| Forty First Entry |
Have You Any Photographs Or Other Memories Of the 41st Entry RAF Administrative Apprentices? If So You Can E-Mail Them To: |
 | |  | |  |
| Warrant Officer Bryan Cross Featured In RAF News August 1998 |
| Accts and Clerks Secretarial comprised A. A. Milsom (Team leader), A.A’s Hanifin, Parry, Salter and White, all of the 41st Entry. Also A.A. Hoggarth of the 42nd Entry. |
| Photo Courtesy Of Roger Bennett |
| 41st Clk Secs |
| Pay Accounts |
| Presented To The 39th, 40th and 41st Entries On The Occasion Of Their Combined Reunion In September 2010 |
39th, 40th and 41st Entry Reunion Bircham Newton September 2010 Photographs Courtesy Of Barrie Loftus Click Here To View |
| Telegraph Announcement 39th.40th and 41st Reunion Sept 2010 |
| Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Association |
RAFAAA
| Multum A Parvo |
Thanks To Ian Dennis for the above 5 photos, one showing the whole of the 41st Entry, one showing the 41st Pay Accountants, one of just himself and 2 of the Apprentice School Continuity Drill Team consisting (he thinks) of members of the 41st and 42nd entries. They gave continuity drill displays at RAF Coltishall Battle of Britain Open Day and the Royal Norfolk Show, and appeared briefly on Anglia TV at the latter display. |
41st Entry Reunion 14/15/16th January 2009 Thorsby Hall Nottinghamshire
Since Bill, Dave and I had the idea of seeing how many of the 41st we could get together, time seemed to drag as we inched towards the agreed date of 14 – 16
January. Even at Christmas it seemed an age away and we were still trying to discover where some of the Entry had gone. It was with some surprise, and a little
trepidation, we realised at the beginning of week commencing 12th January that the great day was almost upon us. We decided to get to Thoresby Hall a little early
to be sure everything went as smoothly as possible.
By mid-afternoon on Wednesday 14th January we had all somehow found the bar! Guinness and wine was flowing freely and Warner Leisure were definitely looking
forward to bumper profits. You can imagine how it was – a few of us had been in touch but others hadn't seen each other in years so we all looked carefully with the
same thing in mind – would we recognise each other?
Amongst the early arrivals was Ken West with his much better half – Anne. I recognised him straight away and we were soon insulting each other as if 40-odd
years hadn't intervened. Soon after came Bob and Penny McKnight. I recognised Bob at once, even without his bugle! Bill Jefferson was already there when I
arrived but, much to my surprise, was in Reception and not the bar. We soon remedied that state of affairs.
Dave and Aileen Angood weren't far behind. Dave's red wine antenna was already in good working order and he was soon all over the place pumping flesh and
making everyone welcome. Don't know where he gets the energy from! Dave King arrived with his wife Sue and, except for a little more of him and grey instead of
blonde hair, was instantly recognisable. We did seem to be getting over-run with Suppliers!
Dave Gilbody and his wife Angie soon entered the fray. Dave had a very distinguished head of white hair but we were pleased to see he still had his sense of humour
– actually he's daft as a brush but can't hold a candle to his wife Angie! We then saw Ian Field (otherwise known as Scotty) arrive with his better half, Kath. Some of
you may have seen that Scotty was believed deceased – you may trust my word when I tell you that he is most definitely alive! Just when I thought the Clerk Secs
were fighting back more Suppliers turned up.
There stood Roger Bennett and his wife Eleanor. We subsequently found out that he had ambitions to become a barman (it's a long story) but his wife soon put us
straight. There were one or two comments regarding booze-ups and breweries! Lo and behold in came another Supplier – Phil Oakley with his wife Ann. Despite
the advancing years you would recognise Phil on any wanted poster (and probably Ann as well).
