Catering Staff from the Late 1960's

Photographs from Pete Thornburgh

Hello,  I admire the scope of your site.  I have a fragment of information for your consideration.  I was a pilot with the RAF and had completed two operational tours between '54 and '59, overseas postings both, with 87 Sqn at RAF Wahn and 151 Sqn at RAF Leuchars.  My next job was 12 months Admin at RAF Sharjah.  As the result of a football injury I was medevacuated to UK with a broken arm and considerable consequent nerve damage.  Eventually I was settled into a looooong period of rehabilitation at (Sound the Trumpets!) RAF Headley Court in Surrey.  In '60 the unit was an RAF-staffed hospital and rehab centre but dealt with members from all the services.  It is more than that now.  My treatment was prolonged but all the staff were dedicated, efficient and friendly, as well as being successful.  I returned to active service in '61 and flying duties in '63.  The Wikipedia site will give you more information.

Cheers, Peter Hart 

Frank Carrington

Hi there,
I thought you might be interested in this photo of the RAF Transport crews who flew the supplies into Gan from RAF Katunayake, Ceylon while the runway was being built.  My father, Flt Lt "Joe" Douglas is the one in the white flying suit and the plane is a Valetta. He was seconded there from RAF Changi, Singapore for 9 months from August 1958 to April 1959.

     

Regards

Diana Newson (Nee Douglas)

Don't know if the origination of the "Road Runner" on the tie is known to you?

Anyway, in 1969/70, one of the staging flights had a Flight Lieutenant called Peter Nutt (no guessing for his nick name- behind his back!!!). Peter went to Singapore on holiday and brought back a large number of plain white tee shirts. We then printed on them S  A (a road runner in picture form) S  F across the chest in large black print. I still have one of the original ones. Since then the Road Runner has been the emblem of we poor souls who served our YEAR on that island. 

A funny story followed the beginning of those tee shirts.  One night we had a load of sailors came to the island (not unusual, you say) but this time they actually landed and helped us to swallow a large quantity of booze. At the same time the SASF boys used a bar at the other end of the complex. One of the sailors was heard to complain that it was very crowded in the main bar and it was suggested to him that he would find it more comfortable at the boys bar, to which he replied. I'm not going there it is full of SAS blokes and they are hard nuts!!! 

I see that you have a picture of a football team showing all their trophies. In my time there weren't any trophies and the SNCO`s had a team which everyone nicknamed "Dad`s Army" but the still couldn't beat us.

I have a great deal of memories of this Island and most of them are very good ones. I was single at the time and single men were sent to Singapore for their holidays where the married ones were sent home to Blighty. My holiday is a story on its own.

I hope this is of use to you? You can contact me at the above e-mail address if you want to.

Herewith a couple of photos of RFA Wave Ruler being handed over to Gan. 1970. [Click on Photograph for larger image.]

Regards

David Gerrard

www.rfaaplymouth.org

I found this slide from my time on Hittadu between, I think, Aug 1959 and Aug 1960.   All I can remember is that a parade was ordered by a departing sergeant and this is what he got !!!

John Mowbray ex J/T