Post-partum depression . . . !

Isn't that what our wives were supposed to suffer ?    Well, maybe we do too . . . . how else would you explain this restless longing for news of our long-time classmates and 'oppos'.    Even now, when most of us are well into our retirement years . . . . .  or have "moved onwards and upwards" ~ ( is this what 'Per Ardua ad Astra' really meant . . . ? ) ~ we still keep coming back for more.    At any rate, we keep having and attending Entry and School re-unions.

On this page of the website, I hope to keep post-retirement news, photos and other 47th Entry trivia ready and available to all and sundry.    If you have any choice tidbits, send them  along to me . . . my E-mail address can be accessed via the "mailbox" link on the Home page.    Pre-retirement and Halton-era photos and anecdotes are also welcome.

Photos can be sent, if still in good condition . . . ( not too faded or dog-eared, please ) . . . I can scan these and translate them to digital format.    Similarly, if you have digital photo files, or scanned photo files, these can be attached directly to your E-mail.

Many Thanks . . . Mick !

BULLETIN BOARD 

Ken Hughes - Just received word from his family that Ken, another of our "A" Sqdn oppos, passed away unexpectedly in late October ... I'll miss his occasional E-mails with snippets of gen.

Jeff "Drip" Jarvis - News has been received from Taffy Holden et al that Drip is "no longer with us in the flesh" ... a good friend, he served as a pilot on my old squadron, #73(F) ... he was also the last member of the Entry with whom I actually had contact ... we met in transit at a London railroad terminal as I headed for Southampton to board the Queen Mary for the USA.

Bob Rowe - Bob , who I had some time back erroneously mentioned as suffering from acute arthritis, apparently has succumbed after several years to the long term effects of Alzheimers Disease.    We'll miss your chubby little smile, fella !

Sid Pilgrim !   In a recent New Years' phone chat with Jim Stanley I was sorry to to hear of the passing of Sid - one of our Electrician friends - back at the end of last Summer.  No further details available at this time.

Reg Cross - known to many as "X", recently got in touch, via E-mail, with your Webmaster.    He had found our little corner of the Internet and is interested in getting in touch with more of his old oppos from the 47th.

Condolences are apparently in order for the family of "Hoss" Broughton who passed away recently . . . . .  just received note from Bill Wheeler, but no details.

Gash Trades on the Move !   Bill Wheeler tells me that a mini-reunion of the Electrical fraternity is to be held at Wooton-under-Edge on Friday, September 26th 2003. We note that among the projected attendees are Jock Turnbull and Glug Turner, both recovering from bypass surgery.

Another Memory ?   . . .  Just heard from Pete Dudley that he has been in contact with Denis Hollingsworth "down under" . . . D'ya need to know more ?    Then try surfing to . . .  . . .  http://go.to/gmtb        What's there, you say ?   Well that's the website for the Oz-based Glenn Miller Tribute Band, and Denis is still puffing on that old saxophone, helping to keep those fond WW2 memories alive.    Bearing in mind the 'alien' uniform you'll note he's wearing in some of the band pics, could it be that he's now, "Overpaid, Over-sexed and 'Under' There" ?
Keep up the good work, Denis.

UK Visitor  . . . Pete also reports that John Bowman was vacationing in the UK earlier in 2002, and had been staying with Jack Butler.    He has now returned to Zimbabwe, which, despite much of the bumpf fed us by the news media, he seems to prefer. He did well for himself out there, finishing up as Principal of an Engineering College in Bulawayo.

In Memorium . . . well fellows, one more name on the Roll Call has to "move into the Red Ink column".   I note from the most recent 'Haltonian' that Ken Tupper has moved "onwards and upwards".

'Cake' Careless . . . just heard via Jim Stanley in our annual Xmas phone chat that CC finally made it to the top of the waiting list after a a year or two wait, and has now officially joined the "Bypass Club".    We trust that he is making a favourable recovery !

