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Members Gallery (F to J)

	Cpl Ronald (Jock) Fraser was inflicted on AAFCE in April 1957. As a Clerk GD/Sec he was assigned to ACOS Training in Building 1. Jock was instrumental in founding the MPH Club co-organising motor rallies and was editor of the monthly MPH Bulletin. Gendarmerie legend has it that he rode a Vincent motor cycle sometimes at 135 mph. Jock completed his tour and saw out the rest of his 22 years service in the UK and Singapore as a Loadmaster on Beverleys and VC10s, then joined the Civil Service in 1972. Unable to adapt to the "twin set and pearls" mentality in the CS, Jock joined an American Shipping Company as Office Manager ~ excellent perks and typical US incentive schemes ~ e.g. "one mistake and you're out." 5 years later he gave a sailors farewell and took a managerial appointment for Social Services in his native Scotland. After holidays in Australia Jock and his wife Christine (an OH Nursing Sister with ICI) bought a 25 acre site on the Capricorn Coast in Queensland and had a house built to their own design. Took early retirement, golden handshakes and everything in his office that was not screwed down and ran away Down Under leaving their (adult!) kids behind. Jock and Christine are now happy mouldering away ten minutes from the prawn boat harbour and beaches to die for. Jock says that he often lies in his pool of an evening gazing up at the stars and the Southern Cross, nibbling a tiger prawn and sipping a chilled Chardonnay thinking "whatever happened to that mad bunch of layabouts from Fontainebleau days?" and comes over all maudlin and nostalgic and has to open another bottle to get over it.
	Cpl Bill Frindall was a Clerk Progress in the AAFCE International Motor Pool from March 1962 until November 1963 when he left Fontainebleau to be commissioned. Dubbed `The Bearded Wonder' by the late Brian Johnston, Bill is the BBC's scorer and statistician, and the longest-serving member of Radio's Test Match Special (TMS) commentary team having made his debut in 1966. Bill was born in Epsom, Surrey, on the first day of the Timeless Test at Durban and was a record eleven days old when it ended as a draw. He is the author/compiler/editor of a number of publications including the Playfair Cricket Annual (19 editions), The Wisden Book of Test Cricket (five editions), The Wisden Book of Cricket Records (four editions), Guinness Cricket Facts and Feats (four editions), England Test Cricketers, The Playfair Cricket World Cup Guide (two editions), Ten Tests for England, Gooch's Golden Summer, A Tale of Two Captains and Limited-Overs International Cricket (two editions). Contributor to many other titles, he was responsible for the Cricket Records section of 22 editions of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and 17 of The Guinness Book of Records. He is cricket statistician to The Times and cricket archivist to the late Sir Paul Getty's Estate. His memoirs will be published in 2006 to celebrate his 40 years with TMS. The first President of British Blind Sport (BBS) from 1984 until 2004, he attended the Tri-nation Blind Cricket Tournament at Brisbane in April 2000. Bill was "The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians" "Statistician of the Year" 1996. and was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology for his contribution to the field of statistics by Staffordshire University 1998. He was appointed MBE for services to Cricket and Broadcasting in the 2004 Birthday Honours. A professional speaker since 1968, he specialises in anecdotes from the TMS commentary box and impressions of its occupants, past and present. Bill lives in a Wiltshire village near Devizes with his wife Debbie, eight-year-old daughter, Alice Katharine, and a hat trick of cats.
	Cpl Tom (Ben) Gunn was the only RAF Armourer at AAFCE between January 1962 and July 1964. As the weapons were never issued he spent most of time making boxes and crates for servicemen returning to the UK. Initially Tom lived with his wife Christine and daughter in Veneux-les-Sabons but with the arrival of their son born in the British Wing of Fontainebleau Hospital in 1963 they moved to a flat in the Rue de France. After a spell at Honnington Tom saw service in RAF Changi where he worked on his favourite aircraft – the Shackleton. Then came a couple of postings in the UK where he got his third stripe and then it was off to Gutterloh for his last 3 years service, Retiring from the RAF in 1978 Tom walked straight into a job with Securicor Parcels (another uniform!) and became supervisor before finally retiring in 1996. Tom is proud to say that he has never been out of work for one day since the age of 14. Tom and Christine now live in the lovely Cornish town of Launceston. Among his interests Tom lists Gardening and DIY but unfortunately these activities have had to be curtailed since a heart attack last year but he continues to keep himself active.
