RAF Haydock

[Cerura]

Success!!!! 

From the left:

Barbara Best, Flt Lt Jones SAO, me, Kathleen Lenahan, Sgt Sperandeo.

Probably taken around 1961 outside SHQ

[Cerura]

Hi again Jacqui and all,

Those were the days.  The memories are flooding back - partly helped by the photos! LOL.

You may remember that I actually wanted to be an Air Loadmaster; instant promotion to Sgt, huge pay rise and flying and travel.!!!!  Heaven.  The CO and resident WRAF Officer (?) decided I was 'officer materiel' whatever that means. 

Instead of living my dream, I ended up at OCTU squarebashing for six months.  They didn't tell me that when they talked me out of applying to be a Loadmaster. Jan Woodcock trained on the Isle of Man and it sounded all deportment and flower arranging.

I think I was on one  of the first courses where the women trained with the men so it was a lot of marching, camping, escape and evasion exercises and assault courses!  I didn't arrange a single flower!  Ha, ha.

Having said that, it was great fun and lifelong friendships were forged.  I then went on the accounts course which was so easy after years in the job. 

How about you?

Lynn

[Swo.man]

hi lynn thanks for the write up and the photo have you any more? i sent a message to barbara to look up page 11 she only lives up the road from us in fact i married her husbands sister sadly he died some time ago but she is now remarried and she is the same girl you knew long ago  iwonder what ever happend to all the rest of the gang oh well nice to hear from you hope to chat again later some time re gards to all  and hello sunshine girl in the states iv not forgotten you will send you a seperate e mail later bye frank migy

[astral14]

I seem to remember that my late mother Olga Robertson, a WAAF was at Haydock in the war.

[Swo.man]

hi astral 14 thank you for your message ref olga i hope someone will reply who knew your mother my stay at haydock was 1957 to 1965  only regards frank migy

[astral14]

A pleasure - she spoke highly of her time there but I think they saw quite a bit of action. I think she was also near Banbury in Oxford. (Upper Heyford?) I may have this confused but she recalled seeing the burns guinea pigs (as called then - sorry) re early plastic surgery. WAAFs were taken to visit the recovering service men who had been disfigured. I think Canadian air force men were stationed at one of these places too.

[Swo.man]

hi astral funny you told of the urns unit early on in my raf time i was a photograper and at cme london kilvin house w.1. and mr mc indoe the plastic surg did all his clinics there and i had to do before and after shots on the air crew lads what an awfull mess them chaps where in ill never forget it from there i went to burtonwood lancs on mass radiography duties nice to talk to you regards frank migy

[Sunshine Girl]

Hi Lynn!
Recognised you instantly in the picture.  Think that must have been taken before my time though as I don't recognize anyone else in the picture. I didn't arrive at Haydock till February '64.  It was my first posting and I was sooo upset because it was close to home and I'd expected to be posted to RAPO along with the other girls from Trade Training.
I did eventually end up at RAPO when they de-WRAFed Haydock and boy, was I glad I hadn't been sent there at first. Had a wonderful time at Haydock and RAPO was just awful.  We all felt like ants in a factory, such was the environment there. Luckily, I was only there a few months then got sent to RAF Wildenrath in Germany and that was a wonderful posting, too.  Met my husband, a member of the  American MMG at Wildenrath and have been living in the States since '67.
I don't know if you remember Jan O'Dell from General Office but she and I have stayed in touch through the years. I was her maid of honour when she married and am Godmother to her oldest son. Sadly, Jan passed away in May this year, complications of breast cancer. I also met up with Ken Dodds, quite by accident, when we were home in Liverpool back in '71. I was in M&S and heard my name called. Ken and his wife and two children. They'd just gotten into Liverpool from Singapore and were biding time until they went to visit Spud Murphy - remember him?
Do you have any more pictures to share? Loved the one you sent.
Jacqui

[Cerura]

Hi Frank,

I do have a few more photos which I will post.  Unless my memory is letting me down, you are in this photo.

I can't recall the Sqn Ldr's name but from the left is Ken Dodds and then me.   Isn't that you on the right?

The photo was taken at the local orphanage.  A group of us raised funds to give the kids a Christmas treat.  It would have been 1961 or 1962.

Can anybody name anyone else?