1958 - 1961
R.A.F. Halton
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May 1958 - RAF Halton, 3 Wing, 89th Entry
John TURNER - Second Row, Third from Left
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When I left school, I really had no idea what I was going to do, never having thought about a career whilst at school because I intended to get my ‘A’ level GCEs and then make a decision. Pop suggested that I might like to join the RAF as an apprentice; this would give me a decent training and a job at the same time. Having thought about this, I decided to find out more from the recruiting office in Bradford. Because I was 17 at the time and the limit on age for an apprenticeship was 17½, the recruiting office advice was that I wait until September and then join straight into adult service. To me this seemed like sensible advice but Pop was furious and wrote to the Recruiting Department at the Air Ministry. The result of that letter was that I was given an appointment for an interview at RAF Halton almost immediately. With respect to that interview I was lucky that I had my four GCEs, especially Maths, English and a Science subject. This meant that I did not have to do a further entrance examination. I was also found medically fit despite having some trouble with the colour blindness test. The ultimate result was that I was accepted into the 89th Entry on 13th May 1958. I am not quite sure how it happened but I became an Electrical Fitter (Air) (EFA); the selection process for trades remains a bit of a blur, but Pop had said to me that I should avoid the Armament trade. This was outdated advice, based on his own experiences concerning promotion. As it happens, I probably ended up in the right trade, if only because my skill at making things from metal turned out to be, at best, mediocre. On the other hand, I did become very good at soldering.
I travelled to Halton by train, via London, Kings Cross and Marylebone, to Wendover, where we were met and transported to Halton in 3 ton trucks. At Marylebone I met Bill TROTTER, who turned out to be the person with the Service Number 684376, which is the one before me. He also happened to be an electrician and we were in the same squadron for some time. Later on he was ‘recoursed’ to the 90th Entry.
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| RAF Blanket Pack |
Life at Halton was reasonably easy for most of us although we had boys, bearing in mind that the youngest would have been only 15, for whom it was a terrible shock; some of those did not stay longer than the first few weeks. I guess that being shouted at, marching, running and polishing floors and equipment didn’t suit everyone. Once over the initial training period we started at the Workshops and School and things became a little easier. We also moved accommodation so that we were in shared rooms with the Senior Entry at one end and us nearest the door. This system was eventually stopped and each Entry moved into its own dedicated Barrack Blocks. In those first few weeks we were inspected almost daily and needed to have a smart ‘blanket pack’, as shown in the photo. We soon learned that the mug with which we were issued wasn’t meant to be used. The inspecting NCO would take great delight in inspecting mugs and then ‘accidentally’ dropping them if he considered that they were not immaculate; they broke quite easily! We bought plastic ones from the NAAFI. This brings to mind that we used to have to carry our mug and ‘irons’ with us when we went for meals.
Our accommodation was brick-built on three floors, two rooms on each level, with central heating and compared to some other service accommodation, we were very well off. My accommodation Blocks were:
3 Wing Initial Training Flight (ITF): Block 3 Room 1
3 Wing, Block 2, Room 4.
2 Wing, Block 7, Room 1.
2 Wing, Block 8, Room 4.
In the photograph at the beginning of the chapter, which includes all members of the 89th Entry in 3 Wing, I am in the second row from the front, 3rd from left as viewed.
Our daily routine was to form up and march to and from either the workshops, school or airfield as appropriate. The latter job was eventually taken over by double decker buses, which we used to do our best to tip over by all congregating on one side of the upper deck when the bus was turning on the airfield. Goodness only knows how many injuries would have occurred if one had tipped over; it just goes to show how stupid we were as youngsters, believing ourselves to be invincible. Lunchtime was always a little hurried, especially if you were at the back of the queue. Perhaps that is one reason why I still eat so quickly, much to Maria’s disgust. I think that the food was plentiful but of variable quality, however we certainly didn’t starve and we always had the NAAFI as a back-up. Nelson squares would fill anyone!
