Being a Reservist Peacekeeper

Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (25) from Blackpool is an Army medic currently serving with the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission.

• Being a Reservist Peacekeeper – Going home 31 March, 2017 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (26) from Blackpool is currently serving with 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. As the sun sets and I sit reflecting on my previous six months here, Cyprus feels a lot more like a home from home compared to …
• Being a Reservist Peacekeeper – Part Eight 17 March, 2017 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (26) from Blackpool is currently serving with 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. Clinging to a rock face suspended 20 metres over the Mediterranean by the thinnest of climbing ropes and with my fingers pressed into any available …
• BEING A RESERVIST PEACEKEEPER: PART SEVEN 27 January, 2017 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (26) from Blackpool is currently serving with 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. With the merriment and celebration of New Year well and truly over, it’s back to normal duties and training in the Mobile Force Reserve. Routine, it’s …
• BEING A RESERVIST PEACEKEEPER: PART SIX 10 January, 2017 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (26) from Blackpool is an Army medic currently serving with the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. 2017: Like everyone else I want this year to be great. Full of opportunity and achievement.  Better than all the years …
• BEING A RESERVIST PEACEKEEPER: PART FIVE 24 December, 2016 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (25) from Blackpool is an Army medic currently serving with the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. Christmas is fast approaching here at the United Nations Protected Area in Cyprus. Spontaneous outbreaks of Christmas sing-a-longs and jingles that …
• BEING A RESERVIST PEACEKEEPER: PART FOUR 17 December, 2016 - Army Reservist Private Belinda Houghton (25) from Blackpool is an Army medic currently serving with the 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as part of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) mission. Oh my goodness, time has really flown by. It is hard to believe that I have been here almost two months …
• Being a Reservist Peacekeeper: Part Three 23 November, 2016 - The dark nights are drawing in even here in Cyprus which means the summer is truly over and Christmas is looming. The Christmas songs play in the shops, Santa hats are appearing at our frequent BBQs and in truth I have started to buy my family’s presents already. However, before all that merriment is Remembrance Sunday, …
• Being a Reservist Peacekeeper: Part Two 16 November, 2016 - A month into our operational tour of Cyprus and we are all settling in nicely here on Blue Beret Camp. Originally named after the famous light blue colour of the United Nations head-dress, we really couldn’t ask for a much better place to live. Perched on high ground in the vicinity of the old Nicosia International Airport, …
• Being a Reservist Peacekeeper 26 October, 2016 - Leaving my family in Blackpool and my nurse training in Lancaster behind as I started my journey to Cyprus was difficult, but I was also filled with a lot of excitement. This is my first operational tour with the Army Reserve but it is exactly the type of stuff I joined to do. I only …