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Welcome to the sixth edition of
The Journal
"TRUMPETER, WHAT ARE YOU SOUNDING
NOW?"
My reason for the above title is to broach the subject of Blowing
One's Own Trumpet.Doing such a thing is not viewed well by blokes of our
generation and upbringing. Boastful! Big Headed! Braggart! There are plenty
more of these sorts of epithets levelled at those who are thought to be
blowing their own trumpet. However there is a difference in some
one being asked to give a tune on their instrument to that of some one
who shatters the quiet with an uninvited rendition.
As far as this Journal is concerned all are invited to "give a tune"
It goes without saying, but I will say it none the less, that none of
our entry are boastful, bigheaded or braggarts. We all have tales to tell,
of our time in the RAF and in Civvy Street, which are not just of interest
to us but are also history!
It's a sobering thought but history is what we are. How many of us have
had their grandchildren coming to us when they are 'doing' The Second
World War in school? (I soon put them right when they refer to it as WW2)
Two out of my three have already asked me about life as an evacuee and
the third one will probably be so doing this coming year. I expect it
is the same for many of us; we have become a teaching and learning resource!!
! I also expect that most of us have done a bit of research into family
history? (It seems to come with age!) Don't we all wish that we had listened
to old Aunty Glad/Uncle Bert, even our parents, when they were banging
on about the old days instead of making a dash for the nearest exit? Think
how pleased you would be if when doing research on your ancestors you
came across some thing written by an ancestor regarding his/her life?
Look on articles written for the entry journal as artefacts left for your
descendants, it may even prompt you to write a full life history for your
descendants to marvel over in the far future.
There is also the position of the Entry. Every Halton entry considers
itself to be unique and The Best. Which of course they are to their own
members. However the merits, or otherwise, of any entry are judged by
others, mainly on that intangible, ethereal quality "Entry Spirit".
A quality that defies definition but is recognised when encountered. This
Entry has that quality, and one of the manifestations of it is how and
what the members of the 81st did, both during their service and after.
Not necessary what high rank or position obtained (but that goes into
the mix) but how adaptable, resilient and resourceful they have been throughout
their service and civvy life.
Our entry can boast of an ex sludge- gulper driver who became a highly
regarded and successful lawyer; of a former inmate of the 'Glasshouse
' becoming a Senior Engineer responsible for the maintenance of oil drilling
rigs; of a common or garden armourer becoming the Headmaster of his own
school in Chile. There are many others who have achieved much,
in many varied occupations, and of course those who have served long,
faithful and fruitful, years in the RAF.
So come and blow your trumpet. Not for your own glorification but as a
factual account for your descendants; for a resource for future researchers
into The RAF Apprenticeship Scheme and lastly, but probably more importantly,
for the honour and due recognition, of our illustrious Entry!
The
Dreaded Defect - Dave Sidgwick 681112 Engines
At last... the one you have been waiting for!
The Concluding Adventures of Mike Stanley
The
Hills Are Alive...but the telephones are dead!
From
Frying Pan to Fire!.............Part the Second - Malcolm Binks 681170
Eng/Fitt (S)
Another steps up to tell us of his time in the RAF
The
Early Years Adrian Gates - Armourer
My
Life Phase 2 - Civvy St - Far East - Frank Chammings
How
many days ' Janks ' did you do? - Willie Keays
The
Continuing Story of Martin McArthur - Leuchars and Luffing
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