Wednesday afternoon was a sports afternoon when we had the opportunity to pick our favourite and set off to the splendid sports facilities and play for as long as we liked. There were plenty of non-sporting lads who found that certain sports were better than others for spending as little time as possible running around. These lads spent much of the afternoon indulging in Egyptian PT, in other words, horizontal on their beds! Of course, being a hockey player, I wanted to play for as long as possible and, as soon as I became known, I won my School Colours and played for the Apprentice School team for three years including being captain in my final year. During my second year, and now 18, I was asked to play for the Station team, although my priority lay with the School team and in my final year I got the call to play for Technical Training Command, which was fairly unusual. There is a story attached to my first appearance for the Command so, although it is chronologically in the incorrect timescale, I might as well tell it now. When I was asked to play my first game, it was to be on a Sunday, the day after the School team were due to play Bedford. Because of the risk of injury, I decided not to play for the School team, but decided to go along to support them. We lost 2-0 but that was not bad really; maybe I would have made a difference, who knows? That day coincided with the 18th birthday of one of the team and the two of us decided to stop off in Aylesbury on the way back from Bedford so that we could celebrate. I should point out here that, although both of us were legally old enough to drink, Halton Apprentices were not allowed alcohol unless they were away from camp on leave. As can be imagined, it didn’t stop most of us. Anyway, after a few drinks we made our way back to Halton where we had to ‘book in’ at the guardroom. I managed OK but shortly after my mate went in, a policeman came out and indicated that I should go back again. When asked if I had been drinking I, being the world’s worst liar, said that I had. The upshot was that the pair of us spent a night in the cells (not locked), so that we could sober up. We did have a cat for company. The following morning, we were allowed out, which was fortunate for me because I needed to get ready for my hockey match. I went off to play my first Command match, which we won 6-2, with me scoring four goals. That was the start of a long career in Command Hockey, with me playing my last game at Command level in 1979. On the Monday, both of us were up in front of the Squadron Commander who took no further action other than to tell us that, as we were both Leading Apprentices, we were not setting a good example.
Two of the ‘delights’ of Halton were the NAAFI and the Astra cinema. In the early days, the NAAFI could be either a good place to socialise or the wrong place to be if the Senior Entry decided that they would have ‘fun’ with the Junior Entry. I have heard tales of peanut pushing races along the floor, with the peanut being pushed using the poor victim’s nose. Fortunately I was never to suffer any of that type of indignity. These days, that would be bullying; come to think of it, it was in those days as well. The cinema was well used for a couple of reasons; it was cheap and it was available. The junior entries were not allowed off camp except for leave so the cinema was one of the only places of entertainment. Each Entry adopted a theme song and the 84th Entry decided on the theme from the film ‘The Vikings’ starring Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas. When the film was shown at the Astra at Halton, no-one other than the 84th Entry could get anywhere near the place until they were all in. I recollect that the 84th, as a September Entry was large, over 300 perhaps. Contrast that with the 89th which numbered around 150.
Travelling to and from Halton was an interesting proposition. Whenever I went on leave, I seemed to always have a case and a bag, and when I acquired a Grundig Tape Recorder, that went with me as well. The problem of getting through London with this lot was a nightmare, especially if it was anytime close to the rush hour. Arriving back at Wendover was also chaotic with boys jumping out of the train whilst it was still moving so that they could race up and across the bridge to get the first taxis. One leave period I had got as far as Wakefield, when, unusually, I had to change trains to get, first to Leeds then Bradford. I found myself in a compartment with a man who was probably about 40. There wasn’t much conversation but he suddenly said “If there’s anything better than pulling your own, it’s pulling someone else’s”. This came as somewhat of a shock to me and I thought that it might be a good idea to move compartments. I then realised that this was a non-corridor train and it didn’t stop until we reached Leeds! There was no further conversation and no movement on his part, so we travelled in silence to Leeds when I got off as quickly as possible.
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| 1958 Paddy CONNOLLY & Me |
One October, probably 1959, I went to Dublin, Ireland, at the invitation of Paddy CONNOLLY who was in the same room as me and from the 87th Entry. His father was an Air Traffic Controller. My memories are mainly of the journey there and the trouble I had with Customs on the way back. I sailed from Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire and it was quite an experience for someone whose only experience of sea travel was a Cross Channel Ferry to Belgium. The Irish Sea was somewhat different to the English Channel! Outside on deck I seemed to be looking up at the tops of the waves and it was cold and very windy; however this turned out to be preferable to being inside in the very warm atmosphere with loads of Irishmen drinking copious quantities of Guinness. I wasn’t actually sick but didn’t feel particularly well. The return journey was much easier but this was the first time that I had encountered Customs and must have come across as suspicious because I was thoroughly searched. There was nothing to be found and they finally let me back into the country.
When we started to get 36 hour passes, we would explore the delights of London, staying at the Union Jack Club at Waterloo. In those days, the Union Jack Club single accommodation was in dormitories and was pretty basic, however it served its purpose admirably. I suppose that we lads wanted to have a drink and Soho seemed the ideal place to visit, although I have no idea where we went. The name ‘Captain’s Cabin’ comes to mind but that is in Piccadilly.
I continued to learn how to dance once we were allowed off camp, and went to lessons in Wendover to the Court School of Dancing. The teacher was a lady with a well formed chest and I learned the Waltz and Quickstep. One day I borrowed a jacket from someone, possibly Bill TROTTER, to go to my lesson. I tucked a 10/- (50 pence) note in the top pocket and when it came time to pay, I pulled the note out and along with it came a condom, much to my embarrassment.
One of the best things to do in the early days at Halton was cycling. Apprentices were not allowed out of camp in civilian clothes except on a cycle so my bike made its way to Halton and I spent many days out riding around the area. Oxford was a favourite destination as it was about 30 miles each way and a good flat ride. One day I went to visit the ENDACOTT family, who we, as a family, met in 1956 at Winchelsea. They lived around the Harrow/Wealdstone area of London, which was about 30 miles away. By the time I left there, it was getting dark and it was then that I discovered that my front light didn’t work, resulting in a very tricky ride home, walking some of the way to make sure that no passing policeman collared me.
