Hello Chris,

Good to see you're still a going concern.

I emailed Middy a couple of weeks ago to say hello again but his email must have changed as no reply. I hope he's still with us, it get's a bit dodgy now, look at poor old Bob Barratt.

I'm completely out of touch with any of our 219 mates,  I couldn't get to the last reunion as the family break up got in the way, I didn't say much about it at the time so hopefully didn't appear too miserable by not going.  This year I'm in the middle of moving house and making a new life in Exeter, gliding and if I get one, sailing a boat. Also trying not to kill myself on the bike.

I was at Halton on 27th July at my eldest boy's pass out parade. That's 2 pass outs this year, the youngest in January to be an Armourer and the eldest who will be a Rigger.

OMG !!! the memories, I told the boys about when we put you in the locker and left you in the WRAF block.  Nothing personal, it was just SO funny. Us Kids eh !?  I 've got all the names if you need to get your own back, Cyril was one of them.   I had a great time there and still have fond memories, all our blokes were a great bunch, I can't think of anyone I didn't like and when you consider how many of us there were together that's pretty good.

There were more on this forum before it was renewed.  It's a pity we can't advertise.
 

Hi Guys.

John Deering here, room one.
Still alive and kicking after forty years.
Recently hung up my "hi vis" jacket with Aer Lingus in Dublin.
So you could say the Halton years and a few more elsewhere, helped me earn a crust subsequently.
I have kept an eye on this and other sites the last couple of years and the window project in particular has stood as something worthwhile.
Somewhat surprised that no plans seem to be in place for a 219 window (in St Georges church Halton) and given its the fortieth anniversary this year of our induction (tempest fugit), Dave Robinson (ex Fury Flight) with a little help from myself, have kickstarted the first stages i.e setting up a website with a pledge form for the funds necessary, if thats successful, further down the road.. suggestions for the design and creation of the window.  The rafhaaa website has a good feature on the whole scheme

The website for pledges is www.halton219-window.org.uk/form.html

Dave has gotten a very good response from some of his ex fury flighters, hope we can do the same.
Bye for now.
John Deering       

Bloody hell, I do remember you Al how are tricks? I don't know if you remember me I knocked about with Cyril Lord, Ian Midson and Steve Lawrence amongst others. I'd be grateful if you did have a contact for Ian, I have an inclination towards organising a get together in October. I was down in Wendover a couple of weeks ago and found a pub that can provide a meal/room and accomodation for some, it's a bit pricey but it looked good. if you are interested please let me have any details of 219'ers you have.

Regards

Chris Makinson.   

Hi Al

Yes sad news about Bar Rat.

Great to hear from you and pleased to hear you're keeping the faith with your Rocket 3!

I had my trusty NTV 650 stolen from my drive and for the first time in nearly 40 years find myself bikeless! - Although I did recently acquire a 350 Suzuki trailbike in exchange for a website I knocked up for a punter. Needs work for an MOT though.

Congrats on making chief tech and staying the course - I never got past J/T! I bailed out to take up a civvy flying career - which was good sport until it ground to halt due to family issues. I do web things and create custom software applications now. Keeps me amused.

Have you registered for the 219th's stained glass window? - http://www.halton219-window.org.uk
Could be an opportunity for a big get together
 
Cheers
Dave Robinson

Another brat surfaced from the dim and fondly remembered past.

Room 1, third on the right, usually asleep, often with a tube of toothpaste dribbled into my open, drooling, sleeping face. Red hair, scruffy, voluntary bandsman, had the dubious honour of getting promoted to LA and taken away from my room mates which is the only bit of our time there I regret.

I have lots of fond memories of Halton and I'm so glad we shared those 2 years.

Very upset last night to discover poor old Bar Rat has passed on which is what prompted me to register.  I have a sneaky idea that he was commissioned.  I'm sure I met him in Germany and he was wearing a big hat !!

Smiffy kept appearing in the odd brass band and he was at the Derby Reunion,  Ian Midson is a postie in Banbury, I may have a contact for him.

Les Polden lives down here in Devon, last I spoke to him he was commuting to Lyneham as a Chief,  about 10 years ago.

How did I do.
Well.... I got to Chief Tech with a long gong and a Gulf War medal (with 208sgn in Bahrain).  2 marriages, 3 lovely kids. 2 sons just training in the RAF, one at Halton training to be a Rigger, the youngest at Cosford to be an Armourer. Lots of motorbikes, I still ride a 2.3 Triumph Rocket 3. Just taken up gliding again after a gap of 30 years.

Biggest regret, leaving the RAF on redundacy in 1996.

Crikey! - I was F Flight but certainly remember you and your lot being second only to Ron Price's flight.

I do have some contacts from Anson Flight so will try and remind them to login and get their own back.... 

Do look in from time to time and hopefully this message board will show a little more signs of life.

still no answers.what happened to al blanshard?

 
Hello you shower. Your favourite Sergeant here. Nice to hear from any of you. I left the RAF in 1985 after 24years and joined the Prison Service for 20 years and now I live a life of an OAP listening to all the PCness crap of today and wondering how we would have got through if someone had thought up Political Correctness in 1971

... looking into the sign up and login issues now.

Hi again, I've got in touch with Paul Sullivan he tried to log in but couldn't because there were no letters in the test box to register. I must admit I too had a the same problem but chose to hear the letters and they came trough om audible. I wonder if this is why so few have logged in and left messages.