RAF Negombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1950-1951 (after leaving Bridgnorth.)

[Tricia_2]

Hi All

After a few weeks at RAF Bridgnorth, my late father, Dave Neale, was stationed at RAF Negombo, during his National service ~ 1950-51.

I am going through his photographs and there are quite a few, which slow his camp-mates.

If you think that you might be related to any of them, please let me know the name and I'll let you know if I find anything.

I shall try to add names here as I find them.

Some photos are small and indistinct.
Some writing is small and difficult to read.
Some photos have no writing on them.
Most just have surnames, or even  nicknames.

There are also photos of local Sri Lankan boys and men, who worked on the camps.


Some of the names that I have found so far:

Bridgnorth:
France
Blondie
Maloney

Negombo:
Jock Moran from Glasgow
Amison or Amerson
Roberts
Stobery ?
Williams
Ginger
Mansell
Griffiths
King
Wyatt

[Tricia_2]

More Bridgnorth names:

Charmers (?)
Lawrence


More Negombo names:

Johnson
O Hara
Bill
Whitaker
Taffy
Towser

[Mr Gwynne Chadwick]

Hi Tricia,

I see your Father did his initial training at RAF Bridgnorth (note - no 'e' in the middle)

I run a web site that has over a 1,100 photographs of the RAF Station, sent in by former recruits.
Although there isn't any mention of your Father, feel free to have a look.

http://www.rafbridgnorth.org.uk

Gwynne
RAF Bridgnorth

[Tricia_2]

Hello Gwynne

Thank you very much!
I'll take a look.

Oh, and I have amended my spelling errors ~ thanks!

[John morrison]

Hi Tricia
My family were in RAF Colombo 1949-1952, I was only 5 at the time, I still have many photos of our time there,names I remember were Snowdon, Melville and Ginger Ball, noticed you mentioned ginger in your notes,

[Tricia_2]

Hello John. 

Wow! You may have met my father out there.

I'm guessing you don't still live in Sri Lanka? Have you been back?

So many changes, I should imagine

[Datasolve]

Hi Tricia,

I was intrigued when I found your post, and your Hub Pages page. It all brings back happy memories.

My father was posted to RAF Negombo in 1950 and off we went - my parents and my younger brother.  I was six at the time, and we were in Negombo until 1953.  When you're young new experiences can make a lasting impression and I still have vivid memories of Negombo, Colombo, Diyatalawa, Sigiriya, the Galle face hotel, and many more places.

My brother and I went to the school on the camp, and for some reason one of my strongest recollections is of the cream horns that used to be sold in the break - I became addicted! We were taught to sail at the RAF sailing club on the lagoon. I recall a fast yacht called Diana.

We used to go up to DLA (as we called Diyatalawa) in the hot season, and I recall having a tour around a tea plantation and factory. I believe the tea factory is now a hotel. My wife and i plan to take a trip back in December, and I can't wait. One of my daughters was there a couple of years ago, and she told me of many changes, but lots of the locations I remember are still there.

If you're still collecting names, my late father was (at that time) Wing Commander Thomas - usually called Tommy.

Best wishes

Peter

[Rena]

Lovely gesture Tricia2.  Maybe I should be doing the same thing.

It must have been a popular place as my late husband was there c1956-58. Although in the Fire Brigade, all his sporting trophies were won with the "Flying Wing"

[Tricia_2]

Hello Peter. 

I think that RAF Negombo must have been a great place because Dad talked about it a lot, and always with enthusiasm and affection.

Thank you for sharing your memories.  You, too, may have bumped into him. And maybe there is a photo of your father somewhere amongst all Dad's photographs.