The Official Magazine of the UKMAMS Association. Edition 41 Sept 2001
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The Official Magazine Of the UKMAMS Association. Edition 41 Sept 2001 Inside this edition: Life on UKMAMS Picture Puzzle? From the 540 by Ian Berry Snippets Where are they now? Saif Sareea 1986 Letters to the Editor Views expressed in this newsletter, unless otherwise stated, are not necessarily those of the editor, the association committee or UKMAMS and are the personal views of the authors. All contributions and correspondence for inclusion in “Team Brief ” should be sent to: The Editor, Team Brief, UKMAMS, RAF Lyneham CHIPPENHAM, Wiltshire, SN15 4PZ. E-Mail: [email protected] Has it been 3 months already? Time for another packed edition of ‘Team Brief’. This one has the usual features, including Ian Berry’s ‘From the 540’ and ‘Snippets’. Also, returning by popular request, Ian has resurrected the ‘Where are they Now’ feature. With the overwhelming response to the picture puzzle (0.2% of the membership) I have decided to continue with it! So, anyone who didn’t have a go at the last one has a chance to e-mail us with their thoughts on this editions picture. I know loads of you have been there, and I’m sure a few of you will have a story to tell about the place. Despite the response to the picture puzzle, letters and e-mails on other subjects have been flowing in steadily. Its interesting to note that hand written and posted letters are now becoming the minority, as most people seem to have access to these new fangled electronic facilities. Thanks for taking the time, I’m sure more contributors to a magazine can only make it more interesting to the readers- and that’s you! On the welfare side, Sam has fortunately not been kept too busy, despite having a hospital visit himself. He says Ian Thompson is still fighting, and I’m sure you will join us in wishing him the best. Now a final note for anyone who’s just picked this magazine up in a crewroom, office, t-bar or perhaps even a toilet in some far flung corner of the globe. If you are not already a member of the UKMAMS Association, and are eligible, take a leaf out of the ‘New Members’ book and join. Its not expensive, and very easy to do. Just contact the Membership Secretary at UKMAMS Association, RAF Lyneham, Chippenham, Wilts SN15 4PZ. Or, have a look on the Website. You never know, you might even have a story or two to tell. We’d be interested. Hope to hear from you soon. Mick…….. 2 NEW MEMBERS The following have been welcomed as new members over the preceding few months: Membership Number Name 869 Ian Tripp 870 Ian Stonely 871 Robbie Robinson 872 Joanne Tribble 873 Jon Rooke 874 Dave Jones 875 Tony Gale 876 Alan King 877 Tom Leyden 878 Gary Naylor WHERE ARE THEY NOW, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? By Ian Berry By popular request I have been asked to reintroduce this page. If you ever wondered how I selected the names before the answer is quite simple – I worked down the membership list in numerical order – so here goes. Paul Mckenna was last heard of working in the Hague in Holland, prior to that he was at Aberdeen University. Does anyone know where he is now? Keith Jevons aka Chico is still serving as a Sgt, presently at Northolt but due to leave the service at the end of the year. Basil Hughes lives in Pembrokeshire where he is now retired but does voluntary work with the Church Counselling Services. Mark James is still serving and is presently a Cpl at RAF Bruggen but will be returning to the UK in September. Possibly on promotion! David Bell retired from the North Yorkshire Police force as a Sgt and lives in Hull where he now operates a minibus company. David Thompson is still serving as a Wg Cdr and is presently working in Saudi Arabia. Terry Roberts was recently made redundant from Motorola, Swindon where he lives and hopes to take up employment shortly with VW. He was also in the auxiliaries until they tried to call him up during the Kosovo war! Mike Slade the second OC of UKMAMS and the first chairman of the Association sadly passed away in December 1994, his wife Marion still maintains links with the Association though. Roy Armstrong was a bus driver with Thamesdown until he retired although he still may be doing some moonlighting! He lives in Wootton Bassett. Phil Beese left the service a few years ago after finishing an envious tour in Gander, he now 3 lives in Wootton Bassett and works in the local area. Jim Darch lived