ISSUE NO.
25
FEBRUARY 2003
EDITORIAL
For me the events of 2002 were overshadowed
by the passing of my wife Jean on 23 December. Her cancer returned in the autumn.
She accepted this gracefully and it was not long before she needed morphine. I
was fortunate in being able to care for her at home because her niece, a senior
cancer nurse in a Melbourne hospital flew over from Australia to nurse her
Auntie for her last 6 weeks with us. Jean bore her illness with such courage
and dignity. She never once complained and was so easy to please. Many of you
have met Jean either at reunions or at our home and others have spoken with her
on the phone. She was a great support to me in running the Association and she
will be missed. The Association made a donation to the local hospice in
her memory.
WELCOME ABOARD
Sgt George Brodie, introduced by Lionel Boswell, was a
Clerk/Secretary in the Forward Scatter Branch for about one year from August
1965 before joining Geographics Branch until February 1967 when he was
relocated with AFCENTto Brunnsen where he spent a further year. This was
followed by 2 years with the MOD in Whitehall and 5½ years at RAF Staff College
(Unit) Bracknell before a posting to Gutesloh in Germany. After further UK
postings George left the RAF and found employment with the Highland Regional
Council, now the Highland Council where he still works. He is due to retire in
2 years, time. George who is single is the Secretary of the Bowling Club in his
village of Avoch in Ross-shire.
After a long and extensive search Johnnie
Day traced his AAFCE colleague Cpl Martin Maidens who served in the RAF
Police at Camp Guynemer from October 1952 until April 1955. Martin saw out the
rest of his service in the UK and was demobbed in September 1956 and embarked
on a 2½ year Business Administration and Paper Manufacturing course with his
new employers Spicers Ltd. In May 1959 Martin took off for USA to work in the
Automotive Industry mainly with Volkswagen and Rover. In May 1963 Martin joined
the Metropolitan Police and served in Soho, Mayfair, St James and South East
London. Following injuries sustained on duty in 1973 and 1983 he retired on
injury grounds in June 1985. Martin then joined the National Trust from which
he retired in 1995. He now lives quietly with his wife Pattie in Biggin Hill.