The Clerks were getting themselves outnumbered but then in walked Eddie Venn and his wife Carol. That definitely evened up the score since we are now
convinced that Eddie must have multiple personalities – and all of them crackers. He could out drink us all, out dance us all (just ask Aileen Angood) and even took
time out to go to Woodhall Spa to play golf. Whatever he's on the rest of us want some!
At this stage the Pay Accountants seemed to be missing but then I spotted two of them. Graham Gill was instantly recognisable but much smarter than I remember
him! Must be that white hair! I then looked at one of the guests who I hadn't recognised at first but then realised it had to be Fred Shepheard. The ginger haired
slim boy of the sixties was neither slim nor ginger but looked extremely prosperous as befits a former Pay Accountant! Fred and his wife Margaret were a very
welcome addition to the gathering crowd.
By the evening the Pay Accountants ranks had been swelled by Stuart Sewell and his missus. Stuart was no longer that smart young debonair apprentice but had
become a white haired, white moustachioed man of distinction. You would never believe he was from Doncaster! However we had a witness in John Cleland – also
a Doncaster man – who managed to get himself into the Spa facilities by pretending to be Dave Angood! Finally we had Mike Lucas and his wife – you will all be
pleased to know that Mike Lucas is still much too tall for his own good!
That first night at dinner the hotel had put us in an area all to ourselves. We believe that they had heard one or two were coming up from Devon and Cornwall and
were trying to protect their other guests! Dinner was very good and thereafter we got back to the bar (as you can see apprentice habits die hard). I certainly slept
well that night, quite happy and relieved that things had gone so well. Certain persons however managed to keep the bar staff up until the early hours of the morning
and ignored pointed comments such as “Would sir like a final drink before I close the bar?” It fell on deaf ears!
The next day we all had breakfast – and very good it was too. Reminded many of us of those wholesome meals in the Apprentices' Mess at Bircham! Many of us
then repaired (to the bar of course). Some of the wives went off to Boundary Park (a very large shopping centre near Grantham) with their very own private
chauffeur in the shape of Dave Gilbody. Some went off to explore Worksop – fortunately we didn't hear their final report on the facilities Worksop has to offer!
Others explored Thoresby Hall and the grounds. Bill Jefferson signed up for the bowls tournament on the Wii game board and very nearly got seen off by a very old
lady who hadn't a clue what she was doing. Young William just managed to beat her by four points!
Dave Angood and Mike Lucas also had a go but shall we just say that the world of electronic bowling need not worry! This was the day that Eddie and Carol Venn
went off to Woodhall Spa to play golf. What I want you all to consider is this – Eddie and Carol left Devon early morning on the Wednesday and drove up to
Nottinghamshire. Eddie then managed to stay awake until the early hours and gave the bar staff a very good run for their money. On top of that he (with an
accomplice by the name of Aileen) managed to disturb the sequential dancers on the floor by doing a very energetic version of the jive. He was then up at the crack
of dawn, had breakfast, drove fifty or so miles to Woodhall Spa, played a round of golf, drove fifty or so miles back and still kept the bar staff up again that night until
the early hours. Now I put it to you – he has to be on something!
That night Peter Bylett and his wife Ruth joined us at dinner (and in the bar of course). He had just driven over from Anglesey to be with us and soon found himself
roped into the general fray of ex-apprentices.
At breakfast on Friday morning we were all surprised at how quickly the days had passed. The whole thing had been very enjoyable and it was really good to see
old faces and renew old friendships. We all reminisced like mad (although I am sure someone mentioned that nostalgia wasn't as good as it used to be!) At this
point I have to say that all libellous references (particularly to me) have been deleted from this report.
We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. However we are determined to get a 50th anniversary reunion organised. At the moment we have some very
tentative proposals but so you can think about it here they are:
13th September 2010 (we signed up on 13th September 1960) is a Monday. We thought that we might be able to obtain accommodation at the Caleb Hall Hotel in Old
Hunstanton. It only has 40 bedrooms but there's nothing bigger anywhere in the area. We thought we just might be able to fill the place and have the hotel to
ourselves. We thought arrive on the Monday, Celebration Dinner that night in the hotel followed on Tuesday by a trip to Bircham Newton. We might organise a bus
for the day but we would need to have some idea of numbers so we can work out transport requirements and costs.
