Richard 'Tony' Bishop

Tony purchased his discharge whilst at Stafford, approx 1967.

He was living in France 2012 and has (for some time) been trying to sell his house and return to the UK to see more of his grandchildren.

 

 

John Donovan

A serious car accident in 1963 meant a premature end to John's RAF career.    Was still living at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability in Putney in May 2013.

Extremely bad news, John died peacefully in April 2019. A life whose potential was not fully realised.

 

R.I.P.

John 'Taff' Evans

'Taff' was posted to Scampton at which time he had been accepted for aircrew training.  Sadly he was killed in a car accident in 1963.

 

 

R.I.P.

Brian 'Alf' Haines

After a tour in Aden, Alf purchased his discharge whilst at Innsworth in 1968 to live in Pershore, Worcs.

He then worked as a salesman until taking early retirement. From the age of 60 to 65 Brian drove a 5 ton truck before final retirement. Alf still lives in Worcs in 2012.

 

 

Mike Hickman

Mike served at Biggin Hill in the early '70s and later in Gibralter.  He finished his 15 years of service as a Cpl in 1977.  He was running the Pension Fund of GMB and in semi-retirement until final retirement in Sep 2012. Married with one daughter, Mike is living in New Malden, Surrey.  However, he's not retired from the cricket field! 

 

Dave 'Ginge' Kyte

'Ginge' remustered to Pers Admin ADP and left the RAF in 1989 as a FS. He retired from the motor trade in 2007 for health reasons and lives in the Gloucester area.

 

 

Bob Meacham - ex 42^nd

Sighted in Aden in 1967.  Bob obtained his commission 1985 before retiring in 1999 as a Sqn Ldr.  He lived near Hereford at Credenhill and was a Manager of a software house. Sadly Bob died suddenly in Jun '07.

 

 

R.I.P.

George Norris

Like many in the Pay Accountant trade George didn't want to be a Jnr Tech for 12 years, so he applied to purchase his discharge shortly after leaving Bircham.   Two years and a tour in Aden had confirmed George's decision, and his application was finally granted in 1967.   His poker winnings enabled him to pay the £200 and buy a nearly new car with which to start his civilian life.

After trying various careers George became a finance manager for a US computer company.  He was with them for 26 years and had finally started working from home, which gave him ample time to reply to e-mails.  His main interest is long walks with his two German Shepherds (he never gets mugged) and sometimes with his wife and three grandchildren.

In late 2001, Unisys gave George a Christmas present - early retirement!  Thus he moved to a village near Gt Yarmouth to enjoy his enforced leisure, before moving to northern Cyprus in 2007. After four years in the sun George & Margaret returned to UK in Aug '11.

Derek Potts - ex 41^st

Derek purchased his discharge in 1968 to live in Leigh, Lancs.

 

 

 

 

Rick Rutter

Originally sighted in Aden in 1967, Rick left the RAF two years later as a Jnr Tech. He was again sighted in 1987 by which time he was a Deputy Headmaster of a Wiltshire school.

 

 

 

Derek 'Spud' Tate BSc PhD

Derek completed a 15 year engagement as a Jnr Tech in 1976, this despite being awarded an AOC's commendation.  During his last two years in uniform, Derek turned down promotion so that he could continue his studies.  He obtained his ONC and HNC in Electrical Engineering before his release.

On leaving the RAF he studied at Bath University and by 1982 had obtained a BSc (!st class honours) and a PhD.  He worked for a tiny company in Bath for 4 years before joining Westinghouse Brakes (now Knorr-Bremse) and was able to travel the world developing new products for the company.