Dorsetmike
Member
Having read some of ODLDUDE's, Colin's and Stu's brief reminiscences in the Jazz forum decided to start this thread as it's not really Jazz oriented.
In 1951 I started a twelve year term in the RAF at seventeen and a half, a few years I later succumbed to an offer of £300 to extend it to age 55 with an option at 22 years. Was in Cyprus April 56-May 57 at Akrotiri, so we weren't far apart then John.
Happy days!
In 1951 I started a twelve year term in the RAF at seventeen and a half, a few years I later succumbed to an offer of £300 to extend it to age 55 with an option at 22 years. Was in Cyprus April 56-May 57 at Akrotiri, so we weren't far apart then John.
we Air Force types always went to the Wednesday "Grab a Granny" nights (girls over 21 got in free) much better hit rate! Places like Stafford, Shrewsbury, Swindon and Bristol come to mind. The Bristol venue was in the basement of a Hotel overlooking Clifton Gorge and looking up at the Clifton Suspension bridge. The main attraction for us RAF types was the number of Hospitals in Bristol (= lotsa nurses), plus a training centre for telephonists, it was a 35 mile run from our base in Wiltshire, my poor old Ford side valve estate would be well full of bodies, who donated enough to cover the petrol and admission. We obviously had to stop first at the sherry cellars in the town centre, to imbibe some necessary lubrication. The return trip was usually interesting, there was a rather nasty hill between Bristol and Chippenham with a nasty bend at the bottom precluding getting a run at the hill, meaning a long grind in second gear.
Happy days!