When I joined the RAF, the medical confirmed that I had a hydrocele on my left testicle and I was told that I needed to have it removed. I think that it was in the first week of the Summer holiday in 1959 that I had the operation in Princess Mary’s Hospital at Halton. Although it took a week out of my leave, I didn’t lose any of my training time.
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| 1960 Me on Norfolk Broads |
At Easter in 1960, I spent part of my leave on the Norfolk Broads with Peter THORPE and Tony OLDFIELD from the 89th Entry and Dai NICHOLAS from the 91st. We hired a four berth cruiser named ‘Five of Hearts’ and spent an enjoyable time floating around, having fun learning how to reverse park and avoid yachts, which, of course, had the ‘right of way’ if under sail.
Later, in the summer of 1960, we were sent on ‘Summer Camp’ to Penhale Camp, Holywell Bay in Cornwall. This was designed to develop our survival skills and included living under canvas, map reading and defence and attack skills in both day and night. We were also involved in abseiling and raft making, the latter having some very comical results. I believe that most of us found it enjoyable to be out and about doing something a little different. There was also time to visit Newquay, which was the local hotspot at the time. On one exercise, in groups of about six, we had to navigate our way out onto Bodmin Moor and build a shelter to spend the night in. Fortunately we did not have to find our own food, because a truck duly arrived with urns of stew that tasted absolutely delicious to a bunch of hungry lads. On another occasion we were split into defensive and attack groups and given the ‘Lost Church’ of St. Piran to defend or attack. No weapons were involved, it was just a case of making sure we could not be seen by the other team. What a joke; I was attacking and did get through to the church but only because I could run faster than the defenders. Despite our best efforts, they had watched us crawling along behind dunes for hours! There was also a night exercise where I was once again attacking but this time I got caught when I inadvertently set off flares. As I write this, Penhale Camp still exists although I believe that it has been sold for development. St. Piran’s Church disappeared back into the dunes but there are ongoing projects designed to preserve it. It dates back to between the 6th and 10th centuries.
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| 1961 Bill HEWSON & Me |
During my time at Halton, I had a pal named Bill HEWSON, who, early in 1961, married Mary GAHAN in Aylesbury. He asked me to be his Best Man and I duly acted in that role for the first time in my life. They were married at St. Joseph’s Church in the heart of Aylesbury and I don’t remember a lot about the day except that I somehow did not organise myself with a lift from the church to the reception. Fortunately, there was a back alley from the church and I arrived at the reception nearly as quickly as everyone else. Mary was expecting when they married; sadly she was to lose that baby, but did go on to have a son in 1962.
In my final year at Halton, I found that I had enough money and ambition to learn how to drive and started taking lessons at 17/6d (87½ pence) an hour. The car was a Triumph Herald, which had one of the smallest turning circles of any car. It was generally believed that this turning ability on the driving school car had been restricted mechanically so that it didn’t make the ‘3 point turn’ demanded on the driving test, too easy. I passed in March 1961, at the second attempt.
The worst time for me at Halton came right at the end. I had always had trouble answering technical questions in an oral examination and sure enough, that problem came back to bite me in the final examination, which was in three parts; there was a practical exam where we had to make something, in the case of electricians that involved filing a block to size, mounting various components onto it and then wiring those components together, mostly using a soldering iron. Secondly came the ‘Ballard’ paper, which was a Multi Choice Question Paper. Both of these parts I passed comfortably. However, when it came to the oral examination my brain obviously went to mush and I was classed as a failure. I was given a second chance the following week but once again was failed. I cannot argue with the result, but, for me and my family, it was devastating. Pop wanted to pay for my discharge but I was not having that and determined to make some sort of success out of my chosen career. In previous years, someone in my position would have been recoursed to the next entry but the rules changed and, instead of doing that, I was ‘Passed Out’ of Halton as an SAC Fitter, instead of JT. I don’t believe that this system went on for very long. I count myself as being probably one of the most educationally qualified S.A.Cs ever, with the exception of National Servicemen. Whilst I was at Halton I had added ‘O’ Level GCE in Mechanics and Engineering Science, to my collection and ‘A’ Level in Mathematics. I confess that I only had the minimum pass mark in the ‘A’ Level, but a pass nevertheless. In addition, I had a City & Guilds Certificate in Aircraft Electrical Maintenance and an Ordinary National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. At one stage, I saw the 3 year course marks for the entry and I was 7th in order of merit out of a total of 155; only two of us passed out as SAC Fitters, me and the lad who was 155th. I did not go to the Entry Passing out Dinner at Beaconsfield; maybe that was a mistake but I was extremely embarrassed about my failure.
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