Flight Sergeant KEITH ADAMS

RAF Police (CI) (deceased)

Basic Training         

RAF Cardington/RAF Wilmslow Sep/Oct  '57

Basic Provost Trg   

RAF Netheravon Nov '57/Feb '58 (First recruit to qualify RAF P2)

Postings     

PSLO RAF Record Office Barnwood Gloucester Feb/Sep 'HQAAFCE Camp Guynemer   Fontainebleau France '58/'61

HQ No 2 RAF Police District RAF Church Fenton/RAF Dishforth '61/'65

HQ RAF P&SS (NEAF) Polemidhia Det/RAF Troodos - Murex Det Feb/May '64

RAF Pol Advanced Trg - P1 '63 - QPCI  '64 RAF Debden

HQ RAF P&SS (FEAF) RAF Changi Singapore '65/'67

HQ No 1 RAF Police Dist/RAF P&SS Det (Scotland) RAF Turnhouse '67/'69

HQ RAF P&SS (Gulf)/HQ Security Unit (Gulf) Jufair/Sulmaniya Bahrain '69/'70

HQ RAF P&SS (NR) RAF Linton on Ouse '70/'71

HQ RAF P&SS (RAF Germany) RAF Rheindahlen Germany '71/'74

NCO i/c RAF Pol RAF Buchan '74/'76

NCO i/c RAF Pol RAF Support Unit Decimomannu Sardinia Italy '76/'77

NCO i/c RAF Pol RAF Marham '77/'79

Station Security Officer BMEWS RAF Fylingdales '79/'81

In '81 I retired from the RAF and joined (the then) British Aerospace, Dynamics Division, Stevenage, leaving in '89 as Deputy Security Manager, to join (the then) British Aerospace, Military Aircraft Division, Warton, Lancs, as Security Controller (Head of Security). The main weapons/platforms then in production were the Rapier missile and the Tornado, with the Eurofighter (Typhoon) in development.

In '92 I moved to the (then) British Railways Board, Rail freight Distribution, Paddington, London, as Security Manager to set up the Channel Tunnel rail freight security regime. There wasn't even a green field to start from. My last serious challenge!  It necessitated building/rebuilding freight terminals all over the country, devising a robust explosive detection system effective for the rail freight environment, spending millions on hi-tech security equipment and systems and training a country-wide civilian security workforce in measures that had never before been undertaken. It also entailed discussions with HMG and other bodies to formulate the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order, 1994. I was present in the House of Commons to see it become legislation. However, perhaps the hardest part of all was to convince a more than skeptical, generally uncooperative, almost hostile, freight industry that such security measures were not only necessary, they were mandatory. It was a 'culture change'! My regime was even the subject of 'Parliamentary Questions' raised in the House of Commons. Therefore, to see the first freight train pass through the Channel Tunnel in '95 was a powerful moment, a sense of achievement and fulfillment. Much later, I was told that a (then) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Transport Inspector, had in his possession the relevant documentation necessary to stop the train if he was not satisfied it complied fully with the security legislation. After the start of Channel Tunnel rail freight services I continued to develop and refine the security regime. It was sufficiently flexible to accept new flows of traffic including that arriving by sea from the Republic of Ireland. After privatization in '97, I stayed on for 2 years and retired from English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (International), in Jun '99.

A few months later I got 'bored' and worked at the Herts Police HQ, until I finally retired, retired, retired in Jun '04. I'm deeply involved in the RAF Assn, RAF Police Assn, and enjoy my membership of the Fontainebleau Veterans Assn. Amongst other activities and interests; I'm also enjoying travelling about on the railways and some serious overseas holidays with my wife Pam, before we're too old to enjoy them.

Before I joined the RAF I was a pupil at Hull Grammar School, worked in a Solicitor's Office for two years and was a Flight Sergeant in 152 (City of Hull) Squadron, Air Training Corps. Although I was attending a College of Higher Education when I was 18 and could have requested deferment from National Service, I had already decided to make a career of the RAF. So, I volunteered. Looking back, it was not a bad decision!

I met Pam, my wife, in 1961. She was in the WRAF: we were both working at the same RAF Police HQ. We married in 1962 and she accompanied me on my RAF postings except 1969/70, when I was in the Gulf, during which time our daughter, Suzanne, was born. She lives nearby in Stevenage which is a convenient, if not picturesque, location. The A1(M), M25, East Coast Main Line, London and Luton/Stanstead/Heathrow Airports are all easily accessible. However, once our wanderlust has been satisfied, or we're too decrepit to travel, we intend to settle somewhere with less population density but not isolated.