close to Lyneham in Tockenham village but sadly passed away in July 1998 from stomach cancer. Bob Turner has for the last seven years or so lived and worked in Muscat in Oman where he is a Loadmaster flying on B747SP’s for the Royal Flight of Oman. Gordon Black is a WO here at Lyneham where he is serving his last tour of duty prior to discharge in 2002. He says he would prefer to retire now and move to Spain but there is still a few working years left in his wife Anne!! Rob Hindes retired from the RAF several years ago and was known to have worked in Toys’R’Us in Swindon. Can anyone update us? Pete Mahon retired from the RAF about five years ago and intended to work in the ‘Time and Motion’ industry. His whereabouts is not known, can anyone help? Dick Colman lives locally in Christian Malford and works as a bailiff, he is also a FSgt in the auxiliaries and steals many a good route trip! Ian Russell is still serving and was recently promoted to Wg Cdr, he is based at HQ AIRNorth, Norway. Mark Vincenti was until recently employed in the travel industry, he was an auxiliary and was ‘called up’ during the Kosovo War, he has since re-enlisted as a regular. Mick McMahon now works at RAF Lyneham in the estates office and lives locally in the village. Bob Dickman is now a civilian and was last known living and working in the Carterton area, can anyone update us? Mike Thomas is still serving and is presently a Wg Cdr based at HQ DSDA, Bicester, Oxon. Derek Grayson left the RAF last year and has moved to Lincolnshire, he now works as a Loadmaster for Intavia flying DC8 freighters out of Ostend. Geoff Montague retired as a Sqn Ldr and now lives in the Stafford area. Doughy Baker ex-regular, ex-auxiliary was accompanying his wife, a medic on a tour in Cyprus where he sadly passed away in the mid 90’s. Keri Eynon is now a minister for the United Reformed Church in Newbury, Berks. Colin Pay now lives on the Isle of Wight where he is a prison warder at HMP Parkhurst. Steve Tomlinson emigrated to Australia on leaving the RAF and now lives and works at Palm Beach, near Brisbane in Queensland. John Bell also retired from the RAF and moved to Australia. He now lives at Kewarra Beach near Cairns in Queensland. Mick Mylchreest is still serving and is presently the last WO to be based at Bruggen, he is posted back to the Movements School later this year to replace Bruce Oram. Jeff Green is also still serving and is now a Wg Cdr stationed at Rheindahlen in Germany. Ron Corrie now lives and works in Melksham and last time we met his hearing ability was starting to decline. Russ Carter was a policeman in Swindon but has recently moved back to Scotland where he is now a member of the Strathclyde Constabulary. Bill Jacobs, the very first OC UKMAMS is still in good health and lives in retirement in Nairn, Scotland. When Ian Berry handed me these photo’s for inclusion in this edition a thought struck me…..I could include a new section utilising the pictures we have with no particular story attached to them…….. So here it is………………………………… From the Album Eddie Grace once again proving there is more than one use for a beer glass! This must be one of Eddie’s more glamorous jobs (Ascension) – why else would he need a hat in a 12 x 12 tent! 4 This is Ascension Island and although one or two are easily recognisable, some are not. L to R Keith Wilson, Simon Crockett (Possibly), Stu Whitton, ?, ?, Steve Frewin, ?. Do you recognise yourself in this photograph? If so give us a call. Send us your pictures…………..with as much info as you have about them. ‘LIFE ON UKMAMS’ You may have noticed in the last few editions that the latter months of the extracts from the 540, particularly on BAMF, were either scant or non existent. To try and rectify this problem I will start this issue with information gleaned from the February, March and April 540. This will now enable me to continue working 5 months in arrears instead of 3, and although the information, as you read it, will be slightly older, it will enable me to put more into this section of the magazine. February BAMF - Another busy month for BAMF personnel, it appears mainly with ongoing projects. The B Ops O attended a brief from Public Internet Services LTD at RAF Brize Norton, with a view to having an Internet facility installed in the terminal for use by both passengers and station personnel. The company’s business manager was invited to view the terminal and confirm its suitability for the installation of a Cybernet café.