	L/Cpl Richard Hales served as a dental Technician at the Quartier Chateau from July 1953 until June 1954. Richard now lives in Peterborough with his wife Pauline.    After leaving the Army in August 1954 Richard decided on a career change and went to work for a local firm that produced diesel engines where he stayed for the next thirty two years, during this time he had various jobs ranging from machinist, tool setter and production foreman but most of his time was spent as a work study engineer. In 1986 Richard was made redundant and after a few weeks in a temporary job with a firm of civil engineers he secured a job as senior production engineer with a firm that made hi tec multi layer circuit boards about which he knew very little when one needs a job one doesn’t mention this lack of knowledge but gets on with it and learn quickly.  He remained with this Company until retirement in 1999. In retirement Richard and Pauline tend to have quite a few holidays and when at home he enjoys model engineering and voluntary work.
	Lance Cpl Tony Hand, (Royal Signals) arrived in Fontainebleau in March 1952 and left in June 1953. He worked as a clerk in the Communications Directorate under Group Capt. Nicholls whose secretary was Miss Pike, the daughter of Air Vice Marshall Pike. Col. Videlaine was the French representative. who could speak and understand English quite well but refused to do so. The Brits had to speak French. The army officers were Lt. Col, Webb, Major Sells and Capt. Hensher. There was also a Belgian Lt. Adrienssen. A truly international Directorate. After his army service Tony spent 30 years with the Port of London Authority before he took voluntary severance in 1983. He then took a job as caretaker at a school for handicapped children in Kent and retired in May 1998. Among his leisure pursuits Tony names sea fishing and gardening and is a member of the Kent Active Retirement Federation. Tony was discovered through Open Lines, a Newsletter for Local Government retirees, in which his article on his time in Fontainebleau was seen by Bill Powney.
	Sgt. Johnny Hanlon - Called up in Sept 1959 for national service, signed on in the RAF just to make sure that I went into the RAF as they said at the time that they were choosey about who they could take in. Went to Cardington first then Bridgenorth for square bashing, passed out on my 21st Birthday on 27th Nov and was posted to Compton Bassett No 3 Radio school and trained as a TPO. I was then posted to Middleton St George in Co Durham Fighter Command Hunters and Javelins, where I only lasted 6 months and was posted to HQAAFCE. Served there for 2 and 1/2 years and was posted back to Raf Pitreavie in Scotland where I served my time out, I had the intention of signing on again but my mother took ill so I stayed out and got involved with my new job with Central Scotland police. I joined No2 MHU City of Edinburgh Royal Auxiliary Air Force, now renamed 603 Squadron and stayed there till I retired from the RAF at the age of 50yrs. During my time in Fontainebleau I played a lot of football and travelled all over the area. I am Standard bearer for Forth Valley in Central Scotland. I am a committee member for 603 sqn in Edinburgh and I am a member of the civilian committee with the local Air Training Corps. The photographs were taken at Royal Signals Association VE-VJ day Victory Celebration in Falkirk and I was very proud to be the only RAFA standard bearer there. I am married to Margaret, have four daughters who are all married, and have eight grand children.
	It is a pleasure to welcome an Ally from the US Air Force. Airman First Class, John Harhigh, pictured with his wife Liliane. Airman Harhigh arrived in Fontainebleau in December 1951, after arriving in Bremenhaven, Germany in November 1951, then went to Sonthofen, Germany to begin his journey to Fontainebleau where he served as a General Clerk in the Organisation and Manpower Department until August 1955 when he was discharged (honourably) from the service in September 1955. Initially the Americans were billeted in the converted stables next to the Fencing School in Avon ( about one half kilometers from the Chateau) where everyone worked in offices set up in the sub floors of the Chateau (Cour Henri IV), moving to Camp Guynemer when it opened in 1953. After service in the US Air Force, John was employed by a Gas Utility Company for 38 plus years. He and his wife, who reside in McMurray, Pennsylvania, are avid swimmers, swimming one mile daily, are members of a health fitness club, Rolling Hills Country Club and are active in Antique Automobile Clubs. They have currently a 1941 Buick Sport Coupe that they show at the various antique car shows during the summer. One more thing - Liliane and John are Cancer survivors.
