My aim in writing this history is to look at the positive aspects of my life in the army, and believe me, there were many. For the great majority of time, life was fulfilling, and was certainly better than working in a factory, which would probably have been my lot had I not joined up.Where else could I have earned my living playing some wonderful music and travelling both here and abroad doing something that I grew to love? It's the army that I have to thank for teaching me to play the clarinet in the first place, and for the deep love that I have to this day of music. Now, fifty years later, I still get great pleasure from spending an hour trying to play some of the wonderful music written for the instrument over the centuries. And its to the army that owe my success in gaining two very good careers. So really, not much to complain about, is there?