ORCE & F D IR E A F L E A N Y C O E R • • F I N R O E I S T E IA R C VI O E FL CES ASS LUS AM SA MI NIS S ATQUE RUI ROYAL AIR FORCE & DEFENCE FIRE SERVICES ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE Inside This Issue RAFDFSA 20 YEARS ON – GAN CRASH – BEDFORD TK APPEAL – NATIONAL MEMORIAL – MORE NUCLEAR EXPERIENCES www.rafanddfsa.co.uk Winter 2015 www.rafanddfsa.co.uk1 Flashpoint Magazine - Winter 2015 Who To Contact - Officers and Committee Patron AREA CO-ORDINATORS Air Marshal Sir Roger Austin KCB AFC RAF (Ret’d) The Co-Ordinators Committee Member President Vacant Dennis McCann BEM Member 9 Lincolnshire Wood View, St Andrews Close, Alresford, Colchester, Steve Harrison Essex. CO7 8BL. 58 Gospel Gate, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9JZ Tel: 01206 820715 Tel: 01507 355740 Vice – President Email: [email protected] Ron Brown Member 294 Cornwall, Devon & Somerset 38 Sedgebrook, Liden, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 6EY. Terry Mortimore Tel: 01793 496307 32 Newbridge, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3LX Email: [email protected] Tel: Chairman Email: [email protected] Neil Slade Member 934 North West & Wales 29 Orchard Close, Ash Vale, Surrey, GU12 5HU. Vacant Tel: 01252 492111 North Email: [email protected] Robert Atkinson Member 108 Vice- Chairman 4 Fairway, Stella Park, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear, NE21 Howard Harper Member 682 4LL. 34 The Westering, Meadowlands, Tel: 0191 4148176 Cambridgeshire, CB5 8SF. Norfolk Tel: 01960 372595 John Savage MBE Member 188 General Secretary 3 Mercedes Avenue, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 5EJ Mike Clapton Member 704 Tel: 01485 532353 4 Fairfax Road, Cirencester, Gloucester, GL7 1NF. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01285 655314 RAF Email: [email protected] Steve Shirley MBE Grad I Fire E Treasurer 16 Rutland Way, Scampton, Lincoln, LN1 2UJ Trevor Hayes Tel: 07912 658402 2 Gypsy lane, Hunton Bridge, Kings Langley, South Hertfordshire, WD4 8PR. John Hurl Tel: 01923 331975 34 Copt Elm Close, Charlton King, Cheltenham, Email: [email protected] Gloucestershire, GL53 8AE. Membership Secretary Tel: 01242 522503 POSITION VACANT London Please contact the Chairman to apply “Jess” Jessup Flashpoint Editor 44 Quentin Road, Lewisham, London, SE13 5DF. Adrian Tearle Member 710 Tel: 02088 522791 76 Longway, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA13 0DP. Scotland Tel: 01229 829895 Alec Robertson Email: [email protected] 12 Kinclavin Crescent, Murthly, Perth, PH1 4EU. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01738 710487 Cambridge & Suffolk Vacant Northern Ireland Kenneth Green Cover Picture 2 Brooklands Drive, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland. I am grateful to the member who sent in this pic- Tel: 01960 372595 Essex ture of twins at the school, but who are they? Ben Zaccardelli 98 Lyndhurst Drive, Hornchurch, Essex, RM11 1JZ. Tel: 01708 443593 Mobile: 07702271537 Email: [email protected] Flashpoint Magazine - Winter 2015 2 www.rafanddfsa.co.uk From the Editor ay I start by thanking all the members be graver than I feared. Members may wish to note that volunteers who have contributed articles to this were of all ages and from all walks of life M Since then it spent 9 weeks in a workshop edition, it has made my job so much easier and all over the world, the uniforms were with nothing happening to it, because I and has spared you guys having to read too issued free and we all got; Polo shirt, foolishly told the guy I was in no hurry! much about my trip to India! Rugby Shirt, Trousers, Rucksack, socks, Anyway I took it away from him and got trainers and waterproof coat (the coats This just confirms you all have a story to another guy to do the work and there has cost £270!!) so if you get an opportunity tell, and I know instinctively that there are been some progress. to volunteer at a sporting event go for it. further tales behind those submitted. So So far the floors have been replaced on get on it lads, don’t worry about spelling For the second year I was able to join our driver and passenger side, there are new and formatting we can sort all that for band of brothers at the annual national inner and outer Cills on both sides and you. If you want the magazine to survive service of remembrance at the Cenotaph. the roof directly above the windscreen get writing. Some 25 of us were there, sadly 5 has been replaced. Both door A posts colleagues were unable to attend. I would I would