	3512399 AC/1 Ken. (Harry) Harriman. Medical Staff, RAF Hospital, AAFCE, Fontainebleau, BFPO 6. I was at Fontainebleau for only six months, the last six months of my regular service, and how I came to get a posting there, even to me, seems strange. After basic training at West Kirby, and a spell in Hospital with Gastro Enteritis, I was back flighted and eventually posted to Medical Training Establishment 13 Site Lytham, , for trade training as a Medical Orderly. Unfortunately I failed my exams. Now here is where the fun begins!. I was posted to No1,FTS, RAF North Luffenham which was just up the road from my home, twenty miles to be exact, a very nice home posting, But! this was April 1952 and North Luffenham had been handed over to the RCAF in November 1951. Someone, somewhere, had not done their homework, and on the day I was to leave Lytham near Blackpool, my posting had been changed to 206 AFS Oakington Cambridgeshire, which was the group that had been in residence at North Luffenham until November 1951 as No1 FTS. Are you still with me? I duly arrived at Oakington, and after reporting to the various sections to 'Get Signed in', I reported to the Station Sick Quarters, immediately falling foul of the 'jumped up' little corporal, for entering by the wrong door. Please don't get the idea I don't like 'Geordies' I do, they're straightforward decent folk, this guy was an exception.(even to the human race). I discovered that he had only been made up to corporal that same day. But he was always on my back, after that. Apparently I was not supposed to be there, they didn't have me down for posting in to that unit or for the Sick Quarters either, as they were fully staffed and had their quota of Ward Assistants, which I now was. I was taken in to see the SMO by the Sergeant who was an extremely affable Man, Sergeant Arthur Groves was his name and he had joined the RAF in 1932. The SMO was very sympathetic and began to make phone calls, and used a few very choice words to the recipient at the other end of the line, one call must have been to someone very very senior, because he was very deferential, the result was that I stayed at Oakington . My thoughts were that this would be an exciting place to be with Meteor T7s and Vampire T11 sand FB5s, it was a splendid camp, clean and tidy and the meals in the mess were very good, far better than those which we had consumed at West Kirby and Lytham, and with one notable exception, all the Medical staff were very friendly. I was informed of my duties and what the 'Crash Bell' procedure was, I very soon found that when this 'Crash Bell' sounded the procedures that I had been informed about, swung into place like a well oiled machine. The Small operating room was readied in case it would be needed and an Orderly and myself unlocked the doors of the Mortuary, as that was the place that was needed most often. I was made responsible for the mortuary, keeping it clean and making sure the strong rubber gloves and Lysol etc; were replenished. It was not a very pleasant job, especially if we had more than one cadaver to clean, ready for a Coroner's report. My Hobby and pastime was bicycle racing which I started when I was 15 and until recently, before a heart problem stopped me I was racing at the age of 65 .Before I joined the RAF I raced at various venues in the Midlands one of them being at Kettering in Northamptonshire where I made a very good friend in a local racing club, he was at a grammar school somewhere in the area, and a year and month older than me. His father, and mine also, had been in the RFC/RAF as Officer Cadets and although 'rivals' on the track, we became good friends. Imagine my surprise at meeting him at Oakington, he was a Pilot Officer on a flying course, and he was close to completing that course. we did sometimes go into the White Horse in Long Stanton to drink together, but we usually wore 'civvies' On one particular day I was with the ambulance in the 'Crash Bays' near the Control Tower, when a Meteor took off from the runway, it turned Sharply in the circuit and came into land but had little or no room to get the undercarriage down again before hitting the ground very forcibly, and burst into Flames. The emergency vehicles sped to the scene, but they could not get the Pilot out and he burned to death, that was a terrible shock to see that happen, it was made even worse when his remains were taken to the Mortuary where the Junior Medical Officer and myself began to remove his charred clothing, the JMO removed from the pocket of the dead man's Flying suit, his identification, showing his name, I realised then, that this was my friend, Trevor. It affected me deeply at that time and still does when I recall the details still etched indelibly in my mind, and when I look back at some old racing programmes with our names printed on them. In all I attended to sixteen crash victims mostly air accidents, some whole, others not so, when the biggest bits would fit into a shopping bag. It was a rotten job for an eighteen to nineteen years old lad. It was a rotten job for anyone. Eventually I was posted to Ely Hospital from where I went to an interview at White Waltham or Maidenhead I can't remember which but it was a very big house with a Marble staircase. I was told to wait in a room and someone would come to see me. I had no idea what it was all about except that my thoughts were of a colleague who had recently been court marshalled and sent to Colchester. Eventually a Squadron Leader came and ordered me to follow him. Up the Marble staircase and to a room where he entered and said out loud" LAC Harriman Sir!". I entered into the office of an Air Vice Marshall who bade me come forward to his desk, where he got to his feet, shook my hand and bade me 'good morning'. "Sit Down-Sit Down Lad" indicating a chair slightly to one side of centre. I had been ushered into the Office of the Angel Gabrielle himself, either that or I was going to be shot at dawn. And to this day I can't remember who he was. He quizzed me on all that I had done, especially at Oakington, finally he said "You've been dealt a bit of a bad hand Haven't you lad", I replied that it was a job that someone must do." Good Man -Good Man, How would you like to go to France?" It sounded alright to me. He then Dropped his little Bombshell, "Right! We are opening a hospital there, it will be a new hospital for us although it is in a part of a French Hospital. It will need all your expertise in the cleaning and getting this hospital up and running, you do understand me, don't you Harriman?" Oh! yes Sir" "I am relying on you not to let the side down, you will be the only Ward Assistant to be posted there, and you have been selected especially by me, for the task, How do you feel about that?" What could I really say? "Nice one! I see I've been thrown into the Cacky again" or "Thanks a bunch I was quite happy at Ely". Instead I replied "I feel honoured Sir that you have entrusted me with this posting." What a load of male bovine excreta that was. I didn't know I was that brainy to come up with a saying like that. And that dear friends is how I ended up doing the last six months of my RAF service in AAFCE, Fontainebleau.
