22 years of service

"I spent a varied and enjoyable career over the period of 22 years serving at a multitude of locations across the globe.?This included 3 tours of service in the Falkland Islands during 1988, 1997 and 1999 and a tour of duty in Turkey in 2001 working with allied forces to assist with the air security of Northern Iraq.?Other countries in which I served during my career included Germany, Holland Belgium, Denmark, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Canada.

I had the privilege of being posted to various locations within the UK including Norfolk, Germany, Oxfordshire, Scotland, Rutland and finally Chester where we decided to make home.

My final 10 years of service was spent in support of UK and overseas Air Radar Support as part of 5001 Sqn.?This work entailed the repair and rectification of radar systems across the whole of the RAF theatre of operations. ?Leading teams of engineers to worldwide locations that required our support to replace a faulty radar system to enable continued Air Defence of the UK and overseas territories.

My final overseas tour of duty prior to retirement was working alongside our Lithuanian NATO colleagues on their entry into the NATO family, where we provide Radar Support to their airfields near to the borders of Russia.

I have this year been privileged to receive an invitation to attend the Remembrance Day parade in London, representing and remembering former colleagues as part of the 5001 Sqn Veteran society.

It is a particularly special invitation this year following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as our former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to honour her service along with fallen colleagues and to pay respects to the Armed Forces’ new Commander in Chief King Charles III."

Sergeant Nigel Hart Royal Air Force (Retired)

Service number L8219757

General Technician Ground Support Technician

22 years’ service - 10 oct 1983 to 09 Oct 2005