The
203 Entry craft apprentices web site
No
1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton, Aylesbury, Bucks
Contents
Entry Information
This is the unofficial web site for ex-apprentices of 203 entry, No 1 School of Technical Training,
RAF Halton (1965 - 1967), which has been produced by Stuart Morgan. We passed out
on
203 entry joined the RAF in May 1965,
the third entry of Craft Apprentices. To mark the passing out of the 83 apprentices, the 40th anniversary reunion took place at RAF Halton on Saturday 21 April 2007. 29 ex-brats from 203 entry and their partners attended the two day reunion. Many ex-brats of 203 entry attended the RAFHAAA triennial reunion on 22 September 2007 and the entry reunion in April 2008 at the Aston Clinton Holiday Inn.
A decision of the 29 ex-brats attending the 2007 reunion was to purchase and install a stained glass window in the St George's Church at RAF Halton. This window was installed at the beginning of September 2007. A dedication service was held in April 2008 to coincide with the 41st anniversary of our passing out parade.
Craft apprentice scheme
As the craft apprentice scheme started, the Wilson Government was just at the point
of cancelling the production of TSR2, one of the most advanced bomber aircraft
in the world, and ordering F111 aircraft from the US. The development of TSR2 had created the need to train technicians in new methods and in a shorter
period than previously undertaken. The
new breed of aircraft technicians were to be trained as in two years, unlike the
three year training of aircraft apprentices.
However, the craft apprentices would still pass out as Junior
Technicians, the same rank as the aircraft apprentice scheme. When 203 entry was recruited, TSR2 was scrapped and a hasty rewrite of the syllabus was made, thus enabling the new Craft Apprentices to do the same work, on passing out, as the aircraft apprentices. However, like TSR2, the decision to buy F111 aircraft was also scrapped - in 1968.
The original entry list
The entry list and details of
first postings
In our last months at Halton a few of the
riggers were asked by Chief Tech Flint (ex-40th entry), who was an airframes
instructor, if we would help to build a couple of sledges for an expedition to
At the end of the training period, brats from 203 entry made a daring plan to sent a detachment to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst to borrow a cannon. After a recognisance mission, the cannon was duly taken silently in the dark of the night, from under the noses of an army guard, and transported on a trailer to the Henderson parade square at RAF Halton. The following morning, the entry were duly paraded and punished for this audacious prank. Rather than apologise to the Army, the entry made a donation to a charity - the RAF Benevolent Fund!! Details of the heroic prank were widely reported included entries in the Bucks Herald and RAF News (dated 6 May 1967).
Members of the entry still recall with great pride the escapade that nearly ended in all members of the entry being court martialled.
Favourite Links
RAF Halton Aircraft
Apprentices Association, membership of which brings considerable benefits, including entry to the tri-ennial reunion of the RAFHAAA.
Contact Information
Known e-mail contact
addresses (click on link below)
More than 50 ex-brats of 203 entry are still in touch with each other, some via Skype, but mainly via e-mail, including
Dave Brankin
Phil Broadley
Roger Swan
Tony Rudge
203 entry photograph 21 April 1967
u/t airframes fitters:- Aldus, John B; Baker P W; Beman Dave T B; Binfield, Geoff H (retired Wg Cdr); Birt, Mick J; Bowyer R T (ex-202 entry);
Brankin, Dave G; Brassett, Dave; Bricklebank, Paul M (killed in a motor cycle
accident Sept 1967) - Mal Chapman went to the funeral; Chapman, Mal A; Collins, Rich P; Confue, Fred; Coulson, Mick; Cox, Mick A; Davidson, K G; Dyer, Ron A; Emerson, Chris (retd Sqn Ldr); Elsick, Peter J; Glass, Jim; Griffiths, Dave F L; Harris, Phil J; Harrop, Al E; Hirst, Stu; Hoyland, Geoff R (died October 1999, after playing table tennis); Iball A D (Tony); Johns David J; Lee, Terry G; Marshall, Norman K (Nobby); Medum, Ken; Missen A C (Tony); Moody, Vic G; Morgan, Stuart A (ex-202 entry ex-Flt Lt RAF VR(T)); Musselwhite, E Peter; Pearson Ken J (known as Lugger Pearson for some reason unknown to me); Pilbrow R P (Bob); Pink, Brian D; Prist B D; Urmson, Al D; Wallace Dave A; Wright, Mervyn
u/t Electrical fitters:- Baker D J; Broadley, Phil M; Cook, Dave R M; Crates L J; Croxford, Colin; Davidson Jim C (Jock); Fusedale Stu D; Gooch, Dave R; Gregory, Brian D; Nutt, Dave; Power Hal A M M; Price T G; Quin, John; Rudge A W J (Tony); Russell, Pete L R; Skingley Dave; Simpson W D (Bill); Thomas, C Alan
u/t Propulsion fitters:- Allen R W; Ash, Ian R; Aspinall, Andrew; Barton W J; Bee, Mick; Bradley E R; Brake N L; Chapman A E W; Coffield N; Every, Al G; Geach M C; Inskip R (Bob); MacLeod, Alan D; Maw M L; Mitchell, Duncan M; Morton, Glenn (retired Group Capt); Nelthorpe D; Nott, George D; Sanderson R; Smith D G; Still, Dave T (Died in Australia, 25 December 2007); Swan, Roger P; Tree G; Walsh F; Wilkinson, Terry J
Flt Lt Gilroy (killed in a Buccaneer crash) - Dave Nutt seems to have the best recollection of the incident.
Fg Off Ferrill (who was found not guilty of killing his wife in a shooting accident - it's true and the strange thing is he was a firearms
expert!), Sgt Bell, Sgt Carr, Sgt Hillary, Sgt Bernie Lawton (died in March 2007). Several members of the entry attended the funeral.), F/Sgt Whisky (last seen by Mal Chapman, after F/Sgt Whisky had been demobbed - trying to sell life insurance to Mal The last time I saw Mal on 20 April 2008, he still did not tell if he bought a life assurance policy. Mal is now a distinguished music producer and vendor of guitars to the most famous pop musicians in the world.)
Last updated: Date
Copyright © Stuart A Morgan 1998 2007