DRY DOCKED, AND RETURN

After the Annual Maintenance of the Jetfoil had been carried out, not without its problems as you can well imagine, all the Maintenance Staff bar me were laid off. The 'Ship's Officers and Stewards' returned to the Cross Channel Ferries belonging to the Company. For the next couple of months I did what was necessary to keep the craft 'ship shape' while it was moored on the River Liffey. It became apparent that the Annual Overhaul, to put it mildly, had not 'gone well', and I started to check out all the systems in detail. A few months later the Jetfoil was dry-docked in 'Tyrell's Boat Yard, Arklow, some 50 miles S of Dublin. The Sail Training Ship Askard and the Gypsy Moth Yacht had been constructed there in the magnificent purpose built facilities and it was interesting to chat to the 3 generations of family. I went down every week to continue the checks and run up the systems and really enjoyed the time. I had decided to accept an offer to rejoin the RAF as I now 'owned' my house and was financially stable

In Sep 82 I arrived at RAF Lyneham without my family and within a very short time I had settled in to the change of life. My WO did not agree and spent much of his time reminding me that I 'could not do that etc' owing to 'Regulations', Custom or Chain of Command. He was probably correct at times but the previous 3 years of having free rein had changed my outlook on getting things done in a short time scale. After about 9 months he grudgingly admitted that many things had changed for the better; without any adverse safety implications and that moral was far improved. As was common in those days I was sent on an EOD and IED course to return as the Station Expert! 'Just the job' I thought as I had enjoyed my regular demolition trips to Pembrey Sands Range when I was at RAF Brawdy in 1976 to 1979. After 2 weeks I realised that unlike many courses where a 4 weeks course was 'crammed into 5 weeks or more', this was for real and for once I had to 'Study' to succeed! Although brought up in Sussex I had never been to the Chatham area and enjoyed the area and the unusual course.

I got back into aero modelling and renewed my enthusiasm for Squash. Little was I to realise that 23 years later I would return to many of my flying sites in the area after attending our 50 anniversary gathering in the RAC at Cirencester. In fact I enjoyed the experience so much I returned the following year for 3 days. My Wife, 5 children and our dog Blackie joined me the following year and we had a very pleasant tour. The Shipping Company I had worked for agreed to loan me a 40-foot container and transport it from my home in Ireland to my new address. I had filled the container and was about to load the Triumph Daytona when a guy appeared saying he wished to buy it. A deal was struck and I thought that was the end of the story. However about a year ago, I was sitting in a local 'Pub' when a 20 stone guy sidled up to me and asked if I was Adrian Charles Gates! I reluctantly replied in the affirmative while looking for the best escape route. He then said in a matter of fact voice that he was in possession of my Daytona and that the engine had been used in a 'Grass Track Racing Bike' for several years and he had got my name from the Log Book. It is a small world!

One incident at Lyneham still stands out in my memory. OC Eng Wing called me to his office and informed me that the Americans were bringing in a convoy through the 'back' of the airfield at 3 am that night. I reminded him that there was a wood there and they could not get through. "Have you seen the size of their vehicles'', he retorted! My task was to ensure that no one or any thing was in their way and it did not matter how I achieved the task, however, I could not let on to anyone what was going to happen! Come 3 am I heard and saw the convoy approaching and then HUGE vehicles emerged after smashing through the wood. What a sight, and to think that the 'Greenham Common Ladies' had threatened to stop the convoy by laying down in front of it! I certainly understood the reason and importance of my task, but why me?

I thought that I would be 'double' toured at Lyneham, owing to both its varied employment opportunities and my family's education, A and O levels for the 3 eldest. Alas I was short toured and posted to Brize Norton, but I could not retain my Married Quarter! It was not possible to match up the school curriculum in the Brize Norton area and so reluctantly private schools were investigated. To cut a long story short it was arranged that the older twins would attend a school in Ireland and Maria would attend a school in Oswestry. As such disruption was likely in the future Betty returned to our house in Drogheda to be near the older twins. Such is life! Prior to March Out (what a term) Maria (16), Paul and Andrew (13) and of course Blackie, set off by train from Swindon to return to Ireland via London and the tube, Holyhead, the boat to Dublin and train to Drogheda. The youngest twins (6) were put on a plane from Bristol to Dublin where a relation picked them up. Is it surprising that in later life they all became great travellers of the World? Betty and I then packed up house and returned to Ireland in her beloved red Mini leaving my trusty Renault 16 for my return. Next stop RAF Brize Norton!