Gentlemen

I've just recieved word that our Modern Combatives Group patriarch, Monty Hughes, passed away last night at 3.00am.

Monty was the person that first introduced me to the world of WW2 based combatives and more specifically the instinctive shooting method that he learned during his wartime service.  A prolific firearms exponent and boxer all his life, he was the spirit of good health and that "bulldog" determination that epitomises that generation.

Unlike certain combatives groups pseudo-patriarchs, Monty was the real deal.  He'd been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.  During his wartime and post wartime military service he'd fought hard in very, very hard places.

An Airborne forces trooper for most of the War, he 'd "gone in" by Glider on D-day.....only to have it veer of course and have to fight his way back to his main party of comrades.  He also saw action in Palestine and in the CBI theatre of operations.  He was a genuine tough guy.

When I started training and researching combatives and pistol shooting, it was Monty that gave me the "heads up" about what worked and what didn't.

One of my proudest moments was when he accepted the position of Patriarch for our little MCG training organisation.

In later years his health had deteriorated, but we often used to have a catch-up.  Me about what we'd been up to training day/security project-wise, and him about his wartime service.

He was a great friend to both myself, and the overall running and support of the MCG.

He was gone to the clearing at the end of the path....and will be sadly missed. He was 94.