Room Boys were an integral part of nearly every Airmen’s and Officers daily life on Gan.  These Maldivian lads were usually aged between 8 and 13 years old and would work for an airman or officer for the government agreed wage (in 1960) of 1 shilling and six pence per week.  For this, your room boy would do all your washing, clean your shoes and make your bed each day.  At the appropriate time he would exchange sheets at the Bedding Store and keep your billet space clean and tidy.  Their wage now seems very small to us but in the 60’s it represented a small fortune to them.  They would often be “Room Boy” for a number of RAF personnel and further supplement their wages by playing cards for money.