Glug ! . . . did everyone get to read his article in the latest 'Haltonian' ?    Nice to finally see "one of ours" break into print !

The Resurrection !  . . . at this Easter time it is opportune to note that one can indeed "arise from the dead", albeit not in the statutory three days !    Bill Wheeler writes to say that Boris Retallack has "arisen again", and yea verily, he hath spake with him ! Welcome back to the Land of the Living, Boris !    One quick question though.    Were you wearing regular summer clothes, or something in a natty flameproof Nomex style when you returned ?

Date to Remember    . . .   May 26th, 2002 . . . the commemorative service at St. Clements Dane Church, The Strand, London for the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme.

The September 2001 Triennial gathering  . . .   Bill Wheeler reports on the beautiful weather for this latest event . . . that the 47th turnout was pretty good this time with close to two dozen members being spotted . . . allowing for approaching senility, or at least that would have been my excuse, he recalls meeting with Jim Stanley, Taff Holden, Charlie Charlton, John Cornish, Reg Cooper, Tom Pierce, Jock Turnbull, Al Coles, Drip Jarvis, Jock Dibden, Dickie Watson, Perce Ellis, Pete Dudley, Roy Howard, Ken Hughes, Bill Kiddy, and Gus Woollett among others.

I'm told that there was even cheering and applause after the Padre gave his sermon at the new windows dedication . . . . Heaven forbid !

The Golden Oldies with Dickie Watson were out in force . . . Dickie continues to show his prowess with that long knobbly stick he will throw around so much, although another of my spies informs me that this was to be his "last show" ?

While on that subject, I should note that several months ago I was watching one of the documentary shows on American TV depicting some of the post-WW2 celebrations.   Two snippets stood out  . . .  one of a C Squadron Brat, with red capband, hanging from a street lamp somewhere in the crowd outside Buckingham Palace  . . .  the other, at the WW2 commemorative show in the Albert hall, showed Dickie Watson doing a triple top as the Drums marched in !

Other News  . . .  your webmaster reports, that after a little Internet sleuthing, he has hooked up by phone, with Gordy White now out in the Seattle area  . . .  he has recently changed addresses from that listed in the current Entry roster.   We swapped a little gen on past oppos . . . he asks to be remembered.    His new 'snailmail' and E-mail addresses can be obtained by old friends  . . .  drop me an E-mail request.

I am still trying to locate Jim Kearney, last heard of in the New York area . . . there are some 40 'James', but only one 'Jim' . . . right now that phone goes unanswered !

Bob Rowe is apparently not doing too well with his arthritis, and has asked to be omitted from further Entry activities and contact.

Ron Morton, Armourer, and I have made contact on Yahoo Messenger  . . .  we tried voice chat also and had some success although the contact from the UK was a little broken up over here  . . .  he is signing in as ' laa573 ', while I am ' mick471 '  . . . . .  Bill Wheeler can also be found on YM under the ' bill579690 ' identity  . . .  anyone else care to get on board ?

Pete Dudley is trying to get a group going to help track down the remaining few "missing" members of the Entry - give him a call if you're willing to help in this effort.

Don't forget that the periodic Halton Newsletter is now available via bulk E-mail  . . .  so if you have that capability, let the people who prepare it know that fact  . . .  save the Association a few pennies per bod !

Any of you still involved in competitive smallbore rifle shooting  ?     I am one of the committee that runs the "new" International Mini-Palma series  . . .  this is a reduced calibre/distance version of the International Palma matches for high-power rifles   . . . interested in possible International E-mail/postal matches ?    Let me know, as interest in the UK is starting to develop.    Our first National-level match in the States will be held here in Chattanooga in early June.

We now believe we have identified everyone correctly by trade on the Roll Call page, and the "Unknown Soldiers" table is no more.

Thanks to those of you who have contributed photos, information and 'proof reading' help !    I'll go over them to determine what is suitable for inclusion, although most look pretty good.