About Us
The Team
Major Paul Blair DSO
Team Role: Officer Commanding
Paul was born in 1971 in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. He joined 4 PARA in 1990, the Parachute Regiment’s Territorial Army Battalion whilst at University in London. After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst he was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1995 and has since served with all three regular battalions. He has seen operational service in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Sierra Leone and was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for commanding C Company 3 PARA in Afghanistan in 2006. Paul assumed command of The Red Devils in June 2008 and has 800 jumps.
His interests include skiing, snowboarding, weight training, martial arts and motorcycling
WO2 Chris McKenna
Team Role: Team Sergeant Major
Chris is from Salford, Manchester and joined the Parachute Regiment in 1989. He was posted to 1 PARA in 1990 and has served on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and more recently Afghanistan. Chris has also taken part in overseas exercises in Belize, the USA, the Oman, Jordan, Kenya and most of Europe. He was posted to the Red Devils in July 09.
In his spare time Chris enjoys going to the gym.
Sergeant Jay Webster
Team Role: Team Leader
Jay was born in Oxford in 1970 and joined the Parachute Regiment in 1991. After completing training he was posted to 1 PARA. Since then Jay has seen active service in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq. He has also been posted to the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick training recruits for the Parachute Regiment, both as a Section Commander in 1991 and more recently as a Platoon Sergeant. Jay started skydiving in 1995 and joined the team in February 2005. Jay now has over 2000 jumps and is one of the teams tandem instructors and an AFF instructor.
His hobbies include climbing, mountain biking and surfing.
Sergeant Michael 'Billy' Blanchard
Team Role: Display Jumpmaster/Deputy Team Leader
Michael 'Billy' Blanchard was born in Manchester in 1973. He joined the Junior Parachute Company at Pirbright in January 1990 aged 16. After passing basic training he joined C Company 3 PARA in February 1991. Whilst in 3 PARA he has served on tours in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Iraq and has trained in most European countries. He did his first freefall jump in 1995 and passed Red Devils selection in October 2000, joining the team in 2001. Since then he has completed over 2000 jumps and is a qualified tandem, static line and Accelerated Free Fall instructor as well as being a canopy handling and formation skydiving coach. Billy regularly works out in the gym - but does not like it!
Lance Corporal Steve Candlish
Team Role: Cameraman
Steve was born in Kilmarnock and is from Brodick, Isle of Arran. Steve joined the Army in 1997 and served with B Company 2 PARA before joining the Red Devils in 2000. During his service Steve has visited Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, South Africa, America and Germany. With over 2000 jumps his main interest is filming and photographing Canopy Formations. He picked up a special recognition award for filming the Archbishop of York, and has both Gold and Bronze medals for skydiving competitions. Steve is also an AFF and tandem instructor.
His other interests include Brodick Football Club, golf, skiing and motorcycling.
Lance Corporal Nath Connolly
Team Role: Contracts co-ordinator
Nathan was born in Rossendale, Lancs. He has served in 1 PARA for just over 6 years during which time he has deployed to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and Iraq. Nathan has also been on various overseas exercises including South Africa, USA, Kenya and Corsica. He is of the team's tandem instructors and is an experienced canopy formation jumper being a stack pilot on displays.
When he's not skydiving Nathan enjoys boxing, mountain biking, swimming and snowboarding
Lance Corporal Dom Hines
Team Role: Chief Rigger
Dom was born in Bradford in 1969. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 1995 and went to 3 PARA where he spent 3 years as a rifleman in B Company. Dom then joined Recce Platoon and spent 6 years as a Gunnery Signaller and later became a Commander. Dom has served in Norway, Canada, Belize, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, The Falkland Islands and Iraq. Dom joined the Red Devils in October 2003 and has over 800 jumps and is one of the teams riggers. He enjoys travelling, motor cross, boxing, snowboarding and scuba diving.
Corporal Wayne Shorthouse
Team Role: Logistics
Wayne originally from Plymouth joined the Army in 2001 at the age of 19. After parachute training he joined 3 PARA in 2002 and has since deployed to Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has also conducted overseas exercises in Italy and the Oman. Since undertaking team training in October 2008 Wayne is responsible for the team's logistics and is looking forward to improving his freefalling skills over the coming years. Wayne also enjoys surfing, travelling and water sports (and trying to get big in the gym)!
Corporal Daz Smith
Team Role: Cameraman
Daz 'Smudge' Smith joined the Red Devils in April 2006. He started his Army career in 2 PARA where he was a Section Commander in B Company. A very experienced soldier, Daz has served on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq. The majority of his time is now spent filming the team in action be that taking tandem passengers enjoying their first skydive or the team jumping into a major sporting, social or military event. Daz has over 800 jumps.
His hobbies include motor sports and travelling.