I should be able to fix it up with the CITB at the camp for us to wander around. Perhaps we would find some place to have lunch (perhaps a trip to Sandringham
providing we don't tell the Queen beforehand) where we could have lunch in the restaurant, a stroll in the grounds or a visit to the house. Dinner would again be at
Caley Hall on the Tuesday evening and we are trying to come up with something for the Wednesday – perhaps at leisure in Hunstanton or perhaps a visit to our old
haunts in King's Lynn? Suggestions would be most welcome. The arrest warrants in King's Lynn should have expired by now! One last night in the hotel and then
disperse after breakfast on the Thursday.
We thought this might be more of a holiday break for people rather than just a short hop into the wilds of West Norfolk.
I will be checking out the hotel and Bircham Newton soon but of course if we do decide to go for this we will need to start booking accommodation fairly early to
ensure that in 18/19 months time we can accommodate everyone who wants to come. You can check it out yourself on line at www.CaleyHallHotel.co.uk If you are
interested then please let me know (telephone is 01366 500109 or e-mail me at barrie.loftus@virgin.net) and we can start planning the event. I know many of you
won’t believe I am a born again Virgin but trust me the e-mail address is correct! We had a few bob left over from the reunion so we do have limited funds available
to start placing deposits but we really do need to have some indication of how many would be interested so we can work out funding etc.
Photographs from the reunion at Thoresby Hall have been posted on the internet but keep checking the site from time to time since more might have been added.
To those without a computer I apologise but if you talk nicely to someone who has a computer I am sure you will be able to find the pictures – if not, give me a call
and I'll give a link to follow.
Finally, from Bill, Dave and myself a big thank you to everyone who made the reunion so enjoyable.
Since Bill, Dave and I had the idea of seeing how many of the 41st we could get together, time seemed to drag as we inched towards the agreed date of 14 – 16
January. Even at Christmas it seemed an age away and we were still trying to discover where some of the Entry had gone. It was with some surprise, and a little
trepidation, we realised at the beginning of week commencing 12th January that the great day was almost upon us. We decided to get to Thoresby Hall a little early
to be sure everything went as smoothly as possible.
By mid-afternoon on Wednesday 14th January we had all somehow found the bar! Guinness and wine was flowing freely and Warner Leisure were definitely looking
forward to bumper profits. You can imagine how it was – a few of us had been in touch but others hadn't seen each other in years so we all looked carefully with the
same thing in mind – would we recognise each other?
Amongst the early arrivals was Ken West with his much better half – Anne. I recognised him straight away and we were soon insulting each other as if 40-odd
years hadn't intervened. Soon after came Bob and Penny McKnight. I recognised Bob at once, even without his bugle! Bill Jefferson was already there when I
arrived but, much to my surprise, was in Reception and not the bar. We soon remedied that state of affairs.
Dave and Aileen Angood weren't far behind. Dave's red wine antenna was already in good working order and he was soon all over the place pumping flesh and
making everyone welcome. Don't know where he gets the energy from! Dave King arrived with his wife Sue and, except for a little more of him and grey instead of
blonde hair, was instantly recognisable. We did seem to be getting over-run with Suppliers!
Dave Gilbody and his wife Angie soon entered the fray. Dave had a very distinguished head of white hair but we were pleased to see he still had his sense of humour
– actually he's daft as a brush but can't hold a candle to his wife Angie! We then saw Ian Field (otherwise known as Scotty) arrive with his better half, Kath. Some of
you may have seen that Scotty was believed deceased – you may trust my word when I tell you that he is most definitely alive! Just when I thought the Clerk Secs
were fighting back more Suppliers turned up.
