MY RAF DAYS AND AFTER | home

AFTER THE R.A.F.

After my demob on 26/4/49, we went to Clacton for a few day’s holiday, my Mum, Dad and my friend Sid, (he and I worked at Reall Coachbuilders before I was called up). I can’t remember if we were given a demob suit or the money to buy one ourselves, someone out there will know and put me right, I hope.

My mate Sid, me in demob suit and my Mum.

I came back from holiday and started to look for a job.

The only one I fancied was at Chrysler Dodge Trucks, at Mortlake, they had various jobs, so I made an appointment with their personnel manager. He asked me what position I was after, when I told him I had worked in a drawing office before the R.A.F. he asked for my qualifications, as I had still been a trainee, he could not fit me in for the drawing office but he place me in the stores, after showing me what it entailed I accepted, and as the entrance for all goods inwards was open most of the day it was just like being back on the flights, nice and cold.

I started in the stores in late May 1949, it entailed issuing the production line with small items, nuts & bolts, engines (these came in from Canada in boxes, see photo below) axles, front and rear, small chassis parts the chassis them selves were delivered to the line by the men working outside with the over head crane, which ran the width of the factory on twin overhead tracks.

In the photo are,Les Belcher, me, Arthur, Jim, a Polish lad, my Brother in law Peter, (wearing glasses) and an unknown lad.

This is were I met my wife, she worked in the buying office, and the door she came out of into the factory was opposite the stores and goods inward, so I saw as much of her as I could, even though I had not spoken to her as yet.

The weeks went by, at the goods inward end of the stores was the inspection department and I was always stopping and watching the Inspectors in their work and getting to know them. after about six months one of them said there would be a vacancy as one of the inspectors was retiring, would I fancy working in inspection, I said yes I would, so he said he would put a word in for me.

After a few weeks had gone by I was asked to go to the personnel Managers office and after a few questions and looking at blue prints he offered me the position as an Engineering Inspector, I said I would like to accept the position.

Life became more of a challenge and interesting, more outside work, receiving the engines, axles gear boxes making sure they came up to specification, taking castings before they were machined to make sure they were suitable for our use etc., on the whole the time went by so quick with so much to do and the friendly atmosphere. At last the firm had an outing to Southend on Sea and who should be on the coach but the young lady I had been admiring from a distance, we finally got talking, and went on a few rides together, the dive bomber, that was hairy and other rides we sat together on our way home, her in front with her friend and me behind with my mate ( you could say that was together?).

We spoke when we saw each other at work but for a while nothing happened, eventually we went out together and the outcome was we were married on

1st December 1951, and we celebrate our 54th wedding anniversary on Thursday this week (today is 28th November 2005).

In our wage packet one week was an invite to go to the T.A. Centre in Richmond, as the War Office were thinking of re-starting the Home Guard. So a mate and I went and ended up joining. I stayed in until they disbanded again but my mate left after only 2 months. After a while I was promoted to Platoon Sgt. (nothing like Sgt. Wilson I am glad to say) we did have a Capt. Mainwaring, nearly shot me with a rifle and I ended up in hospital after he had a misfire with his Sten Gun but I am still here that’s the main thing. Photo below, also we were all given a certificate when we were stood down again.

I'm in the front row 2nd from right as you look at the photo. Lapel badge.

We all got a copy of the certificte. The T.A. offered me a Warrant Officers position but I said no thank you.

On the 5th November 1956 I was getting cheesed of with working at Chryslers, there was no chance of promotion and things had got in a rut, so that night I was looking through the local paper and saw an advert saying that the Automobile Association were looking for patrols in our area, I wrote off and got a reply.

My life in the A A is on the next page.

One of the conditions of employment, was that Patrols should be proficient in first aid, they were to enrol on a first aid course with either, St. John Ambulance, St. Andrew’s Ambulance Association or The British Red Cross. I decided to go for the Red Cross. After passing my initial certificate, I was asked if I would become a member of the Red Cross. After passing more First Aid, Nursing, Instructor and Anatomy & Physiology examinations, I was invited to become an Officer in the division, as the Men’s Commandant.

This is the uniform in the 1950/70's for a Commandant of theB.R.C.S.

and my Certificate on becomming Commandant.

On duty at the fete Lampton park Hounslow, the first aid tent in the background, with two of my Cadet officer's

I was covering a charity walk, from Newbury to Hounslow, with a team of first aid personnel, when I met Inspector Arthur Parsley from Reading A.A. Office and we got talking and he said he was staring up first aid classes for the patrols around London, did I feel like helping him with the instruction, I said yes and within a few weeks we were running courses at the A.A.’s Head Office in Leicester Square, as it was in those days, now the A.A. Head office is in Basingstoke.

Leading the parade for Rememberance Day.

The one above in colour was the one in use until we left in 1986.

I retired from the A.A, in 1986 and after having a few weeks going to places of interest locally, I was asked if I would like to sell A.A. Membership as an agent. After agreeing to do it, I thought where would be a good place to go where there would be a lot of people, that would have to get there by car? The obvious placed was the Steam Railway at Buckfastleigh. I spoke to the Manager at the Station and he said it would be alright for me to set up a stand in the car park. The wife and I got our stand up and running and were doing quite well.

After a few weeks one of the Directors asked me if I would like to work for them at Paignton Taking brochures round to the Hotels and Information Offices, I would be given transport and uniform, so I said yes. The transport was as below.

I had the micky taken out of me by other motorists, "did you know you are going backwards", was the favorite shout.

It was good fun and to get paid, was a bonus. In 1987 I started helping on the Steam Railway at Paignton, for the Santa Specials, then the next year I took over as Sylvester the Cat and this went on for quite a few years, also I would help at Kingswear Station to build the backgrounds to Santa’s grotto.

Above are some of theSanta Special scenes we built.

Sylvester and his friends outside the Torbay Cinema, in Paignton,

owned by the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, in those days.

The fat Controller with me and Yogi Bear at Kingswear, on the river Dart.

One of the Thomas the Tank Engine trains.

We also built floats and entered them in the various carnivals around the South Devon area.

We three, me, David and Johnaton are building the Flying Scotsman float at

my old house and we entered the floats in most of the local Carnivals.

Near completion and moved to Paignton P.D.S.R. site for finishing off,

would not have been able to get it out of my back garden fully built.

Waiting for the off some where in south Devon?

Taking part in the Teignmouth carnival.

Building a mock up of the Kigswear Castle paddle steamer that

operated from Kingswear, for this years carnivals.

We three again on Kingswear Castle with our cups.

I then became a volunteer and was Manager of the shop at Buckfastleigh

for a couple of years and then helped out in the shop at Paignton.

Peggy my assistant behind the counter.

Saddle tank engine at Buckfastleigh.

City of Truro on loan at Buckfastleigh.

On the whole an enjoyable experience.

Our stand at the Steam Rally outside Paignton advertising the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, my wife Barbara, me, Neil and his Mum.

For information on time tables and fares etc., click on the following site.

www.paignton-steamrailway.co.uk

Some of the many Traction engines on display.

My Wife Barbara had the chance to drive the steam roller, so she said yes.

For more information on Torbay Steam Rally Association click here:- www.torbaysteamfair.com

Also during these years I joined the Newton Bushel Morris.

We had practice during the Winter months and danced out in the Summer

in South Devon.

At Torquay Harbour waiting for the off, fist dance of the evening. Yours truly 2nd from left in dark glasses and with the beard.

Entertaining our Twinning friends, from Kingskerswell and Lonsee.

NOW WE GO ON TO MY TIME WITH THE AUTOMOBLE ASSOCIATION.