From April 1956 until January 1958 Cpl
Jerry Anderson was the Master Chef at the residence of Air Vice Marshall
Sir Theodore McEvoy, Chief of Staff. He then returned to the UK for demob having completed his 4 year stretch in the RAF. Jerry then managed his
father’s Newsagents business and went on to develop this into a group of five
shops in South Bucks. When he sold out in 1972 Jerry bought a restaurant in
Wiltshire before moving on into specialist Food Product Manufacture. His last
retail Health Food Shop was sold recently and Jerry is now semi retired and
operating part time in the Insurance Industry. Living in Gillingham, Dorset with his wife Wendy Jerry is an enthusiastic West Country Carnival supporter, and a
member of the Revellers Carnival Club. He invites us to Bridgewater with Magic
and Mystery ~ not to be missed.
Sgt Jack Rowell arrived at AAFCE in November 1952 to work
as Clerk/Secretary in the office of Sir Hugh Fraser (Chief Of Staff). Jack
remained at Fontainebleau until October 1956 when he was posted to RAF Records
at Gloucester. Then followed another plum posting for 2 years at the British
Embassy in Ankara. After various UK postings Jack returned to France in November 1967 to take up an appointment in SHAPE where he saw out his RAF service
until he retired in February 1971. NATO obviously valued his skills and he was
retained in a civilian capacity for the next 22 years. Jack is now retired and
lives in Sibsey-Boston.
Cpl Brian Ward arrived at Camp Guynemer in Sept 1959 and
was assigned to ACOS Logistics. Brian was an active member of the Theatre Club
at Fontainebleau. After leaving Fontainebleau in April 1962 there were a number
of postings in the UK and Europe before retiring from the RAF in August 1976
after 22 years service. This was followed by completion of a Business Studies
course at Glasgow University and a succession of jobs in Sales and Security.
Brian a native of Edinburgh decided to relocate to Chippenham, Wiltshire where
he has many friends when he started his full time holiday career in April 1996.
Brian has maintained his keen interest in the Theatre. He is now Chairman of
APRO50 (Association of Retired Persons and Over 50s) Chippenham Friendship
Centre.
Most of these discoveries were the result of the notice that Dave Bennett placed in Yours Magazine. Ron Pole was responsible for introducing those who worked at Sir Theodore McEvoy’s residence. Thanks guys.
The next edition will include a Membership Register
MELUN AIRFIELD
At a recent Air Show Mike Capon met Daniel Declerco, a Public Relations Officer with Snecma Moteurs, Villaroche Site who was unaware that the RAF had a Comm Flight at Melun the 1950s and 1960s. He is seeking old photographs etc of the Airfield for the museum in the site HQ. He has offered the Veterans a conducted tour of the Airfield on our next trip to France. If anyone has any pictures or memories of Melun Airfield please let Mike Capon know Tel. 01732 505864. He will arrange for them to be copied and forwarded before returning the originals to the senders.