the bars have started closing early now. They
passed a new law.
GC: Not a bad idea. Get these lads back home to their missus. My dear
old father, rest his soul, was home every night at 6:30 and not a minute
past. My own mum called the local precinct at 6:35 one night when he
missed the mark. It was raining cats and dogs and the trains had shut
down. But he made it up the next night. Arrived at 6:25 he did. That
was my old Dad.
SGW: Stability is important. How do feel about all these British here who
have taken up with Thai ladies?
GC: Well it makes sense, really. Course there is nothing better than a
real English girl, but a man gets lonely this far from home. As I
understand it, the King here is a right old gentleman. We have our
Queen and they have their King. A country without Royalty is missing
something.
SGW: Like America?
GC: Well now, the colonies are a bit on the shoddy side these days. I
am not a political chap as it is unbefitting a military man, but these are
the days when they could use a return to British core values.
SGW: I couldn’t agree more. I also think these girls are so beautiful here,
it is hard to keep your hand out of the cookie jar.
GC: Well, 35 years in Her Majesty’s service and I know a thing or two
about men and women I can tell you. Many has been the night on
patrol when the company of woman was all I could think about. That
is why I keep a picture of the Queen with me. Whenever I feel, well, as
a man does from time to time, I just take out that picture and look at it.
SGW: Well, I guess if there are no magazines available, but a bust shot is
not much to go on.
GC: I am not sure I understand what you mean.
SGW: Let’s move on.
TO BE CONTINUED