RootsChat.Com

Hello Folks,

I'm Jim Haig and I was stationed at RAF Haydock,NWCC (North West Comms. Centre)
from December 1962 until the beginning of 1964,  an LAC Tel II, working in the TASS
Commcen under the slagheap.
I met my wife at Haydock, she was, then, Margaret Lamb, an SACW Telephone Supervisor, working in the PMBX, down the corridor from the Commcen.
My route to NWCC was via RAF Cosford,  and as an ex-Brat, Haydock was my first real
posting.
Margaret came via Spitalgate and Compton Basset and was at Haydock from the end of 1961 until the beginning of 1964.

We both have very happy memories of Haydock as it was a very friendly camp.
Top of the pile was a Warrant Officer Tulloch, who was a Watch DSO and used to
visit the WRAFs on Nightshift to make sure they were OK. It was certainly spooky
down that long dark corridor past the Commcen and down to the PABX!
A Warrant Officer Roberts also has a claim to fame, a bit stricter than Mr. Tulloch,
but as time proved, a man of sterling character.

I used to stand Watch with 'Spud' Murphy, the brother of eminent Rugby player Alec
Murphy. Both Spud and Alec were National Servicemen.
On the same watch there was a NS SAC Teleg Called 'Joe' who used to play the clarinet.
He used to stand in the PMBX corridor on nightshift and play 'Stranger on the Shore.'
Very Evocative !

During 1963 I evapourated to Brunei/Sarawak on an 'Emergency Standby Draft' but
came back to Haydock in time to be captured by the 'Y' scheme and exiled to RAF
Digby in early 1964.

Incidentally, the Spider Club name came about because Haydock was a member of Signals Command and as such, the Commcen could win an award from Command HQ called a 'SPIDER'. This was awarded if a Commcen sent a certain amount of Tape Relay/TASS messages without a single error. This was a highly sought after award amongst RAF Commcens !

Among the people we jointly remember from Haydock were:-

SACW Pam Smith - Should have been our Bridesmaid - but didn't show up!
SACW 'Tuppence' - a wee Welsh Lassie
SACW 'Wendy' - slightly larger Welsh Lassie !
SACW 'Elf' Leslie - from Fort William - was engaged to a lad at Haydock.
The Cleaning Lady in the WRAF Block who used to get the Lassies Fags On Tick!
F/O Woodcock (WRAF)
W/O Rice (WRAF) - o/i/c - the Mess - Great Poached Eggs on Toast!
Sgt Atherton - MOD Policeman
WO Tulloch - Commcen DSO
WO Roberts - Commcen DSO
Cpl 'Spud' Murphy - Commcen DSM
SAC 'Joe' - Commcen Nightshift Clarinet Player Extraordinare !

One final memory. In early (January '63?) I was detailed to take part in a Military Funeral
of a Sgt who had been stationed at Haydock. I guess this was because I was still Smart and Shiny from Boys Service and knew a bit of Ceremonial Drill!

If we have jointly jogged to memory of anyone out there who could flesh out our
memories of Haydock we would be pleased to hear from you.

Thanks

J+M