From ballet to Basra (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

From ballet to Basra

THE dream and the reality could not be any different. As a boy Rob Brandon dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer, but as a man he is serving on the front line in war-torn Basra in southern Iraq.

Nineteen-year-old Rob, of Burford Avenue, Old Walcot, began ballet lessons when he was aged three and soon realised he had a natural talent on stage.

He joined Molly Tanner's School of Dance and dedicated hours each week to improving and teachers said he had potential.

But five years ago he was knocked off his bike by a lorry in Victoria Road, Old Town, and broke his knee, an injury which forced him to abandon any dreams of having a career on stage.

"It was terrible, I was so gutted," said Rob, a former Commonweal School pupil.

"I enjoyed dancing so much, but the knee injury knocked me for six.

"I suddenly had so much spare time because I wasn't dancing any more that I just didn't know what to do with myself.

"My grandfather had been in the Forces and suggested I might like the Army, but I wasn't really sure about joining the regulars so didn't give it much more thought.

"Then I went along to a recruitment evening at the Swindon Territorial Army centre and thought it seemed like an adventure so I joined up."

That was three years ago and, after doing well in recruit training, Rob found himself enjoying life as a soldier almost as much as he had as a dancer.

"It's a very different kind of buzz," said Rob, who is a TA soldier with the Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire (RGBW) Light Infantry regiment.

"Obviously, being out on the ground in Basra is completely different to performing on stage in front of hundreds of people.

"They are two very different passions of mine, but I enjoy them both the same.

"Not many of the lads out here know about my days as a ballet dancer so I don't get that much stick. All the banter is good-natured and friendly anyway as we're a team and work to keep spirits and morale high."

Rob and the troops in Basra have found themselves under intense pressure in recent weeks as Basra, formerly a relative safe haven compared to Baghdad, has come under increasing attack.

Car bombs and roadside explosions are becoming more frequent.

"There's no denying this has been a tough tour of duty," said Rob, a rifleman.

"The toughest part of all has been being away from home for so long. I'm one of the youngest out here and had never really spent that much time away from home before."

He says his parents Julie and Malcolm, twin brother Michael, younger brother Stephen and sister Clare-Louise are always pleased to hear from him and are counting down the days until he returns home to Swindon.

He hopes to take up his place at university in Bristol to study for a HND in technical theatre upon his return.