David Beckham in Afghanistan
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Yes, we all know he's been there, but here is an extract from an e-mail from a friend who has just gone out there:
"...followed by another pair of hours on the ground in the Middle East before moving onto a C-17 and flying direct into Camp Bastion – again in the dead of night. All pretty swept up and well organised…and despite the lateness of the hour when we popped out of the system at Bastion we were delighted to be met by a number of smiling faces (our predecessors!), who were only too pleased to visually sight us!
A somewhat surreal addition to the above – David Beckham was on the same flight out to theatre; it had been a well-kept secret that he was coming out to spent the weekend meeting the boys and girls and so his arrival in the departure lounge at 0330 was greeted with a stir of interest, followed by a rapid queue as folk lined up for photos, autographs, or as in the case of one young aircraftsman, a wordless hug akin to hero worship. This was a scene that endured throughout the flights, holdovers and subsequent 2-day visit around the units in Bastion – Beckham went everywhere, forgoing meals and enduring long days to meet and talk to as many folk as he could. As I was finding my way around Bastion I bumped into him 4 times – shows how much he got around, and his patience and stamina, in temperatures in excess of 43 degrees Celsius and frequent choking dust storms, was just brilliant. Likewise his humility in interacting with the troops – from holding doors to let others pass, giving up his chair so others could sit, and taking time to talk to each person he met. Quite remarkable given his fame and lifestyle, and massively well received out here".
Labels: arms and the man, gossip
