Official Web Site for 202 entry Craft Apprentices association

STOP PRESS

STOP PRESS......3 November 2009.......More and more Old Haltonians are members of the officially recognised Old Haltonian social networking site. 202 entry have a group on that site. The network is dynamic and members have uploaded many photos and videos that will bring the memories flooding back for you. Please log in to that site to find out what some of your old colleagues are doing these days.

Background Information

The 202^nd entry was the second of the Craft Apprentice entries. 201 entry had arrived at No 1 School of Technical Training RAF Halton in September 1964. The 90 plus young men, who would become 202 entry, arrived at Wendover station, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire on 4 January 1965. We were attested into the Royal Air Force on 5 January 1965.

The craft apprentice scheme was designed to provide skilled craftsmen to service and maintain the TSR2 and the new generation of aircraft. The technician apprentice scheme was similarly designed to provide more highly qualified technicians to work alongside the craftsmen. Both schemes were to replace the aircraft apprentice schemes, which had been introduced in the nineteen twenties by The Lord Trenchard. The apprentices of the Trenchard scheme are affectionately known as brats. Both craft and technician apprentice schemes were worthy successors of the aircraft apprentices.

The TSR2 never went into service as the Wilson government of the mid-1960s decided to scrap the aircraft, and to order F111 aircraft from the USA. The F111 order was cancelled in 1968. The craft apprentice scheme was redesigned to train skilled craftsmen, who would qualify as junior technicians, and become the senior NCOs of the RAF.

Click on the photo below to enlarge it.

A Flt 202 Entry January 1965 B Flt 202 Entry January 1965

The Entry Commander was Flt Lt Brian Carter and his Adjutant was Fg Off Ambler. Brian Carter was last seen by Stuart Morgan in the Running Horse bar at the RAF Club in about 1985. Brian was working for a commercial airline as a pilot.

Many of the Entry went on to become commissioned officers, SNCOs, and warrant officers in the Royal Air Force. Of those who left the RAF at the end of their original term, many have had distinguished careers in civilian life.

One of the Cpl Aircraft Apprentices (CAA) from 104 Entry Aircraft Apprentices, who was the floor CAA in A Flt on our arrival, was Cliff Spink. Cliff reached the rank of Air Marshall. He retired from the service in November 2002, although by all accounts he still flies with the RAF Reserve, and he flies Hunters out of RAF Scampton.

Less than three weeks after joining the RAF, 202 were involved in the funeral arrangements of Sir Winston Churchill, who died on 25 January 1965. Many of the cadets of 201 and 202 entries did route lining for the funeral. Also, apprentices from 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, and 106 (Aircraft Apprentices) entries were also similarly involved.

Where are they now?

Regretably, Pat Hurst lost his life on 27 September 1968 (aged 19), early into his post Halton career. Details of his death are recorded on the Roll of Honour kept by the Royal British Legion.

Mac Pile visited the grave in October 09 and placed the cross of remembrance in front of the grave “From 202nd Halton Brats”. Thanks from all of us Mac.

Our ex-sergeant apprentice, Jim McKee is a member of our Entry association. He got in touch through this site. Jim lives in Bridlington with his wife.

Additionally, Stepehn Pryde, Paul Moore, Keith Stuart, Dave Greenfield, John Robinson, Eddie Hughes and John Manson, Keith Parkin, and Pete Claydon have also recently got back in touch. Their email contacts are available to entry members from Stuart Morgan or Jim Voss. Stuart is currently tracking down Al Forrest who recently signed the guestbook of the RAFHAAA web site.

John Norman worked at BAE in Brough, East Yorkshire, until his retirement. In 2003 John crashed a glider and badly broke a leg. He is now fully recovered. He competed in a major gliding competition for veterans in Australia in early 2009.

Danny Elliot now lives in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. He is a Counsellor & Psychotherapist. He became a proud grandfather early in 2005.

Robin Ling, Mick Meehan and Stuart were in the air scouts when they were brats. Mick and Stuart earned the Queens Award and we went to Windsor Castle to be received by the Queen. Since leaving the RAF in 1987, Rob Ling has worked for Ruston Gas Turbines in Lincoln, and he lives on nearby Brant Road.

In addition to those mentioned elsewhere on this page, the 202 association includes Dave Burgin (who is Secretary, 24 Sqn, RAF); Frank Dixon; Matt Ellis; Andrew Ferguson; Ken Isaac; Terry Lacey (Wg Cdr Retd), now living in Spain; Roger Tunsley; Brian Playle; Mike Pay; Tom Fortune; Paul Moore; and Dennis Wherry.

