SAS Selection Madness Begins | Real British Army Life, TA Training & Rugby Banter | The Parallel Four

Send us a text The Parallel Four Book Two Chapter Twenty Five What happens when two ex-Royal Marines walk into a rugby club, sink a few pints, and decide joining the TA SAS sounds like a cracking idea? Chapter Twenty-Five of The Parallel Four dives head-first into the madness of SAS selection — from the frosty mornings at Duke of York’s HQ to the brutal fitness tests, map-reading trials, and those infamous Brecon Beacons hills that break more egos than boots. Told with Tim Heale’s trademark humour and authenticity, this episode captures real British Army life in the 1980s — the camaraderie, the competition, and the chaos that comes with chasing the beige beret. You’ll laugh, wince, and maybe even smell the Deep Heat. Beyond the mud and mayhem, it’s a story about friendship, resilience, and the fine line between bravery and madness. Expect sharp wit, rugby banter, and a nod to those who served, trained, and somehow survived it all. 🎧 Keywords: SAS selection, TA SAS, Special Air Service, British Army stories, Cold War veterans, military humour, Royal Marines, rugby culture, 1980s army life, veteran podcast, The Parallel Four, Tim Heale Writing The Parallel Four has been a journey in itself—a walk through memories, dreams, and all the little moments that shape who we become. Some parts of this story are true. Some are truer than I’d care to admit. And some—well, let’s just say they’re inspired by what might’ve happened if life had taken a different turn. The characters you’ll meet in these pages—Stephen, Johan, Vinka, Marlin, Tim, and Petra—are fictional, but they live and breathe with the spirit of real people I’ve known, loved, and lost. Their world is stitched together from scraps of real places, actual events, and a few wild yarns that got better with each retelling down the pub. Poplar, Hitchin, and the snowy reaches of Sweden aren’t just backdrops—they’re characters in their own right. They’ve shaped this story as much as the people in it. And if you happen to recognise a place, a turn of phrase, or a certain kind of mischief from your own youth… well, consider that my nod to you. This first book takes us from scraped knees to stolen kisses, from playground politics to life’s first real goodbyes. It’s about growing up, making mistakes, and finding the people who’ll stand by you no matter what—even if they sometimes drive you round the bend. To those who remember the ‘50s and ‘60s—this one’s a memory jogger. To the younger lot—it’s a peek into a time when life moved slower, but feelings still ran just as fast. And finally, to Stephen, Johan, Vinka, Marlin, Tim, and Petra—six hearts bound by the wonder of first love. Not the fleeting kind that fades with time, but the rare and lasting kind that deepens, steadies, and endures—a love that grows with them, becoming part of who they are, and who they will always be. And though this is only the beginning, the road ahead will test them in ways they cannot yet imagine—through training, through battle, and through the choices that will shape the rest of their lives. Support the show