Episode #27 EX Para and Pathfinder Tom Blakey chats to TOPP about his eventful military career.

[@mattwestby1169]

Brilliant, I've listened to Tom on other podcasts and it's always been interesting. Nice bloke 🍻👍🫶

[@Jimimac73]

I've had the privilege to work with Tom acting as staff on a few of his 'First in Events' company, which he didn't cover on this podcast... Great fun as DS on the Fan Dance course and hunterforce for his bugout courses held often in mid Wales not far from Brecon and on the edge of the artillery ranges... He's the same bloke on and off camera and even after a few beers... like a stick of Blackpool rock, he's got Para PF running through his core... I think for guys such as Tom who leave the military but the military doesn't leave them, its a natural progression to get involved in operating and running a business teaching others the skills he's learnt and while symbiotically maintaining his own skill sets is the essence of a path finder...

[@grahamconquer8117]

I was a cadet in killie RA i wentg skiing ,became Scottish orienteering champion due to annual camp doing well ,

[@soli1234awd2]

Great to hear you speak about mental health from 50:25. Speaking about it can help people reach out to the right organisations / people, which will lead to positive impact and even save someone’s life. Maybe you could mention a link to a website etc. you’d recommend in your description box / end of your episodes? Thanks for this episode. Btw might be worth putting a PayPal link /Patreon option so people can donate more direct to you. I believe YT takes an amount from YT comment payments that go to you.

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Thanks for the feedback all taken onboard ❤️

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

I didn't understand the super thanks and donation before ....I've just googled it ....very much appreciated thank you means alot xxx❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@grahamconquer8117]

Great channel 👏i transferred from being a REME TECH to depo PARA i been to 1PARA in Dover loved it ,i was 98 and had Falklands vets ,lol i remember getting into battalion and got punched for not going out drinking , helles bks is a mile from the gym at vimmy so our 10milers were really twelve plus we got thrashed at the grass through the bridge lol

[@BradleyChipperpoint]

Which Platoon did you pass out with at Catterick, I was instructing up there in 97/99. 😂

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

​@@BradleyChipperpointyou on other social media pal ? ...I was in dept 97

[@jameswilkie754]

Brilliant to see this. Be cool to see you two do something on Tom’s channel. 🤞🏻

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Fingers crossed!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Great chatting mate! 👍

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Likewise ...don't watch the one I've just done with Trev coult...he bigs up your beard and I tell him I think it's just for men 😜

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@TheOldParatrooperpodcast ha ha, mega 🆎😂

[@redskyatnight123]

This is one of the things that I have found as a veteran, once you have left you find that alot of blokes have nothing in common with you . Because alot of the sapport network are sarntmagers or senior ncos . Who are in position s of charity. When alot of the bloke's who have left are privates or jnco,s

[@redskyatnight123]

We had a blue on blue on herrick 6

[@danielwithington3106]

Your connection is not great at a few points, apart from that ,great chat!

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

Cheers pal ...I filmed it a while back , and nearly didn't release it because of that. ...but I've upgraded audio equipment now so fingers crossed no more hitches ...joys of technology...👌🏻

[@danielwithington3106]

Yeah you'll never beat a face to face conversation

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

@@danielwithington3106 I agree but hopefully down the line I would love to have all the kit and equipment to have a small studio but it's still early days and I'm yet to make any revenue from it to be anywhere near that route ....but hopefully as it grows I can upgrade and move forward 💪🏻💪🏻

[@danielwithington3106]

Yeah hope you do! Are you in a loft there? Best to keep it over the Internet is it teams or zoom? I'm not very techy, my knowledge is limited. No good having ex paras up there in the loft with you, they'll keep stepping out the loft when a green light comes on😜😅

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

@@danielwithington3106 🤣🤣

[@lindahardy1678]

hi

[@Frogboxer]

lol...thumbnail photos of Tom in service always show him with massive grin....betting he's missing all that sh*t now. There's always Ukraine...or the RAF Regiment.

[@TheOldParatrooperpodcast]

😂

[@Jimimac73]

😝