On the final morning of the project I had a chance to have a short time looking at the City before leaving for the airport. I chose to walk with Paul Bradley to the Reichstag/Bundestag and the Brandenberg Gate. The last time I had been in West Berlin this was not a walk that was available due to " physical obstacles"
This time the area around the parliament and the Brandenberg gate were thronged with tourists. It was a strange experience standing near the area where the wall had been and looking back down 17 Juni Str where 32 years before we had marched on the Allied Forces Day Parade.
Many other memories flooded back of those 2 years spent in the walled City. There was all the usual thoughts about the work we did including military training. Grunewald exercises and all the duties including Spandau guard and the Military Train but most of all I thought about what an outstanding Battalion we were and how for me, this was the time, due to circumstances allowing it, we were the best we could be in fitness, professionalism, sport and most importantly camaraderie. Add to that the whole social side of life at that time and it certainly was a special couple of years which looking back felt like living history.
Fast forward 32 years to the modern day. Here we have a modern growing city with amazing open spaces but as always spotlessly clean. There is building going on everywhere and beautiful waterways lined with bars and restaurants. The old S Bahn that we rarely used has trains rattling along constantly and with all of its new government buildings the city really does feel like the heart of Europe. I don't begrudge Berlin this because London feels like the heart of the world.
As a city changes so do the people who live or who have lived there. 32 years is a long time. In that time I've had seven different jobs, I have married, had two children and now two grandchildren. I still have much to learn and much to achieve. I am fortunate in that I am part of Momentum World, a company that works with young people to offer better life chances. This gives great motivation and energy and also emphasises the importance of lifelong learning.
So my visit to Berlin has taught me to pay respect to the past but not to live in it. It has reinforced my belief that in order to progress you have to look forward. It has spurred me on yet again to do more work with the energising force that is young people.
In the words of Schwarzenegger "I'll be back"
