The notice in the RAF Police Magazine caught the eye of Flight Sgt Reginald Wheeler. Reginald was a
member of the AIRCENT Police team between Apr 1961 and Nov 1963. On completion
of 22 years service he left the service and after a short period on security at
Selfridges he bought a Newsagents which he ran for over 20 years with his wife
Joy. Reginald and Joy now live in Colchester.
Sgt Peter Wright, pictured, was responsible for
RAF pay at Fontainebleau from Mar 1964 until Sept 1966. In 1973 and 1974 George
was attached to the British Embassy in Paris. How lucky can you be !!! He
served in the RAF until 1990, the last 16 years as a Warrant Officer. He now
“crunches numbers” at Dixon’s Garage in Grimsby where he lives with his wife
Pat. George’s main claims to fame are that he laid a wreath at the Flame
Rekindling at the Arc and that he paid Charley Collyer’s pension. George found
us through a neighbour 3 doors away who was introduced by George Brown.
Squadron Leader Ray Johnston joined the RAF in May 1937 as an A.C.2 u/t Fitters Mate.
During the War he served as a Flight Rigger and Metal Rigger rising gradually
from the ranks to take a commission. After the War Ray transferred to MT and
in Dec 1964 as a Sqn Ldr was posted to Fontainebleau with special
responsibility for merging AIRCENT, AFCENT and LANDCENT into one HQ for the
move to Brunssun in the Netherlands where they set up “shop” in a working coal
mine. Ray now lives in Peterborough
Cpl Bill Halford, pictured, from Southampton saw the notice in GRIFF (The RAF
Police Journal). He served in the AIRCENT Police during 1954 ~ 1956. Some of
his time there was spent in the French hospital. After Fontainebleau he was
posted to Chequers and after demob spent 19 years in a local shipyard, 4 years
for Union Carbide and 12 years with the UK arm of an American Company which
gave him an opportunity to travel the world. He still lives in his native Southampton with his wife Susan.
Cpl Norman Furness, introduced by George Brown was a member
of the AIRCENT Police Team from Mar 64 until Mar 67. Norman lives in
Bridlington, East Yorkshire with his wife Brenda and is still working as Sales
Manager at the local Main Vauxhall dealer. His 2 children from his first
marriage live in New Zealand.
Brian Moulding,
a native of Preston, who met up with the party in Fontainebleau last September
served in the MT Section during 1954 – 56. He is still a resident of Fontainebleau. He is pictured right during our visit to Camp Guynemer last autumn.
Sgt Roy Thomas, MBE
arrived at Fontainebleau in June 56 and spent exactly 3 years in ACOS
Operations. Having completed 29 years in the RAF he retired in 1970 with the
rank of Warrant Officer. After joining the Midland Bank’s Tottenham Court Road
Branch Roy was transferred to open a new Bank at Gatwick Airport in 1975 and he
remained there until his retirement in 1984 when he moved his home from
Haywards Heath to his present residence in Beaminster, Dorset where he lives
with his wife Evelyn. Roy responded to Dave Bennett’s notice in Yours
magazine.
SAC Peter Argent is another one who saw Dave
Bennett’s notice in Yours magazine and contacted us. Peter arrived in Fontainebleau in April 1952 and worked in the Equipment Section. After leaving the RAF
Peter worked for the Port of London Authority and after 30 years there joined
the Ministry of Defence. Now retired he spends as much time as possible on his
boat. Last year he attended the Dunkirk evacuation celebrations with the Royal
Temple Yacht Club. Peter who lives with his wife Elaine in Bexleyheath will
join the September "pilgrimage" to Fontainebleau
Cpl George Stewart, introduced by George Brown,
was an MT Fitter in the National MT Section from Jan 64 until Jul 66. George
left the RAF in 1991 with the rank of Warrant Officer after 37 years service.
George who lives in Grimsby with his wife Janis has been a part time Lecturer
in Occupational Health and Safety at Grimsby College since 1992.
Cpl
Brian Eastwood worked in the Station
Sick Quarters as a Nursing Attendant from Nov 59 until May 62. Having seen
service in Aden, The Canal
Zone and Malta
Brian left the RAF in 1977 and spent the next 10 years as Personnel and
Training Officer with the N C B, Married to Jean who was a Corporal in the
WRAF he now lives in Barnsley.
NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS
We were all shocked to hear that John
Aylward was admitted to hospital last month when a growth in his mouth was
discovered. John underwent major head and neck surgery but after he came round
he was bright and cheerful in the face of adversity. By the third day he was
organising the Medics and has made a remarkable recovery due to his positive
and determined approach.
John writes : ”Thank you all for your thoughts, best
wishes and prayers. I am so glad to have all the AAFCE Vets at my side. May I
take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones all that is good. So as
the man who jumped off the Empire State Building said as he passed the 25th
floor ~ So far so good”
We all wish you well John and hope to see
you at the October Reunion when no doubt you will be the life and soul of the
party.
Audrey
Britten who was a corporal
in the WRAF and Leading Radio Operator John Jones (RN) met while they
were serving in Fontainebleau. They were married at the British Embassy in Paris in 1961 and in March this year celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary.
Congratulations to you both. I hope John is taking you somewhere nice Audrey.
Brian
and Claudine Gibbons also
celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary this year. Brian met Claudine, a
local girl, while he was stationed at Fontainebleau
Our
best wishes go to Les and Jean Goddard who both retired at the end of
February.
Dickie
Rogers is due to enter
dry-dock in September for routine maintenance. Knowing Dickie I am sure he
will enjoy the attention that the nurses bestow on him.
