THE PARAS - FRANK HILTON IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Paras was a 1983 BBC TV documentary series about British Parachute Regiment recruits of 480 (Training) Platoon undertaking their basic training between January and June 1982.The series was broadcast on BBC1 in November and December 1983. It was later repeated in 1984, with an update on the platoon members' lives in the last episode.Written and presented by Glyn Worsnip, it was shot in the fly-on-the-wall style, giving the viewing public a unique insight to military life. Making of the programme started just prior to the Falklands War.The series was accompanied by a book of the same name written by the principal researcher Frank Hilton.Some of those recruits passing out in 1982 went on to have long and distinguished careers including Dean Ward and Rod Stoner. In addition one of the platoon staff corporals, Al Slater was later killed in Northern Ireland whilst a member of the SAS.