EDITOR'S CHOICE CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S WEATHER VOTE Should the RHCH outpatients’ department move to a new site in Chesil Street? Yes No

Most read Comments 1 Hampshire golfers get 'Ryder Cup' action 2 Winchester sports awards launched 3 Winchester can't escape bottom spot 4 Hampshire schools learning on-line 5 Residents pledge to fight mast plans 6 Leader's grim housing warning 7 Opal mine couple at city jewellers 8 Death of woman cinema pioneer 9 New opening hours at recycling centres 10 Bells ring out for first time in 50 years Today | 7 Days 1 Residents pledge to fight mast plans 2 MP seeks views on pharmacy shake-up 3 Lib Dems triumph 4 County faces £220,000 legal bill 5 End of an era for Sparkes DIY 6 Injury claims over broken pavements 7 Former Winchester headteacher dies

The Former Chief of General Staff, Sir Mike Jackson

Another large Festival audience packed into the Guildhall to hear the former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, talk about his autobiography "Soldier".

Winchester Festival's artistic director, John Miller, contrasted its plain title with its author, whose "ebullient and flamboyant behaviour" was noted by his superiors early on, and who attracted the nickname of "The Prince of Darkness" from his men later.

At which point in the introduction the former General raised a laugh with a characteristically gruff instruction: "Time to move on."

And move on they certainly did, tracing the course of Sir Mike's 45-year career, serving in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles, including the horrific Warrenpoint murders, in Bosnia, and in Kosovo where he had a famous run-in with the American Commander, General Wesley Clark. 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq were discussed at some length, with all their moral, legal, diplomatic and military implications.

These issues were promptly and perceptively picked up by the audience's questions at the end.

As one might expect for such a speaker, there were a significant number of military and ex-military personnel present in the hall, and one serving officer just back from Iraq raised the question of army morale today, drawing an interesting long view from the former General's perspective.

At the end he was asked about the current relationship between the military chiefs and their political masters, and he surprised everyone by calling for corroboration of his own constitutional view from a former Chief of the Defence Staff, Field Marshal Lord Vincent, who just happened to be sitting in the front row.

The views of both the former CDS and the former CGS received a rousing round of applause.

An evening of both historical and topical interest for all present.

By Mark Snowdon

10:58am Tuesday 15th July 2008

Print

Email this