During a short visit to Portugal in February Peter and Ruth Fryer made a surprise call on Peter and Ellie
Taylor who were on vacation there from Canada. Although they served at
AAFCE at different times they had a lot in common and got on like a house on
fire. It was thoughtful of Peter to give me his holiday address before he
embarked on his trip, and it proved worthwhile.
AVON YESTERDAY AND TODAY
from
Mike Capon
The
name Avon originates from the Celtic word "avo" meaning water , which
testifies its remote past.
The
town harbors many prestigious places such as le Prieure des Basses Loges (where
Gurdjieff and Kaytherin Mansfield used to stay), le Couvent des Carmes, le
domaine de Bel Ebat, melting pot for French music, and especially the
eleventh century church Saint-Pierre which stayed Royal Parish unti1 1661.
Let's
not forget the railway viaduct built in 1847 and inaugurated by Napoleon m in
1852.
Since
then, the town has developed into a modern city while preserving its peaceful
surroundings and its architectural heritage.
COACH
TRIP TO FONTAINEBLEAU 13- 18 SEPTEMBER
Based on
initial indications that all 49 seats on the coach would be taken we went ahead
and made a booking with Palmers Travel. However, for a number of perfectly
valid reasons, some fell by the wayside and at the time of going to press
deposits have been received for only 35 seats with another 3 -in the post-.
This exceeds the minimum required to make the trip viable..
Palmers
Travel our Tour Operator has advised that West Kingsdown Coach Hire, whose
coaches they have used over the past seven years, ceased trading at the end of
last year. The Kings Ferry Coach Company will provide coaches for their 2001
programme. They are the premier coach company in Kent and have won many awards
within the industry for excellence. However it uncertain at this juncture if
Bob will be our driver this year.
Charley Collyer
will be on hand to greet us in Fontainebleau. Gordon Lawrie and Brian Moulding
will meet with us. Agreement has been obtained to visit Camp Guynemer , Chataux
Quartier and Cour Henri IV. In respect of the last site the Director has
written In French advising that the building is unsafe for the general public,
but we will be able to walk in the gardens.
If anyone is
having second thoughts and wishes to come along please let me know. Our
Executive luxury coach leaves on Thurs 13 Sept and returns on Tues 18 Sept.
There will be embark1tion points in London, Sevenoaks and Dover before boarding
the ferry. Palmers have offered free car parking in their compound at West
Kingsdown. We will stay at the IBIS Hotel in Melun on a bed and buffet
breakfast basis. Saturday will be spent in Paris ahead of the Parade at the Arc
de Triomphe at 1800 hours. The cost is £200 per person including all travel and
accommodation costs at Melun.
As the
itinerary develops details will be circulated to those in the party. Meanwhile
please give. me any suggestions of any places of interest to visit .
REUNION
20 OCTOBER
There are only
a few seats remaining for the Reunion Dinner at the Courtyard, Leamington Spa
on Saturday 20 October. If you intend to join the party please make your
booking now with the hotel.
GOING
AWAY ?
Many of you disappear for long
periods especially in the winter. Could I ask that you let me know if
you expect to be away from home for more than a couple of weeks. Some of the
newsletters sent out last November and other circulars are stuck mid-circuit
which means that by the time those at the end of the list see them the news
will be stale.
0BITUARY
“Sadly, the passing
of another AFFCE veteran has to be reported. Chief Technician Bert Ellis died
in Capetown on 18th January at the age of 83. Bert was in charge of the MT
workshops in the International Motor Pool. One of his passions while he was at
Fontainebleau was sailing with the AIRCENT sailing club on the Seine. After
leaving the RAF he settled in Capetown with his wife, Rosalyn who survives
him."
BORN BEFORE 1940
This amusing piece for the over
60s reached me via Morris Watt
You were born before
television, before penicillin, 'flu shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses,
videos, frisbees and the Pill. You lived before. radar, credit cards, split
atoms, laser beams and ball-point pens, before. automatic dishwashers, tumble.
dryers, electric blankets, air-conditioners drip-dry clothes and before man
walked on the moon.
You got married
first and then lived together; how quaint can you be.? You thought that fast
food was what you ate during Lent. A Big Mac was an over-sized raincoat, and
crumpet you had for tea. You existed before. house-husbands, computer dating,
dual careers, when meaningful relationships meant getting along with your
cousins, and sheltered accommodation was where. you waited for a bus.
You were before
day-care centres, group homes and disposable. nappies. You had never heard of
FM radio, tape decks, electronic typewriters, artificial hearts, liver
transplants, word processors, microwave ovens or young men wearing earrings.
For you time. sharing meant togetherness, a chip was a piece of wood or a fried
potato, hardware meant nuts and bolts and software. wasn't a word,
Before 1948, made in
Japan meant junk; the term making out referred to how you fared in your exams;
a stud was something that fastened Q loose collar to a shirt, and going all the
way meant staying on a double-decker bus to the. terminus. Pizzas, MacDonald's
and instant coffee and tea were unheard of. In your day cigarette. smoking was
fashionable, grass was mown, coke was kept in the coal-bunker , a joint was a
piece of meat that you had for dinner' on Sundays, and pot was something that
you cooked meals in.
Rock music was a
Grandmother's lullaby, El Dorado was an ice.-cream, a gay person was the. life
and soul of the party and nothing more. Drag meant pulling or heaving something
heavy across the. ground, and aids just meant beauty treatment or help for
someone in trouble.
You, who were born
before 1940 must be a hardy bunch, when you think of the ways in which the
world has changed and the adjustments you have. had to make.. Small wonder that
you are confused and that there is a generation gap !!!
AND FINALLY....
Has anyone kept a
blue ration card we needed to purchase cigarettes and tobacco? If so could I
borrow it to take a copy?
