| Nineteenth Entry |
Have You Any Photographs Or Other Memories Of the 19th Entry RAF Administrative Apprentices? If So You Can E-Mail Them To: |
 | |  | |  |
| Obituary Gerry Ions Gerry joined the Association in November 2202 and became a committee member in 2005. On joining the committee he was appointed as the Association Almoner, an office that he was well suited for, being an honorary welfare officer for RAFA and also involved in welfare work for SSAFA and the Royal British Legion. During his period of office he did not enjoy the best of health but he carried out his duties diligently and with compassion and understanding. In August 2009 he resigned as Association Almoner due to ill health and unfortunately died a couple of weeks later. Gerry will probably be best remembered by Association members for the somewhat unusual way in which he delivered his report at the AGM. He will be missed as a Committee Member and the Association has lost a valued member. His funeral service was held at St Mary’s Church, Calne on 24th August, followed by a committal at Semington Crematorium. The Association was represented by Peter Follett(20th), Don Roper (20th) and Jim Wilcox (5th). Also in attendance was Robbie Barkman (316th) |
| Number 1: The Square at RAF St Athan in 1953 was reputed to be the largest in the UK. St Athan certainly had the largest real estate of any UK RAF station with East and West Camps. In those days we worked on Saturday mornings and once a month there would be a station parade. With lots of assets, including many aircraft, it was a wing parade with ample room for everyone and the march past seemed to take an eternity. Number 2: This photo was taken before church parade and would be in May '53. The two likely lads are Freary and Brown. Freary was called both Wes and Tom, though mostly Tom, and his initials were WTW. Graeme Brown was called Spider, though I can't recall why. Number 3: Nothing to add to this photograph, though it was taken on the same day - shortly after weld joined. Graeme (Spider) Brown and Tony Parsons. Number 4: Can't recall how the junior entry was allowed to stand around in such a manner. Front Row: David Short (Trog), Banger Squib, Tom Freary and David Smith. Not certain of all the others but I can spot Don Mortlock, Jennings, Basil Burr, Stevens (as opposed to Stephens and we had one of each), and Derek Hobden. (Derek Hobden has a good memory for faces.) Number 5: Tony Parsons posing with a 303 Lee-Enfield at Porthcawl Summer Camp 154 and not about to frighten anyone! Number 6: Porthcawl Summer Camp 154. Wes (also called Tom) Freary and Gerry (also called Geordie) Ions. Number 7: This photo is in Trenchard Lines at RAF Hereford. It shows some of the 19th Entry returning from Summer Camp 154 and the guy on the bike is an instructor who is about to put a bomb under this motley crew. It's a poor photo and it is difficult to pick out the faces. At the left of the middle group is Thacker and at the left of the last pair is Banger Squib. (Again Derek Hobden may help.) Number 8: This is a better photo of the 19th coming back from Summer camp 154 and is also in Trenchard Lines at Hereford. (!9th occupied No 173). Front row is Basil Burr and Stephens. Back row is Banger Squib, Thacker, David (Trog) Short, Graeme (Spider) Brown and Stevens. (David Short was a member of the Salvation Army and an outstanding bandsman on many instruments. The apprentice band at St Athan and Hereford relied on him.) |
| Thanks to Tony Parsons for providing these last 8 pictures. His identifying notes are shown below. |
| Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Association |
RAFAAA
| Multum A Parvo |
