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| Birthday |
1931-10-29 |
| Location |
Orkney, Scotland |
| Occupation |
Retired RAF Medical Officer |
| About Me |
Served 1957-87. RAF Khormaksar in 1962 was my 3rd station and 1st o'seas posting, with immediate 3-month detachment to Masirah. Was still in Masirah when signal received out of the blue saying wife & children arriving Aden, to be accommodated in Red Sea House transit hotel until hiring available. My 3 months in Masirah weren't quite finished, but luckily my predecessor there, Peter Oke, was desperate to get back (he loved it!) so early swap negotiated. Then the RAF Valetta went u/s and I left Masirah on the next Aden Airways DC3, flown by Pop Jennings and Flash Gordon.
Soon allocated flat in Flight House - then whole bldg condemned and gutted. So to 5th floor flat in Crawley House ('Bedside Manor'). Flat also soon condemned due to blocked plumbing and child-sized hole in external wall. Moved to another flat in Crawley, overlooking the 'Straight', where we happily finished our tour. About to apply to re-tour when policy permitting this was rescinded, but did get a short unofficial extension.
In addition to our usual work, my K'sar colleagues and I provided medical services to Aden Airways, so we got to know their aircrew quite well. Among those I remember, along with Jennings and Gordon, were Dicky (The Lark) Larcombe, Geoff Wallis (the music man) and Alan Elgee.
Later I served in Gan (13 months and was detached back there the following year), Singapore (Seletar) and Germany (Bruggen), with the usual varied detachments on top.
Penultimate tour as OC RAF Medical Rehabilitation Unit Headley Court. Final posting HQ Strike, High Wycombe, as DPMO.
A more interesting life than most civilian GPs' I believe. Only possible, with three kids, because of my staunch and capable wife (who died in 1999). |
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