Hello everyone reading the UKMAMS OBA website. I thought that I might add a few words to those who have put pen to paper (old terminology) before me. You can see from my postings that I joined as an aircraft apprentice, graduated as a corporal airframe fitter and pedalled along at that for a couple of years before I applied to go aircrew as a pilot.

However, that was not to be because my hearing level had been damaged by high intensity sound both in my employment as well as the sport I excelled at - full bore shooting.  (See the Halton picture as captain of the team receiving our trophy, front row, second from left) So, I cut my losses, finished with the sport of shooting and became an equipment officer.
Back in 1970, I was a DAMO at RAF Changi, Singapore. One busy evening on shift with the schedule VC 10 turn-around carrying the usual complement of pax plus a couple of VIPs; two Hercs from RAF Lyneham - one a schedule; the other a special. There was also a Britannia trainer carrying RAF air trooping pax.

With all these aircraft being worked on for departure a tropical storm erupted. Then my radio reported the arrival of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol Freighter of No 41 Sqn., based at RAF Changi but - this time from Vietnam - it had arrived in Squadron lines and had pax!  I responded that they had a low priority and would be collected when a bus was available.

The rain persisted and finally a bus was despatched to collect the 41 Sqn pax who had been sheltering under the aircraft wings! They were taken to the inbound lounge for the usual pax processing. I thought no more of it and dealt with the other ac departures. It was them that my radio called me to attend the VIP lounge ASAP!

On arrival at the lounge I met a very upset brigadier. I recognised him as Chief of Staff of the Singapore Brigade. Of course, I immediately apologised that he had be collected last but owing to the circumstances I was not aware of his arrival beforehand. He agreed that as an indulgence passenger he knew that he had no special privileges.
However, after waiting under the aircraft wing they were taken by bus to the terminal and processed. What had caused him so much annoyance was that the RAF police immigration chose to call forward by rank. He then assumed that he would be given first processing - but no! Finally with only the brigadier left in the lounge the RAF corporal called for "Bombardier Worsley!" That was the limit! Apparently the Americans had given the brigadier the wrong rank initials on the manifest. Hence the misunderstanding.
The Equipment Branch changed it's name to Supply & Movements in 1970 or thereabouts and after my tour in Singapore I arrived on UKMAMS at Abingdon in 1972. My team, India, comprised Flight Sergeant Tony Lamb, Sergeant Mervyn Cork, Corporal Keith Simmons and SACs Taff Eynon and Fred Kitts. I then became the Operations Officer and we then relocated from Abingdon to Lyneham. The rest of my history is on my postings list.
SAMO RAF Aldergrove,  1983 - 1985  4th from left, front row
1958 - 1961 90th Entry Aircraft Apprentice.  No.1 School of Tech Training RAF Halton
1961 - 1963 Corporal - No.60  MU, RAF Church Fenton / RAF Dishforth
1963 - 1964 Officer Cadet Training Unit, RAF Feltwell
1964 - Flying Officer, Supernumerary Officer, HQFTC, RAF Shinfield Park, Reading
1964 - Equipment Officers' course, RAF Upwood
1965 - 1967 OC Disposals, 114 MU, RAF Steamer Point, Aden
1967 - 1969 OC Domestic Supply, RAF Marham
1969 - Flight Lieutenant, Senior Air Movements Course, RAF Abingdon
1969 - 1970 Senior Air Movements Officer, RAF Abingdon
1970 - 1971 Duty Air Movements Officer, RAF Changi, Singapore
1972 - 1974 Team Leader, UKMAMS, RAF Abingdon
1974 - 1975 Operations Officer, UKMAMS, RAF Abingdon / RAF Lyneham
1975 - 1978 OC Supply, RAF Bracknell
1978 - 1981 Air Movements 1, HQ 38 Group, RAF Upavon
1981 - 1983 OC Stocktaking,  No.16 MU, RAF Stafford
1983 - 1985 Senior Air Movements Officer, RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland
1985 - 1987 Supply 3a2 (Mov) HQSTC, RAF High Wycombe
1987 - 1989 Contingency Plans 1a, HQSTC, RAF High Wycombe
1990 -1991   No.30 MU, RAF Sealand
25 July 1991 RETIREMENT
So, I retired on my 50 birthday in 1991; set out to find a job, which proved impossible, so I decided to do some driving. I joined an agency and became a 7.5 tonner driver.

The photograph shows me after having just returned from a 100 mile cycle ride - taken at our house in Cheadle Hulme
In 1999 we moved house to Marlborough and I joined the agency Driver Hire and also I work as a part-time driver for the Hire Center in Cheney Manor, Swindon.

I'm thoroughly enjoying myself with no more responsibility and it's up to me whether I work or not!  To my way of thinking - it suits me down to the ground!
This is a picture of the Hire Center wagon outside the center in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon
This is the 7.5 tonne truck I drove being loaded at Wooton Bassett
I left the Hire Center and went back to Driver Hire. This time I was sent to a company in Wootton Bassett called Fleetwood UK, manufacturing windows and doors for commercial property. To cut a long story short they asked me if I would be their driver and they would pay me £50 per day - I agreed and I worked for them for about three years until I reached my 65th birthday and I then retired.

My wife, Elaine, who was a PMRAFNS has a job as a part-time dental receptionist, so we have time for each other now that the children have left home.

In 2013 we moved to Ewhurst, Surrey - which is more befitting for a retired couple!