After a long journey we joined another squad of panels already standing proud, linked together in straight lines in a place called Enfield, North London. This was to be my first mission and I was feeling rather excited. I was fortunate, as I found out later to be given the responsibility of forming a secondary security line, this being my first outing I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. For the first day we all stood there and held our positions looking out across the field whilst loads of activity was going on behind us.

It was on the evening of our third day when it happened, the outer fence line was approached by some people trying to gain entry to the show ground; fortunately the client had requested double couplers and anti-lifts for the outer perimeter fence. Owing to these additional measures and Fence Hire (Southern) Ltd’s standard bracing every fifth panel, the line held secure. It was just then out of the blue for no apparent reason two of the people turned into hooligans and jumped at a couple of my buddies causing severe injuries. I was totally shocked by this unprovoked attack which took place right in front of me, it was completely pointless and made no sense until an experienced panel explained what some people are capable of doing. I am pleased to report there were no further incidents over the next few days.

My first tour of duty was coming to an end I could see we were all be lifted carefully into a stillage by the Fence Hire (Southern) Ltd staff using safety gloves, being placed face upwards and lying flat was a huge relief after standing firm for over six days. With some excitement and anticipation for the next mission the lorries headed off in convoy to the M25 motorway, next destination Bigginhill Airport.

Whilst I was in Bigginghill Airport other battalions of panels were returning from places like Chelsea, Guildford, Clapham and even Bobby Barrier and his mates were returning from Heathfield, West Sussex. Ever since that first week I’ve been all over the south of England and seen some wonderful places, Hampton Court, Blenheim Palace, Hyde Park, Bath and Rochester Castle just to mention a few. I was even posted to Birmingham late June and ended up staying for over seven weeks because of the lousy weather we all endured last summer, this was to give newly seeded grass a chance to establish.

I’d heard on the grapevine there was loads of us moving around the south of England, but I suppose I didn’t really register how many until late September when we all started to congregate back at base, I’d been here a few times during the summer but not for very long. Over three thousand of us were being checked and separated into various categories. I was put aside for next year as I was new to the organisation and I’d been able to hold myself together. Some panels were set aside for repair with lots of others; this was when I realised just how lucky I’d been. The older boys were heading of for a life in construction or being sold on, no doubt this will happen to me in the future, but it’s still better than being written off by a fork lift.

Well here I am getting settled for the winter when I was told not to get too comfortable as I was going out again shortly to Regents Park and then secure the Great South Run followed by various Firework venues.

That’s all from me, I hope you enjoyed my experiences, I know I did.

Love to All

Peter Panel