	Cpl George Hawes served as an RAF Policeman at AAFCE from October 1953 until May 1956 when he left the service. Whilst at Fontainebleau he met Ginette a French secretary. They married at the village church in Otley, Suffolk in November 1956. After leaving the RAF George worked for Tolly Cobbold Brewery in Ipswich before moving to Chippenham, Cambridge to work with horses. He remained there until he retired in 1997 and now lives happily with Ginette 3 miles away in Ilseham. George maintains his interest in bowls while Ginette is involved with the local WI. George and Ginette have a son and a daughter and 4 grandsons, one granddaughter and one great grandson.
	Cpl Barry Hayes served as a member of the RAF Police at Fontainebleau from April 1955 until October 1958. Over 50 years ago Barry met and married Irene Brack a WRAF at AAFCE. After leaving the RAF Barry worked for Vickers (later BAC and British Aero Space) at Weybridge, on various aircraft including Concorde. Later moved to Filton working on Concorde and then to Farnborough  later to test rig Concorde. After twelve and a half years at the end of Concorde production, Barry then worked at the Inspection Department for RFDGQ at Godalming before moving to Drummonds Inspection Department. He was then recruited by Lucas Defence as Inspection engineer for a reverse engineering exercise, for the Egyptian military on Russian equipment. This lasted for twelve years until glasnost stopped everything. Then followed a period of a few years when Barry was self-employed installing BS 5750 later to become ISO into various companies. At the same time he built his Black Lion Caravan & Camping Park on the farm that he bought in Llanelli, Wales. His caravan park is now 4star and has the David Bellamy GOLD conservation award. Barry and Irene would like to hear from: Ron Wheeler, George Skinner, Eric Crittall, Pete Maskil, and anyone that remembers them.
	Albert Hayhurst arrived at fontainebleau in September 1956 and wworked at the hospital in town. On leaving the RAF he worked in the medical centre at Frickley Colliery and later joined the West Yorkshire Fire Service. Albert's wife Marie sadly died in 2000 - he has a son and daughter and two granddaughters. Albert now lives in Doncaster and is still active with RAFA.
	We extend a warm welcome to Irene Healy, the widow of Joe Healy, who passed away in 2004. Irene who lives in Dunfermline enjoys gardening when the weather is suitable and swimming, aerobics calligraphy and Tai Chi. Irene will be with us at the Warwick Reunion in October.
	SAC Joseph Harry Horn a 3 year regular airman arrived in Fontainebleau in April 1958 as driver allocated to the International Motor Pool where he remained until September 1959. Harry now lives with his wife Patricia in Cullercoats, Tyne & Wear. It was 1948 when I first flew a Spitfire and such joy it gave me. It took 3months to build, the feel of the balsa-wood and smell of that glue, the tightness of the paper over the wings. I knew then I wanted to join the R A F. that kit cost me 2/11d and it was wrecked on its first flight. I went on to build many more before leaving school at 14 to join my father in the family fish business. When my National Service papers came I had no hesitation and signed up for 3 years, I was told signing for 3 years would give me a better chance of a posting abroad. At that time I never thought travel would become as it is today and I would ever get to see the Far East. From day one I applied for a posting anywhere in the world especially the Far East. I failed all the top gun tests and had to settle to become a driver, which was my next passion (driving). That came to me early on when my father came home after serving in the RAF in WW2. I was about 8 years old and he would take me with him on school holidays to his work. After WW2 the family firm bought a US army staff car and had the back replaced with a wooden truck body. It was a Ford with a V8 engine and boy could it go, on a quiet road to the local docks Father would lift me on his lap and let me drive the last mile. All I wanted to do then was drive anything on wheels. After RAF Padgate and Weeton I was posted to RAF Hope Cove in Devon and spent my time driving everything from dustbin truck, ambulance, fire tender and coaches. On occasions I would have to drive the CO's Vanguard to his house. Then one day I was told that the C in C was to visit and I had drawn the short straw (I am sure that was a fix) and would have to collect him at the airport. I was a little nervous at first but everything went off ok. That must have gone on record and not long after I received my overseas posting. HQ AAFCE. Where in the world was that? No one at Hope Cove had any idea. Once I found out I was a little disappointed