like to draw your attention to the have been replaced and she has been like to express my personal thanks to Ron museum article by Steve Shirley, Steve undersealed. Brown for organising this every year and and his team are hoping to secure a piece Last time I saw her she had been rubbed would urge all members to attend at least of our heritage and can only do this with down and was awaiting respray, it’s now once. our help, so please give generously to the been 9 months since I first got her, and I TK appeal. Elsewhere in the magazine is a piece from hope in the next edition to be able to show a serving colleague, Flt Sgt S teve Pickston Optimistically I was hoping to have a you the finished job, watch this space but concerning the National Memorial and piece in this edition about the successful don’t hold your breath! a further piece from Trevor Hayes our restoration of my TACR2a, sadly that is Since the last edition the Rugby World Treasurer. This memorial is do-able and not going to be the case. I know I don’t Cup has been and gone, and as I said, if we all contribute it will happen sooner need to tell the museum team this, but I was a volunteer for the tournament. I rather than later. when planning a restoration you need to be ended up being at all three games at St realistic in your expectations. I purchased Finally, I would like to wish you all a merry James’ Park in Newcastle and have to say the truck in February, when, on closer Xmas and a prosperous New Year. it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. inspection, I discovered the condition to Dave Kirk I am pleased to include this item from the DFRMO newsletter “Outlet” congratulations Dave FIREFIGHTER DAVE KIRK RETIREMENT D04 RAF FYLINGDALES After over 40 years service with the RAF Fire Service (20 at Fylingdales including specialist AED training. SDM Alex years) and DFRS (20 years) FF Dave Kirk retired on 27th May Middleton attended the Fire Station on 7th May where a letter 2015. Dave was innovative in the creation of a Web Site for of appreciation from the CFO was presented. A retirement the Fire Section at Fylingdales long before the introduction function was held at Whitby Rugby Club on 29th May 15 which of MOSS which was utilised by many fire stations to access was attended by family, friends and work colleagues both many fire related documents. Dave had been a keen First Aid current and old where Dave was presented with an engraved instructor during his career and influenced the First Aid training Hip Flask and vouchers for golf equipment. Pictured are: Dave with his crew mates from L to R: Pictured are: SDM Alex Middleton with Dave and FF Dan Watson, FF Martin Harrison, FF Dave Kirk, SM Jim Davis CM Mark Storr and FF Paul Hutchinson. www.rafanddfsa.co.uk 3 Flashpoint Magazine - Winter 2015 Letters to the Flashpoint editor Hi Adrian, ust read the last edition of the mag Jand saw a reference WO McCaffery, I was stationed with him at Marham 1974- 77. Perhaps I could use the following to expand on my experience of him. From Dec 1961 - OCT86 my period as a Fireman, I was at different times involved with Blood hound, Blue Steel, Thor, Sidewinder, etc etc then there was Dear Adey, the Pocket Rocket, yep! He was that and I have just noted in the RBL publication that an old colleague, Jim Crome, is looking to some more. contact old colleagues. He is looking for pals he served with at RAF Oakington 1953- I remember fixing the front wheel bearings 54. Name that Truck. on his car (in the bays) ready for the Kind regards Ray Wood 118 weekend and with disruptions, (as you do with the job), I put it in the wrong way Hi Adrian, round, OOPS!! Taking it out of the bay his attached photo I found on the rails it sort of broke but I saved the day and Tin the Westminster Abbey garden last worked extra hard that he was able to get year. I remember Jimmie but not his last away. name, he had a girl friend in the Coleraine The last info I had of Eddie was he failed area and I had given him a lift back to to get home one weekend and they found camp. On one of those events it was him in his car on the Road side!!!! that pouring with rain also high winds and he was after his wife rang asking of his where was walking up the hill towards Limavady, abouts...???? with only his jacket over his head. I was posted in February 77 and lost touch. With the car full he ended up in the boot, he Yes he left a lasting good impression on used to sleep some times in the Gas Works and get a lift to camp with another fire my career and many others.