I joined the RAF in September 1960 as an Admin Apprentice at Bircham-Newton and graduated SAC supplier 1 in May 1962. Failed the education part of the course so didn’t make J/T!
Posted to Scampton, worked in R&D and eventually transferred to POL. I got sick of Supply so I applied for and attended a movements course at Abingdon in 1964. I met an old apprentice friend, Derek Beard, who was on MAMS at the time. His tales got me interested!
Got posted to Muharraq movements in December 1964. Became trim clerk soon thereafter, turned 21. Posted back home to Lyneham in December 1965 to Role Equipment. I quite enjoyed that as I mostly worked shifts with airframe fitters and not in the office.
Eventually applied for UKMAMS and was accepted in about June 1967. First job was to the States with John Furney among others. Quite an eye-opener to be in San Francisco at the height of the Flower Power era! Next job to Nairobi with Geordie Redman and Stan Brown (quite a pair!) and I thought “this is the job for me!
Posted to Scampton, worked in R&D and eventually transferred to POL. I got sick of Supply so I applied for and attended a movements course at Abingdon in 1964. I met an old apprentice friend, Derek Beard, who was on MAMS at the time. His tales got me interested!
Got posted to Muharraq movements in December 1964. Became trim clerk soon thereafter, turned 21. Posted back home to Lyneham in December 1965 to Role Equipment. I quite enjoyed that as I mostly worked shifts with airframe fitters and not in the office.
Eventually applied for UKMAMS and was accepted in about June 1967. First job was to the States with John Furney among others. Quite an eye-opener to be in San Francisco at the height of the Flower Power era! Next job to Nairobi with Geordie Redman and Stan Brown (quite a pair!) and I thought “this is the job for me!
I’m still married to my pen pal and have had 2 kids, Chris 27 and Sarah 23. Chris graduated from Purdue University about 4 years ago and Sarah will graduate from the same University in May. We live in Crown Point, Indiana, about 40 miles south east of Chicago and we love it.
UKMAMS was definitely the highlight of my RAF career. Great guys and a great spirit. Someone recently wrote it was the closest thing to a regiment and I couldn’t agree more. It certainly changed my life.
Thanks Tony for keeping this site going. It’s like a connection to home and awakens lots of terrific memories. I appreciate it.
UKMAMS was definitely the highlight of my RAF career. Great guys and a great spirit. Someone recently wrote it was the closest thing to a regiment and I couldn’t agree more. It certainly changed my life.
Thanks Tony for keeping this site going. It’s like a connection to home and awakens lots of terrific memories. I appreciate it.
I got posted to Nordhorn (Germany) in June 1970. Nordhorn was a bombing range with a total compliment of about 36 men. It was about 75 miles from the nearest British military which suited me just fine. Good posting but back in boring Supply again. Unfortunately during this time the trade split into Supply and Movements and I was in the wrong one and couldn’t get back into movements no matter how many times I complained.
So posted back to Electronics Supply at Lyneham in December 1972. I was still writing to my American pen pal and I visited her twice in 1973 and got engaged. Demobbed in December 1973 and emigrated a few days later and we got married in January 1974.
I started work as a Structural Steel draftsman that same month. Had no idea what I was doing but eventually learned. I’ve worked for 5 companies during the last 34 years and am now the Chief Draftsman at my present company.
So posted back to Electronics Supply at Lyneham in December 1972. I was still writing to my American pen pal and I visited her twice in 1973 and got engaged. Demobbed in December 1973 and emigrated a few days later and we got married in January 1974.
I started work as a Structural Steel draftsman that same month. Had no idea what I was doing but eventually learned. I’ve worked for 5 companies during the last 34 years and am now the Chief Draftsman at my present company.
Promoted to the lofty heights of corporal in 1969. I have great memories of lots of terrific guys. Among them are Ray Clark, Dave Edwards, Reg Carey, John Dunston, Bernie Bernard, Eddie Grace, Ed Mottram, Ken Davie, and Bobbie Atcheson. Not so good memories of Dave Hammond and his mutant weasel side kick whose name I have erased from memory!
While on MAMS I got a USA pen pal from Steve Phare. I think Bobbie Atcheson was supposed to write to her but I took over. More about that later.
While on MAMS I got a USA pen pal from Steve Phare. I think Bobbie Atcheson was supposed to write to her but I took over. More about that later.