The 81st Entry
RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices
Sept 1955 - July 1958

ISSUE No.14 - FEBRUARY 2008
81st ENTRY NEWSLETTER
Editor: Mike Stanley

Halton Memories by Ned Kelly

I often wonder whilst reading our Entry pages, how little mention is given to a character who was prominent during our time at Halton.

The man in questio was the SWO, Joe Bollard. Surely you all must have had an experience with Joe. Rank meant little to this man when the Drill Manual was not correct. Taking a Wing on to the Square after the end of Schools or Workshops was one of his passions. We in Maitland were lucky in not having his presence as you at Henderson/Grove most of the time. The wing WO at Maitland was Mr. Jinks, a easier man than Joe. Our drill Sgt was Benny Brice, who had received the BEM.

The Willow Cafe was a haunt when you reached Senior Entry status and was more used by 3wing being closer and also being able to go over the fence. The PMUB church was another good place.
The overseas apprentices were in my mind a mixed lot. The Kiwis were all excellent in their studies and sport. A few were very arrogant but the majority OK. The Burmese lads mainly kept to themselves although I was friendly with one Zaula La Pai. The two Venezuelan lads in our room were Tony Mendez and Gonzales. They were splendid in their uniforms and thought to be well paid. Rumours about their London flats were always around.

Remember the big Flu epidemic? We all sat in sick quarters and most of us tried warming the thermometer to gain a bed. I believe they had a block over at H/G for isolation for that period.
Mid-Term was a pleasant time. All the coaches taking us to different parts. The lads who organized these trips did a wonderful service. I often went on the Liverpool run and then connected with the Manx Ferry. Returning from Liverpool was a little quieter but we used to stop near Oxford and cram in the nectar. The trip back was then a blur.

Airfields was also a pleasant part of the course. As soon as we left the main track and started to enter the woods, out came the smokes. The instructors were brilliant and treated us well. One was I recall Chaz Bowyer, and he was writing a book about aircraft. Bless the Chipmunk, which took us aloft. That inspired me later to apply for aircrew.

The facts that follow are 99.9% true.

Having left Halton, I was now at Aldergrove. I was soon on my way to join our lads at Hornchurch for aircrew selection. We were briefed about our tests etc. Most of us went out for a "quiet" drink. I calculated with my briefing notes that I would have about 9hrs to regain normality arriving back at my bed at midnight. I did arrive at the midnight hour, with a lot of help from my friends.
Left it late arising; a quick wash, no time for shave, although there was a modest hairy show. But the first item appeared to be present in PT kit for some tests. (bit vague on exact item). To my extreme horror an orderly called out several names and told them to report for interviews. My name was called. Only given time to get into crumbled uniform but No shave. It appeared the schedule had been changed.

Waiting to enter the interview was not pleasant. My hairy growth was growing. Once I got into the room I felt like a trapped animal. I tried to keep away from the table as far as I could. Every time a question was put to me I answered with my left or right hand close to my hairy face. The interview I can hardly recall. The last question I do. "What do consider the most important factor in the World today?" I replied, "The American attitude to us over Suez". I honestly cannot fathom how that came out, but it certainly ended my interview.

My aircrew selection ended in the next hour when I was told I had "long sight".