ROYAL AIR FORCE

BOY ENTRANTS ASSOCIATION

NORTH AMERICA 2008

8th ANNUAL REUNION

We are deeply saddened by the untimely death of Dave "Squire" Williams (27th Entry, St. Athans) on October 11, 2008 after a short but intense battle with cancer. Dave was a member of the 27th Entry, Elec. Air, No. 3 Squadron, 2 Wing, St. Athan. Even then, Dave distinguished himself by attaining the rank of Flight Sergeant Boy, and as such, was the Parade Commander of the 27th Entry passing out parade at St. Athan. The exciting city of Las Vegas was the latest location for the North American Boy Entrants 8th Annual Reunion and was held on November 9th to 11th (Sunday-Tuesday), 2008. We celebrated our reunion at the beautiful Monte Carlo Hotel.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9: We held an informal get-together on Sunday evening at Bruce Allen's timeshare suite in the "Hilton Grand Vacation Club on the Strip". The full address was HGVC on the Strip at 2650 South Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109; Phone Number: 702-765-8300. A good time was had by all and there was plenty of food and drink to go 'round.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10: The RAFBEA reunion dinner was held on Monday evening in a reserved banquet room on the second floor of the Monte Carlo hotel. There was a no-host bar available from 7:00 pm. Dinner was served, buffet style, at 7:30 pm. Our dinner menu was:

Garden Greens with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bacon, Cheese, Croutons, and Assorted Dressings Avocado, Tomato and Corn Salad with Cheddar Cheese and Chipotle Vinaigrette Fresh Tossed Caesar Salad Romaine Lettuce, Herb Croutons and Shaved Parmesan Cheese Selections of International and Domestic Cheese Assorted Crackers and Lavosh Seasonal Fresh Vegetables with Fresh Herb Dip, Ranch Dressing Main Entrée - Choice of: Fillet of Salmon, Lemon Caper Sauce Chicken Piccata with Mushrooms and Capers Petit Filet Mignon, Peppercorn Sauce Accompanied by: Seasonal Fresh Vegetables Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes Assorted Freshly Baked Breads and Rolls with Butter Assorted Cakes, Pies and Pastries Freshly Brewed Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tea, or Iced Tea

A brief eulogy by Brian Carlin toasted the untimely death of Dave Williams. Dave was a very lively participant in our North American reunions and his presence will be missed.

An RAF squadron leader, Gareth Davies was our after-dinner guest speaker.

Back row, left to right: Roy Purgavie (42nd Clerk prog Hereford), Jack Bush (32nd Inst St. Athan), Ted Motteram (29th St. Athan), Jim Beattie (31st St. Athan), Derek Stevens, Mike Claydon (26th Teleg Cosford), Martin Roberts (22nd A.R.M. Cosford), Norrie Hathaway (46th Elect St. Athan), Graham Moss (45th Supplier), John Weatherley (8th Air Wireless Yatesbury), Brian Carlin (29th Entry Air Elect St. Athan), Chris Simpson (26th Teleg Cosford), John Royle (23rd Teleg Cosford), Gorton Lawrence (21st Entry Arm Cosford).

Middle row, left to right: Roger Compton (46th Air Wireless Cosford), Eric Robinson (14th Compton Bassett), John Lawrence (34th AWM Cosford), Derek Cleverley (6th Entry Engines), Peter Rushby (30th Arm St. Athan), Peter Whitfield (44th Air Radar Cosford), Peter Clark (21st Inst Cosford), Bruce Allen (46th Entry Air Wireless Cosford).

Front row, left to right: Mike Gay (42nd Teleg Cosford), Paul Johnson, John Halliwell (30th Entry General Fitter St. Athan), Victoria Davies, Gareth Davies (Squadron Leader), David Mattingley (44th Entry AirRad Cosford), Ralph Guinn (41st Air Wireless Cosford), Allan Harrison.

And where would all these RAF Brats be if it weren't for these fine ladies? Back Row standing left to right: Carol Halliwell, Ann Lawrence, Julia Beattie, Pam Rushby, Muriel Stevens, Elizabeth Clark, Sheila Roberts, Joy Whitfield, Joanne Lawrence, Anne Allen, Anna Batanides, Patricia Johnson, Janet Mattingley, Lenore Robertson, Margaret Weatherley.

Front Row seated left to right: Geraldine Bush, Julie Claydon, Gail Simpson, Victoria Davies, Gareth Davies (Squadron Leador) Maureen Royle, Barbara Cleverley.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11: "Veterans Day" Holiday. We had a group visit to a RAF squadron based at US Airforce Base Creech. The squadron operates some very unusual aircraft and the visit was a very interesting one.

Brian Carlin, Bruce Allen, and Martin Roberts generously coordinated all details for this reunion. Great job fellas ... and a big "thanks" for Bruce and Martin's wives for all their help.

The 9th Annual Royal Air Force Boy Entrants Association North America Reunion will be held in the world famous Banff Springs Hotel. Click here for further details.

By the way, be sure to check out Brian Carlin's website and the new 396-page book Brian just wrote. It's entitled "Boy Entrant The Recollections of a Royal Air Force "Brat". Brian takes us on the absorbing true story of his first major step on the journey of life that would mould him and his fellow Boy Entrants to become the "backbone" of the 1950s Royal Air Force.

Were you in the 46th Entry? If so, please be sure to check the 46th Entry's website and see if you can find an old friend.

Wanna send us an e-mail? Here's our mailbox. We've tweeked our e-mail address a bit to prevent all that awful spam. We think you'll figure out that AT is to be replaced with the @ with no spaces in between the @ symbol.

This page was updated October 24, 2010