There stood Roger Bennett and his wife Eleanor. We subsequently found out that he had ambitions to become a barman (it's a long story) but his wife soon put us
straight. There were one or two comments regarding booze-ups and breweries! Lo and behold in came another Supplier – Phil Oakley with his wife Ann. Despite
the advancing years you would recognise Phil on any wanted poster (and probably Ann as well).
The Clerks were getting themselves outnumbered but then in walked Eddie Venn and his wife Carol. That definitely evened up the score since we are now
convinced that Eddie must have multiple personalities – and all of them crackers. He could out drink us all, out dance us all (just ask Aileen Angood) and even took
time out to go to Woodhall Spa to play golf. Whatever he's on the rest of us want some!
At this stage the Pay Accountants seemed to be missing but then I spotted two of them. Graham Gill was instantly recognisable but much smarter than I remember
him! Must be that white hair! I then looked at one of the guests who I hadn't recognised at first but then realised it had to be Fred Shepheard. The ginger haired
slim boy of the sixties was neither slim nor ginger but looked extremely prosperous as befits a former Pay Accountant! Fred and his wife Margaret were a very
welcome addition to the gathering crowd.
By the evening the Pay Accountants ranks had been swelled by Stuart Sewell and his missus. Stuart was no longer that smart young debonair apprentice but had
become a white haired, white moustachioed man of distinction. You would never believe he was from Doncaster! However we had a witness in John Cleland – also
a Doncaster man – who managed to get himself into the Spa facilities by pretending to be Dave Angood! Finally we had Mike Lucas and his wife – you will all be
pleased to know that Mike Lucas is still much too tall for his own good!
That first night at dinner the hotel had put us in an area all to ourselves. We believe that they had heard one or two were coming up from Devon and Cornwall and
were trying to protect their other guests! Dinner was very good and thereafter we got back to the bar (as you can see apprentice habits die hard). I certainly slept
well that night, quite happy and relieved that things had gone so well. Certain persons however managed to keep the bar staff up until the early hours of the morning
and ignored pointed comments such as “Would sir like a final drink before I close the bar?” It fell on deaf ears!
The next day we all had breakfast – and very good it was too. Reminded many of us of those wholesome meals in the Apprentices' Mess at Bircham! Many of us
then repaired (to the bar of course). Some of the wives went off to Boundary Park (a very large shopping centre near Grantham) with their very own private
chauffeur in the shape of Dave Gilbody. Some went off to explore Worksop – fortunately we didn't hear their final report on the facilities Worksop has to offer!
Others explored Thoresby Hall and the grounds. Bill Jefferson signed up for the bowls tournament on the Wii game board and very nearly got seen off by a very old
lady who hadn't a clue what she was doing. Young William just managed to beat her by four points!
Dave Angood and Mike Lucas also had a go but shall we just say that the world of electronic bowling need not worry! This was the day that Eddie and Carol Venn
went off to Woodhall Spa to play golf. What I want you all to consider is this – Eddie and Carol left Devon early morning on the Wednesday and drove up to
Nottinghamshire. Eddie then managed to stay awake until the early hours and gave the bar staff a very good run for their money. On top of that he (with an
accomplice by the name of Aileen) managed to disturb the sequential dancers on the floor by doing a very energetic version of the jive. He was then up at the crack
of dawn, had breakfast, drove fifty or so miles to Woodhall Spa, played a round of golf, drove fifty or so miles back and still kept the bar staff up again that night until
the early hours. Now I put it to you – he has to be on something!
That night Peter Bylett and his wife Ruth joined us at dinner (and in the bar of course). He had just driven over from Anglesey to be with us and soon found himself
roped into the general fray of ex-apprentices.
At breakfast on Friday morning we were all surprised at how quickly the days had passed. The whole thing had been very enjoyable and it was really good to see
old faces and renew old friendships. We all reminisced like mad (although I am sure someone mentioned that nostalgia wasn't as good as it used to be!) At this
point I have to say that all libellous references (particularly to me) have been deleted from this report.