Finding lost colleagues

If you need help to contact any ex-brat, and Stuart Morgan cannot help, then try making contact with Chris McBrien, ex-99th entry, who is a whizz on the search for ex-brats. Chris maintains a list of email addresses at Chris McBrien's web site. Alternatively, look up Chris McBrien's web page for 99th entry, RAFHAAA. If the link on this page does not work for any reason open either the Altavista or Google search engines and then search on either Chris McBrien or 99th Entry.

Stuart also has email contact with many other ex-brats, particularly in 102, 106, 201, 203 and 204 entries (over 50 ex-colleagues). A list of known e-mail addresses for members of 202 entry is kept by Stuart Morgan and Jim Voss. Jim is the Branch representative to the RAFHAAA. A number of ex-202 entry brats are also to be found on the Old Haltonian social network site. There you will find a group for ex-brats of 202 entry, No 1 S of TT, RAF Halton. Membership of the Old Haltonian social network is open to any ex-Halton brat.

Visit The Old Haltonian social networking site

RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentice Association

Membership of the RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association is another good way to keep in touch with ex-brats and the alma mater.

Details of all events and membership subscriptions are available on the RAFHAAA affiliated Old Haltonian social networking site or from the RAFHAAA at The Airfield, RAF Halton. The next RAFHAAA members only reunion will be in September 2010. We hope to see you there. Please contact the RAFHAAA for further details.

Reunions

Jim Voss organised a reunion of the 202 entry association which now numbers almost 40 members. The reunion was held on the weekend of 24 and 25 October 2009 at the Hunting Lodge Hotel, Cottingham, Leicestershire. Fourteen members of 202 entry attended that weekend. Photos can be seen on the 202 entry social network site at http://202entry.ning.com

Dave Whiting, Frank Dixon, Jim Voss, Mac Pile, Jimmy Jobson and Jim McKee attended the 2008 reunion of the 202 association at RAF Halton. A 202 entry stain glass window has been endowed by members of the association. This can be seen in the St George's church at Halton.

Mac Pile, Jim Voss, Dave Burgin, Stuart Morgan and Frank Dixon and several other members of the 202 entry attended the Halton RAFHAAA Triennial reunion in 2004.

Several entry members attended the 2007 Triennial reunion of RAFHAAA at Halton

Favourite Links

• RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association web site

• Old Haltonian social network

• XL426 Vulcan Lady

• Stuart Morgan’s Web Site

Entry association members

A list of e-mail addresses of ex-202 entry brats is kept by Stuart Morgan and Jim Voss.

David Burgin is the secretary of 24 Sqn.

Peter Burke is a senior lecturer at Hull University and lives in Beverley.

Pete Claydon lives in Norfolk.

Frank Dixon.

Danny Elliott is now a Counsellor & Psychotherapist, living in Australia.

Matt Ellis lives in Cirencester.

Andrew Ferguson lives near Swindon.

Dave (Brickwood) Figgins lives in USA.

Tom Fortune.

Dave Greenfield lives in Preston.

Eddie Hughes lives in Lincoln.

Ken Isaac.

Jimmy Jobson.

Terence Lacey was Wg Ad O for the Herts and Bucks Wing of the Air Training Corps before retiring to Spain in 2006.

Rob Ling is living and working in Lincoln.

John Manson.

Jim McKee, our ex-sergeant apprentice, is living in Bridlington.

Mick Meehan is living and working on the Isle of Iona.

Paul Moore is living in Australia.

Terry Moore lives in the Algarve.

Stuart Morgan lives in Swansea. Stuart’s Skype name is “stuartmorgan”.

John Norman lives in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Keith Parkin lives in Norfolk.

Mike Pay.

Raymond Malcolm (Mac) Pile works at Boscombe Down as the Task Manger (Heavy aircraft).

Brian Playle.

Stephen Pryde lives in Perth, Western Australia.

John Robinson lives in Lincoln.

Dave Stirling.

Keith Stuart lives in USA.

Roger Tunsley lives in USA.

Jim Voss is MD for the North East for CB Richard Ellis, and he is based at Park Place in Leeds.

Gareth Walters is also to be found on Skype.

Nick Watts.

Dennis Wherry is now living and working in Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Dave Whiting lives in North Devon.