Brian Hanrahan (1949–2010)

his book probably is more of a trip down memory lane for me than it is a rivetting read. I was 10 during the Falklands war and growing up 10 miles from Portsmouth, it was the first time I could remember a news event that had a direct impact on my life. My friends' fathers were in the navy, or the dockyard. I can remember listenting to the news on the radio and TV to hear anything about any of the ships they were associated with. The title is taken from one of those broadcasts and still sends a shiver down my spine. It is such a natural reaction, to count the planes as they leave, and then count them as they return and is such a simple phrase, totally reassuring somehow.… (mere)