AS WE WERE


Mike Hines

Top of the Entry, received the Queen's Colour; Awarded Cranwell Cadetship and won Sword of Honour; became a Wg Cdr and 
commanded 617 Squadron (Vulcans); 
PVR'd to start an antiques business

Dave Williams

who kept his bike at a local farm and who later became a highly qualified airline captain"

 


Norman Blondel

who emigrated to Canada to join the RCAF,
and became a prize winning
military newspaper editor"

John Harris
(Goat Boy)

later became a Sqn Ldr and opening batsman
for Malta CC.

Ernie Sutton

did over 200 days janks and worked his ticket, but later rejoined the RAF and became a Sgt


 


  Lionel Parkin

The Flight Sergeant Apprentice who commanded the Escort Squadron when the Queen presented Her Colour. 
Became a Wg Cdr

Mick White

once threatened to shoot the OC No 41
NZ Squadron. 

Mike Lethbridge

Mike Lethbridge was the leader 
of the Military Band, departed the RAF early and became Assistant 
Chief Test Engineer with Rolls Royce.

 

Min Larkin

despite doing 49 days 
jankers and spending some time in the guardroom served just short of 45 years in the RAF and became a Group Captain

 

Peter Papworth

Awarded a Cadetship to Cranwell,
became a Wing Commander and
Chief Flying Instructor at RAF Oakington
Jim Hicks

Famously took the only photograph of the Halton Tornado in 1950, bought himself out of the Service and became a Contracts 
Engineer purchasing equipment for Nuclear Power Stations		 Ackers Money

Ackers Money, Served his 12 years, civilian employment unknown but sadly died of a heart attack aged 50.
Bellow Barker

'Served his 12 years in the RAF and then emigrated to New Zealand where he set 
up his own electrical house wiring company. 
After retiring from this in 1999 he went into property development'
Sid Richardson

bought himself out after a few years 
Service and went into industry
 Jones

discharged in the first year
 Phil Small

Transferred to airmen training in year two
Raja Tassaduq Hussein
(Jam Jar)
 Mike Smith

left the service in 1955 and went into Engineering Design, a career in Martial Arts started at Halton with Judo, and he is now 7th dan Aikido. Was also involved in Archery and headed up the Olympic Squad running up to the Moscow Olympic Games.		 Abdul Azziz Khan
Bob Jones

Served 27 years in the RAF retired as  Flight Sergeant and qualified as a carer and teacher 
of Mentally Handicapped Adults
Irvin Keen

Served 22 years in the RAF, retired as a 
Chief Technician and became a publican		 Keith Youlden

Was Pipe Major of the Halton drums, and is still to this day a highly talented piper.
He wrote the history of the Halton pipe bands.
Became a Wg Cdr Engineer
Vic Blake

started flying training soon after leaving 
Halton and became a pilot in 
Fighter Command		  


" Frank Littlehales 
probably on janks"

 

63rd-150909-6.jpg (28946 bytes)
"Peter Bradley who became a Shackleton 
pilot and served on 205 Squadron , 
Singapore, where he and Min Larkin 
were in the same crew.

 

 Derek Smith

killed in a motor cycle accident in 1955 whilst waiting to start Navigator training
Brian Steer

"Brian died suddenly on 19th June 1976 at age 43. 
He was serving at St Athan at the time as a Flight Lieutenant, but was commuting weekly from
Cranwell where he had been previously as an 
education officer teaching officer cadets".
Derek Kimpton

"Took demob after serving his 12 years 
and worked initially at Rolls Royce 
and later until retirement at age 60 
with C.E.G.B specialising in instrumentation/control of test beds".

 
Gus White

"Purchased his discharge in 1957 and held posts in aircraft engineering with Hunting 
Clan, Eagle Airways, BEA and finally with 
British Airways where he stayed for 31 years".
 


M Ahraf, Electrician, who met his end 
at the end of a rope after shooting 
7 others in a gambling den 

 

Bob Lawrence

'Bob retired from the RAF after 25 years 
and then worked for Ruston Gas Turbines 
in Lincoln for another 25 years as an 
electrical draughtsman. 
Sadly he died aged 70"

 Frank Lock
Les Nash

Sgt Apprentice who won a cadetship to 
Henlow. After graduation  qualified as a 
pilot, but served a full career in the 
engineering branch attaining the rank of 
Wing Commander."  		 


M A Khan Electrician who became a 
Squadron Leader in the RPAF and 
later qualified as a Lawyer.

 

 

Chaudry Electrician who came top of the Pakistanis and was in the top few of the entry
as a whole. He became a Group Captain in the RPAF and is now retired living in Canada 

 


Peter Dowler
" Retired at age 40 as a Chief Technician having been awarded the BEM in the New Years Honours List 1969 for services to Central Flying School (Helicopters). Then worked in various  engineering posts (mainly industrial) in several places  including Brunei and Oman" 		Denis Thomas(AKA Sir Rowland) who lived a very lonely life and died in sad circumstances in May 2012

"Peter Dowler and Paul Roberts outside Peter's house in 1951. Paul Roberts was last known to be at RAF Watton in 1957".
 

Doug Till. Ex 61st but came to 63 rd after 18 months.
 Became a Chief Technician and was awarded an AOCs Commendation. Turned down a commission to
stay in Service to qualify as a teacher.
He taught Technical Drawing and Engineering retiring in 1992

 

 

 

 

'Syed Ali .Armourer. After service in the
RPAF settled in London and had
a successful career in inport/export sales,
then started his own travel agency finally
entering the teaching profession before
retiring to spend much of his time
traveling the world." 

 

  

David Exton. After his initial 12 years he moved to Hemel Hempstead and worked at Rotax on aircraft electrical systems. He later moved to Handley Page on Victors before finishing his career as Production Engineer at J. Ilkensons.