Attending the recent triennial and then meeting with the lads afterwards in the Holiday Inn I was struck by the number of blokes I spoke to who had left the Service early by purchase. It seems to me that the Service lost a great deal of talent usually as a result of unreasonable postings One does not like to pry but I got to thinking about my early career. After graduation I went with several others to RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. The aircraft were Vampires of various marks.

Following a short time in the Engine Bay I was moved into the hangar and was placed on the engine change team. There followed a period of learning (how little we knew when we graduated). I had already recognised that I knew that the square root of the proverbial so asked to go on and engine course for the DeHavilland Goblin. After a short time I was hauled into the F/Sgts's office, where I remember there was a huge desk and lots of carpet and this person, the Flight Sergeant, occupying the chair. He proceeded to rip me off a strip leaving me in no doubt that, in his opinion, I and my like, had cost the country enough and there would be no course for me. Having called me a cheeky young b****r for the last time I was sent on my way.

About a week later I was again summoned to his presence (because that is what it was - a presence) to be told that one of his NCOs had been forced to drop out of the course and, although I was still a cheeky young b****r I was to go. I had better make a good job of it however.

The course was straight forward because studying was still in the bone. I passed and was in fact top of the complete thing. Upon my return to Valley I was again summoned to the F/Sgt's office. I will name him now as Tom Baird. ''Come in lad sit down'' was his greeting. He was over the moon that this cheeky young b****r had achieved top slot. The point of this story comes with his next remark.

He reminded me once again that I was still a cheeky young b****r but he admired the way I had asked in the first place. He said that for the rest of my career I should remember ''Never to let myself become a number, if you want anything ask'' . Those words were filed in my mind, alongside the advice given to me by my parents. I often wonder what happened to Tom Baird. I have no idea how old he was at the time. He looked old - just as the grey haired lads of our Entry look young. His words had a massive influence on my career....but that's another story.

{ An interesting point regarding early discharge by purchase . Maybe others will write in with their comments. Look forward to that other story Dave! Ed.}