We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. However we are determined to get a 50th anniversary reunion organised. At the moment we have some very
tentative proposals but so you can think about it here they are:
13th September 2010 (we signed up on 13th September 1960) is a Monday. We thought that we might be able to obtain accommodation at the Caleb Hall Hotel in Old
Hunstanton. It only has 40 bedrooms but there's nothing bigger anywhere in the area. We thought we just might be able to fill the place and have the hotel to
ourselves. We thought arrive on the Monday, Celebration Dinner that night in the hotel followed on Tuesday by a trip to Bircham Newton. We might organise a bus
for the day but we would need to have some idea of numbers so we can work out transport requirements and costs.
I should be able to fix it up with the CITB at the camp for us to wander around. Perhaps we would find some place to have lunch (perhaps a trip to Sandringham
providing we don't tell the Queen beforehand) where we could have lunch in the restaurant, a stroll in the grounds or a visit to the house. Dinner would again be at
Caley Hall on the Tuesday evening and we are trying to come up with something for the Wednesday – perhaps at leisure in Hunstanton or perhaps a visit to our old
haunts in King's Lynn? Suggestions would be most welcome. The arrest warrants in King's Lynn should have expired by now! One last night in the hotel and then
disperse after breakfast on the Thursday.
We thought this might be more of a holiday break for people rather than just a short hop into the wilds of West Norfolk.
I will be checking out the hotel and Bircham Newton soon but of course if we do decide to go for this we will need to start booking accommodation fairly early to
ensure that in 18/19 months time we can accommodate everyone who wants to come. You can check it out yourself on line at www.CaleyHallHotel.co.uk If you are
interested then please let me know (telephone is 01366 500109 or e-mail me at barrie.loftus@virgin.net) and we can start planning the event. I know many of you
won’t believe I am a born again Virgin but trust me the e-mail address is correct! We had a few bob left over from the reunion so we do have limited funds available
to start placing deposits but we really do need to have some indication of how many would be interested so we can work out funding etc.
Photographs from the reunion at Thoresby Hall have been posted on the internet but keep checking the site from time to time since more might have been added.
To those without a computer I apologise but if you talk nicely to someone who has a computer I am sure you will be able to find the pictures – if not, give me a call
and I'll give a link to follow.
Finally, from Bill, Dave and myself a big thank you to everyone who made the reunion so enjoyable.
41st Entry Reunion - 16th-18th April 2012 At Thoresby Hall Nottinghamshire
On 17th April 1962, 75 members of the entry graduated (much to the surprise of many instructors) and managed to remember how to turn left and right in order to
complete their passing out parade. Fifty years later we met at Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire to celebrate the fact that most of us could still remember how to
turn left and right (one of the most valuable lessons ever instilled into us youngsters!)
We arrived at Thoresby on Monday, 16th April and, as is the way with former Apprentices, we soon congregated in the bar. That evening we were delighted to see
that the hotel management had allocated us our own dining room (probably to protect their other guests) and this certainly helped us all to renew old friendships.
We had a few foreigners amongst us – Des Skinner had come all the way from Oz (former penal colony – very appropriate), Ian Dennis had arrived from Cyprus and
Brian Granville had come to the UK from Cyprus via Australia (his sense of direction never was too good!) An honoured guest was Tom Goggin who, in the early
sixties, had had the unenviable task of trying to train some of our lot in the ways of supply. That he succeeded is a compliment to his courage and endeavour!
On Tuesday, 17th April we left everyone to their own devices during the day. Some used the spa facilities (we know them as masochists), some made full use of the
bar facilities (comment would be superfluous) and a few explored the area. Some went to Sherwood Forest where a well known chap took money from the rich to
give to the poor – unlike a certain well known chap in Westminster today who does exactly the opposite!
