Dennis Ballinger*

Dennis left Bircham for a tour at Scampton before posting to Muscat and Oman.  He returned to UK in the late '60s and remustered to his father's trade of Air Traffic Controller.   He had various UK postings including two overseas tours of Germany.   In ‘86 he passed the Advanced Controller’s course and finally left the RAF as a FS at his own request in ‘90.

Using his ATC background, Dennis was able to secure a position with BAe Systems North Sea Range as a Range Liaison Officer.   He has gained an enormous amount of new knowledge and is well known amongst the European aircrew community.   Due to the closing of the NSR, Dennis retired in Jul '05, he currently lives in Grantham with his wife Janet and three sons.

In the last few years he amassed over 1,000 hrs flying sailplanes and gliders.  Eventually qualifing as a fully rated instructor and officiates at competitions up to National Level as a Chief Line Observer.

George 'Eddie' Batchelor*

Eddie was originally posted to the Valiant base at Gaydon until '64. He then did an interesting tour with the Military Mission based in East Berlin, finishing off his tour at Gatow in late '67. He then served with CRE Brampton from '68 to '69. Then another plum posting to the British Embassy, Paris. Both of the overseas jobs utilising his French translation abilities.

Sighted at Coningsby in '82 as Sgt i/c Management Services, Eddie spent his last five years in ADP at RAF Thatcham before retiring as a Sgt in '91.  Eddie then spent 7 years as a Computer System Manager with Birmingham City Council before retiring full time in '00 to Rugby, Warwickshire.

Originally a soccer representative at station level, ten pin bowling has been Eddie's sport for 40 years and still going strong.

John Blakemore*

John was originally posted to Lindholm, then a 'junket' with CENTO in Ankara in '64, Waddington for a year in '67 and finally an MOD posting. In '69 he decided that he'd been in uniform long enough.  He bought himself out and joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Postings followed to Mexico City, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Milan and Malloca. His final posting was as British Consul in Lisbon before retiring to Umbria, Italy in '03. He has a wife Joan and two sons.

Roger Brushneen*

Roger was posted to the Vulcan QRF at Waddington and later did overseas stints at Gan and Episkopi.  He took a commission in '77 and left the RAF as a Flt Lt on his 38th birthday.

He spent two out of his three tours since he was commissioned on computing (namely writing the new payroll for officers), it's not surprising that he followed through with his skills in civilian life.  He has been a programmer, senior analyst, auditor and as a civil servant running the RAF's payroll program!!  

He retired in '02 with ongoing medical problems - at the time he was head of department of an American computer company based in UK. When Roger gets his arthritic knees replaced with new ones hopefully he'll be able to go fresh and seawater fishing again.Currently living in Longlevens with his wife Heather, he now has the time to indulge his main interest in the History of Britain.

Dave
'Paddy' Garmont*

Initially posted to Mildenhall, Dave was posted to Episkopi in '64 and on his return in '67 went to Odiham. He left the RAF in '70 to join the PO, by '88 he was Head Postmaster in Basingstoke and by '91 Area Manager at Swindon.

In '97 Paddy (who plays guitar) had become the Organiser of the White Horse Folk Club in Highworth. In '99 he retired back to Larne where he was Chairman of the local Camera Club and now, back in Swindon with his wife Janet, he will be joining the Swindon Photographic Association.

Terry Glaysher
BA *

Terry was originally posted to 114 Sqn at Benson from where he was then posted to Ankara - he liked it so much he served an extra year.   On his return to UK he was posted to Uxbridge and from there he was put on loan to MOD in Whitehall.   (A budding Sir Humphrey?)  On return to UK as a Cpl, Terry was posted to PMRAF Hospital Halton and whilst there he applied for a commission.   Biggin Hill asked him to come back in 12 months; Terry's response was to buy himself out which he did in Mar '72.

He gained a degree in Philosophy from University College Aberystwyth in '75.   This is where Terry began his interest in theatre.   He worked in Croydon for 17 years from '79, in Arts and Theatre Administration.   He returned to Turkey in '99 and is teaching the Turks English.   

Although not currently participating, Terry has had a 30yr interest in Fencing, and was a member of our illustrious AA team!

Rod McBeth*

‘Mac’ had overseas tours at Akrotiri (‘65-‘67) and Changi (’70). His career change occurred when posted to Innsworth in ’76 to help convert computing records from the Univac machine to ICL. Finally leaving as a FS in '77.