Corporal Dave Wall
Team Role: Display Co-ordinator
Dave was borne in Munster in Germany in 1983 and moved to Bournemouth when he was six years old. He joined 1 PARA in 1999 and since then has served in both A and B Company before joining the sniper platoon in 2005. Dave has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland as well as overseas exercises in Kenya, Oman, Germany and Corsica. He joined the Red Devils in 2008 and looks forward to his time on the team, Dave enjoys surfing, live music and running.
Lance Corporal Ian Cain
Team Role: Aircraft Co-Ordinator
Ian was born in 1979 on the Wirral, he joined the Parachute Regiment in 2003 and after completing training was posted to C Company 3 PARA. He served with C Company until joining the team and has completed tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as overseas exercises in the Oman and Belize. Ian’s role on the team is aircraft coordinator, he is responsible for booking both rotary and fixed wing aircraft for all of our displays. His hobbies include travelling and swimming.
Lance Corporal Chris Davison
Team Role: Tandem co-ordinator
Chris from Newcastle joined the army in 2002 and after passing Parachute Regiment training he was posted to 1 PARA. Chris has served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He passed Red Devils selection in 2007 and joined the team in May 2008 and has over 600 jumps with the team . Chris has won gold and bronze in 4-way freefall competitions, and is looking foward to his time on the team.
His other interests include motorcross, scuba diving and Skiing.
Lance Corporal Ross Foster
Team role: Cameraman
Ross 'Fozzy' Foster from Hereford attended St. Mary's High School before joining the Army in 2003. After completing Parachute Regiment training Ross was posted to the 1 PARA, where he was deployed on operational tours including N. Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ross completed team selection in October 2007 and joined the team 2008. His interests are rugby and socialising with friends.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Graham
Team Role: Tandem co-ordinator
Jimmy joined the Army in 1999. After passing Parachute Regiment training Jimmy was posted to 1 PARA. Over the next four years Jimmy served on operations with the battalion in Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and Iraq before moving to the Regimental Recruiting Team. Upon his return to 1 PARA Jimmy completed a tour of Afghanistan before finishing his move to the Red Devils.
His other interests include; Skiing, DJ-ing, writing and spending time with his daughter-Isabella.
Lance Corporal Danny Kelly
Team Role: Public Relations
Danny from Hull, is 23 and joined the army straight from school in 2001 and was posted to B Company 3 PARA. Since being in the battalion Danny has been on many overseas exercises including Kenya, America, Italy and the Oman. Danny has also served on operations in Northern Ireland and more recently Afghanistan in 2006. He's looking forward to busy but great years on the team.
Lance Corporal Andy Naude
Team Role: Projects / R&D
Andy was born in Salisbury in the former Rhodesia in 1978, he joined the Parachute Regiment in 1999 and was posted to 3 PARA. He has deployed on operations to Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Andy spent 4 years in C Company and in Afghanistan in 2008 served with the machine gun platoon. He is a static line, tandem and accelerated free fall (AFF) instructor and has over 2500 jumps. Andy is an avid rugby supporter and also a keen traveller but his greatest passion is for Punk Rock.
Lance Corporal Jimmy Peace
Team Role: Recruiting
Born in Nuneaton in 1979, Jimmy joined the Parachute Regiment in 2003 and after finishing training was posted to the Regiment's third Battalion (3 PARA). He spent three years in A Company before serving a further year in with D Company's Provo Staff. During his time with 3 PARA, Jimmy has served on operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Outside of skydiving Jimmy enjoys going to the gym, snowboarding and windsurfing,
Lance Corporal Chris Sharman
Team Role: Rigger
Chris was born in Plymouth in 1983 and joined the army in 2000. He was posted to 2 PARA and has served in Macedonia, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Iraq and has also conducted adventure training in Belize, Kenya and France where he climbed Mount Blanc. Chris passed team selection in 2008 and was tasked with maintaining the team's parachute equipment as one of our two riggers. His hobbies include football, motorcycling and water sports.
Lance Corporal Phil Webley
Team Role: Display co-ordinator
Phil joined the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment in 2004 after finishing his basic training at Catterick and RAF Brize Norton. Phil has deployed to Northern Ireland and Iraq with a rifle company, before moving to 3 PARA Patrols platoon where he deployed more recently to Afghanistan. Phil has also taken part on overseas exercises including Canada and the Oman and was promoted to Lance Corporal shortly before coming to the team.
His interests include triathlon and snowboarding.
Lance Corporal John Woods
Team Role: Logistics
John originally from Aldershot joined the army in 2001 aged just 16 after finishing his GCSEs at Wavell school. He enjoyed his time at the Army Foundation Collage at Harrogate and from there joined 1 PARA where he helped cover the Fireman Strikes in 2002. In 2003 John deployed to Iraq. During his Army career John was a member of the boxing team where he won many bouts, he also saw active service in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan as well as deploying on overseas exercises in the Oman and Kenya. In his spare time John enjoys boxing, running, travelling and dabbles occasionally on a surf board.