While working as a miner I joined the TA before making a decision to sign up for the regular army.   I joined 17th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment whose drill hall was stationed in Gateshead.   I did my initial training and in 1962 was sent off to RAF Abingdon for my parachute training . I spent two weeks there but due to weather only managed to get 4 jumps: two balloon and two from a Beverley. 

I was sent off again to Abingdon for one week to complete but again due to weather I only got two more jumps, this time from the Hastings. My final jump for my wings was a balloon jump at Catterick.  

I remember that while in the stick on a Beverley you held your own strop as you exited but on the Hastings you held the strop of your mate in front which posed a problem for me on my first Hastings jump as I was still gripped to my mate's strop when he went out with me quickly behind him . My canopy opened like a pair of 'chutes one small and one large. I landed without a problem but had to forward my 'chute  to the RAF,  who said that it was a blown periphery.

Editor's Note: Ernie's Uncle, George Middleton also served in the Parachute Regiment and was killed in action with the 13th Battalion during the Normandy landings in June 1944.