RAF Haydock

[Swo.man]

I have recently discovered Roots Chat. As I was stationed at Haydock 1957 to 1965 I have some answers to questions regarding personel. Would like to hear from anyone interested.

[Red Setter]

To Swo.man

I would like to hear from you regarding any personnel that was at RAF Haydock the same time as me 1962 - 1964.  Do you know any of the people that have already been mentioned.

[Swo.man]

To Red Setter
I recognise some names mentioned. The Civilian girl typist in HQ was Jean Cowap. Although spelling not quite correct I was Cpl. Smidgey with distinctive mustache.
Other people at that time were
Sqnd-Ldr's Fishwick, Pike   WO's England, Breeze SWO's WO Bryce
F/Sgt's Ginn A/C  Craig
Sgt Makin Police Sgt Surgison Bandsman
Cplw's Madaburg PTI, Mc Kenzie admin
Cpl's Stead Stanford Police
plus many more to mention at this stage
Swo.man

[teleg]

Hi, I just found this site and as I was stationed at RAF Haydock when I left brats training in 1965, I thought i would answer one of the questions about the name of the Mess Warrant Officer. He was a really nice bloke, and he was known as "Pop" Ward.

I was posted to the mountain Rescue Team at Akrotiri in 1966 and Pops son was a team member out there with me.

Haydock was a really friendly station and I enjoyed my time there. One interesting snippet was the time we were sent off in a 30cwt truck to mount guard on a Chipmunk belonging to Liverpool University Air Squadron (Woodvale) which crashed on Winter Hill during the winter of 65/66. The crew left the aircraft in the mist and walked down to Horwich police station to report the accident (Neither were hurt and had'nt realised they were close to the ground until they ran into it!).....They could'nt remember were they had left the aircraft and we could'nt find it so we went back to Haydock and headed for the NAAFI.

[Swo.man]

Has anyone got information and/or photos of NWCC RAF Haydock
Swo.man

[Jayeff]

RAF Haydock was my last station in the RAF. I was stationed there from March 1968 till March 1969 when I parted company with the RAF after 15 years. I was DSM of one of the watches in the commcen, I forget which  one. It was closing down gradually when I left, all the teleprinter circuits were being transferred elsewhere. All the WRAF were local service WRAF i.e. they were recruited locally and lived out at home. They could not be posted anywhere else, but many of them transferred to the regular WRAF. I was married so I lived in the Airmens married quarters, they were very good houses. I remeber the British Legion club but how many remember the Cricket and Bowling club at the bottom of Haydock lane. that was a very good drinking den very popular with the lads. I got to know it as just before I left the RAF  my wife and children went to where we were  going to live to get our house sorted out. It is nice to hear about the old place it was a very good station where everybody knew everyone else, it had a real family atmosphere. PS I was a telegraphist ex boy entrant 23rd entry.

[Jayeff]

To Jimbo737 I was at Haydock CCNW from 1968 to 1969 I was a cpl in the commcen. I was posted there from Bahrein JCC HMS Jufair. it was my last posting in the RAF, I was discharged from there on March 1969. I lived in the Airmens married quarters I think it was Avery road. Would love to hear from you My e mail address is (removed by mod!)  from jayeff




Mod edit...Email addy removed to prevent spamming! Pse use PM system to disseminate email addresses!!

[tony the lip]

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

 Can remember Alex Murphy when stationed at Haydock June 61 to Nov 61, but dont recall his brother being there. Also remember taking Elf Lesley to the Savoy cinima St Helens.Madge Feeney,Barbara Branch,Pat Taylor,Jack Moorcroft,Jim Austen,Brian Twist there also just, to name a few.Bring back any memories.

Tony the lip

[Swo.man]

i wascpl migy in the swos  office  at haydock 57 to65  would like to make contact furher   regards  swo. man