During the day we were subjected to a shock. Harry Gilbert (formerly of the 42nd) had managed to evade the police cordon and turned up to help us celebrate our
pass out from 50 years previously. Actually he said we should all bow to him because this time 50 years ago he was now the senior entry! That night at dinner we
had a few speeches – Eddie Venn chaired the proceedings and demonstrated once again how the English language had passed him by! Brian Granville responded
eloquently and told us that he had enjoyed his time at Bircham Newton. We all agreed that was only because he never got caught! Phil Oakley amazed us with a
few anecdotes and an amazing grasp of poetry (what a memory for one so ancient!) Finally Harry Gilbert regaled us with a few tales which cannot be repeated in
print for fear of retribution through the Courts.
Wednesday morning arrived much too soon and the so-called “organising committee” of Bill Jefferson, Dave Angood and myself (otherwise known as the
“lumbered”) bade everyone goodbye and a safe journey. I did suggest this was a dangerous thing to do with former members of the 41st entry – and so it turned
out. We have been asked to organise another reunion for 2014 when most of us will have hit the magic number of 70 years of age. Worry not therefore, we will be
attempting to obtain money from you at some stage in the future so that we can test our drinking arms once again. In the words of the famous old song “Don't
know where, don't know when” - but be assured we will be meeting again!
Barrie Loftus
April 2012
On 17th April 1962, 75 members of the entry graduated (much to the surprise of many instructors) and managed to remember how to turn left and right in order to
complete their passing out parade. Fifty years later we met at Thoresby Hall in Nottinghamshire to celebrate the fact that most of us could still remember how to
turn left and right (one of the most valuable lessons ever instilled into us youngsters!)
We arrived at Thoresby on Monday, 16th April and, as is the way with former Apprentices, we soon congregated in the bar. That evening we were delighted to see
that the hotel management had allocated us our own dining room (probably to protect their other guests) and this certainly helped us all to renew old friendships.
We had a few foreigners amongst us – Des Skinner had come all the way from Oz (former penal colony – very appropriate), Ian Dennis had arrived from Cyprus and
Brian Granville had come to the UK from Cyprus via Australia (his sense of direction never was too good!) An honoured guest was Tom Goggin who, in the early
sixties, had had the unenviable task of trying to train some of our lot in the ways of supply. That he succeeded is a compliment to his courage and endeavour!
On Tuesday, 17th April we left everyone to their own devices during the day. Some used the spa facilities (we know them as masochists), some made full use of the
bar facilities (comment would be superfluous) and a few explored the area. Some went to Sherwood Forest where a well known chap took money from the rich to
give to the poor – unlike a certain well known chap in Westminster today who does exactly the opposite!
During the day we were subjected to a shock. Harry Gilbert (formerly of the 42nd) had managed to evade the police cordon and turned up to help us celebrate our
pass out from 50 years previously. Actually he said we should all bow to him because this time 50 years ago he was now the senior entry! That night at dinner we
had a few speeches – Eddie Venn chaired the proceedings and demonstrated once again how the English language had passed him by! Brian Granville responded
eloquently and told us that he had enjoyed his time at Bircham Newton. We all agreed that was only because he never got caught! Phil Oakley amazed us with a
few anecdotes and an amazing grasp of poetry (what a memory for one so ancient!) Finally Harry Gilbert regaled us with a few tales which cannot be repeated in
print for fear of retribution through the Courts.
Wednesday morning arrived much too soon and the so-called “organising committee” of Bill Jefferson, Dave Angood and myself (otherwise known as the
“lumbered”) bade everyone goodbye and a safe journey. I did suggest this was a dangerous thing to do with former members of the 41st entry – and so it turned
out. We have been asked to organise another reunion for 2014 when most of us will have hit the magic number of 70 years of age. Worry not therefore, we will be
attempting to obtain money from you at some stage in the future so that we can test our drinking arms once again. In the words of the famous old song “Don't
know where, don't know when” - but be assured we will be meeting again!
Barrie Loftus
April 2012