In ’85 he joined Civil Service and became Computer Manager at Science and Engineering Research Council, Swindon. Transferred to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Didcot, Oxon. He left the Civil Service in '97 and became Facilities Manager for a large publishing company where he stayed until he retired in ‘05.

A lifelong football referee, ‘Mac’ refereed in the Conference League, was Secretary of Cheltenham FL for 14 years and also sat on the Gloucester FA Committee for some years. He also represented Abingdon and Benson at Shooting and in ‘70 at Bisley they won the RAF Championship for the falling plates match, a most prestigious achievement.

He started bowling outdoors from ’74 to County Level and in ’96 started playing the Short Mat version and currently plays for West Sussex. Upper Beeding being his home since '05.

Mick
Meyer*

Mick did overseas stints in Bahrain and Ankara.   By '76 he was a Sgt and obtained a commission, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour at Henlow.  Mick rose to the rank of Wg Cdr and spent the last few years of his career at the home of Clerkdom, Innsworth.  Whilst at Bircham he took up Fencing (who can forget our efforts at the Apps Championships at Locking)!!  He's represented GB in World and European Championships, captained the GB Seniors and was Combined Services Epee Champion in '96 and '97.

Mick retired from the RAF in March '00 and has bought a house near Cromer, not that far from Bircham.  He's still happily married to Ann, whom he met on his first posting at Stanmore.  After a few months wind-down Mick started working for the RAF Sports Board (until '06), part-time for the RAFBenFund in London and also RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises at Fairford as their Risk Review Coordinator.

Andy
Mitchell

Richard 'Steve' Pitkethly

Pete
Reed

Bill
Robinson
- ex 42^nd

After serving in Brunei, Cyprus and several UK stations, Bill decided to leave the RAF as a Cpl (was A/Sgt) in '74.

In civilian life Bill spent five years qualifying as an Accountant and, fortunately, found his niche in data processing.  Yet another five years passed as a programmer and system analyst before his post-grad course in Manchester gave him his entree into the world of consultancy. Bill was sent to San Francisco in '91 for the American firm of Synon where he obtained the much coveted 'green card'.  Going independent in '94, he's built up his company to the point of having offices in LA, NY and Manchester.

In his spare time, Bill (who now lives in San Clemente) has obtained his PPL and and used to fly his twin-engined Piper Seminole whenever he could. Since '04 he's been flying with the Civil Air Patrol in a Cessna 182 on S&R exercises and as an instructor. AsTango aficionados, Bill and his wife Sheilagh have even been to Argentina to hone their skills!

Rick
Short*

'Noddy' went straight overseas as a first posting to Akrotiri and on his return remustered to Loadmaster on Brits.   He finished his initial engagement as a FS Tac Crewman flying with 28 Sqn at Kai Tak on the trusty Wessex.

In March '74 an indulgence flight from Hong Kong found him in Darwin from whence he travelled to Perth, Western Australia.    The first 10 years were spent in the photographic trade and on an impulse he bought an icecream parlour that only operated two days a week!!  Rick spent many years doing SCUBA diving from Perth north to Indonesia and during the mild winters was keen on Orienteering. He was also a member of the WA Calligraphy Guild until arthritis put paid to that.

Rick's an active member of the Perth PC Users Group (450 members) and is the 'expert' on Flight Simulation.   He's the author of the 41^st, 42^nd, 43^rd and 44^th web sites as well as the site for one of the club's Special Interest Groups. He finally retired in May '09 with his wife Wendy.

Bob
Slater*

Keith
Smith*

Martin
van Tol*

'Van' was originally posted to CFE Binbrook then tours of Saxa Vord and Brampton before purchasing his discharge as a Cpl in '68.

Initially he worked in a number of finance and admin positions before taking a job as Co Secretary & Director of a fruit company for 20 years. In '02 Martin became a Finance Director of a produce company he set up with a colleague. Now living in Werrington near Peterborough, Lincs with his wife Lorraine.

Rod
Webster*

Rod left the RAF as an SAC in '74 and began working in insurance/mortgages in England but eventually returned to Scotland.    Throughout his stint in the RAF he was always interested in the various stations' broadcasting units.  In Inverness he did part-time work with a broadcasting franchise and he became a full-time Sales Manager and broadcaster.   He opened Radio Border spending ten happy years there before becoming Managing Director in '97 of Radio Northsounds in Aberdeen.

In '05 the company was taken over and the management team was replaced. Rod now works in the oil industry on recruiting staff and working up CVs. He lives with his wife Anne in Kemnay NW of Aberdeen.