but went home on leave to tell the folks. It was then my fiancé and I decided to get married, gosh we were only 19 at the time and we must have thought I was getting posted to the moon. I had enjoyed my time at RAF Hope Cove and made many friends possibly because I did every weekend duty driver. Most of the lads lived fairly local and could get home on a 48-hour pass. I only did it once and it took me 16 hours to get home and 15 to get back. Then one summer my wife came to work in a hotel in Salcombe. Happy days with lots of good friends and memories. I regret not having kept in touch with the lads and only 2 years ago I managed to find one and we now write to each other. I was looking on the net for the AAFCE badge when I came across your site and how happy I was to see the photos and read the letters. Many memories came back, I did have a few souvenirs of my time there but over the years and moving house many have been lost. My first son managed to destroy my NATO service document when he was a baby. I did have a piece of a sycamore helicopter that I flew in just before it crashed, but that's another story. I was assigned as 2nd driver to an officer and gentleman whom I will never forget. Air Chief Marshal Sir George Mills K.B.E. D.F.C. Sgt. Peter Fryer was his number one driver and a finer NCO and mentor I have yet to meet. Sgt. Vic Barnes was the Commander’s chef and Sgt. Barnes’ wife his housekeeper. My main and very hard and difficult job was to deliver a newspaper and take Sgt. Barnes shopping. Once done it was back to the Motor Pool for a rest and stand by if I was needed. I had some interesting driving to do when Sir George was away but that's another story. I took over from Sgt. Fryer when he left to go to the Pentagon, Washington, USA. That was the next posting for Sir George and Sgt. Fryer left to learn the routes. That left me to drive that big Humber Pullman, like a ballroom in the back but a child's peddle car in the front, lucky I was quite trim. In all my service days I was never called by my name it was always Geordie and I met many fellow Geordies in the RAF. SAC Malcolm Wellings was in the MT section when I left, he was from Newcastle. A good friend was SAC “Shug” Stewart, he was from Dundee and I think he was in admin. I am not too sure if he isn't on one of the photos on your site. My room-mates in "M" block were SAC Derek. I. Mold (Admin) and SAC Paul Woodhouse (driver). Paul had a girl friend in Paris and we would often go to see her. I think it was his girl but we always dropped him off up the Alley. Paul was a great lad and he always wanted to go to the USA, which after leaving the RAF he did. I received a call not long after he came home from Derek to say Paul had been killed in a car accident. I know we may never have kept in touch but I am still very sad to have lost a dear friend. Derek came out the service and started a transport company, Guess who taught him to drive and in what vehicle. I have lost touch since he last came to see me but I hope he is doing well and he looks in on your site some day. If only one could live life again! I wouldn't change a thing; my big regret is not getting the cookhouse recipe for Sortie- Bee- Merrago. Boy did I enjoy that, if anyone knows the recipe I would love to have it. My wife is sick of me asking for it (the meal). Well as I said I am new to computers and I am trying to learn to type to help me with my story of my life, mainly the 50 years I have spent in the Fish trade. My ancestors may find it interesting. Thank you so much for giving me the reason and the opportunity to type this story. Not bad for a learner it has just taken under five hours to do this, over three days. What a lot of Dribble. Sorry.
	MT Mechanic SAC Tim Hunt arrived at Fontainebleau on New Year’s Day in 1962 from RAF Waterbeach, Cambridge and left in June 1964 working at the Base Engineers, alongside a Belgian Air Force Sergeant, a German Navy Unterbootsman (Submariner) and a Dutch Airman. Their boss was Flt. Sgt Samways of the RAF and the Officer i/c was USAF Major Douglas Their little team was responsible for the maintenance of the emergency generators at the Commcentre, the Receiver Site at Yuri and the Transmitter Site at Melun. Tim also worked in the Main Camp Emergency Generator Plant near the Commcentre building when the French civilians went on strike ~ quite a regular occurrence. After leaving AFFCE Tim was posted to RAF White Waltham assigned to a Mobile Glider Servicing Party covering the south of England. During this time he went on a six-month's Fitters Course at RAF St Athan. In March 1967 he was posted to RAF Steamer Point, Aden and when the British troops retreated in November he went up the Gulf to RAF Sharjah to complete his tour. In July 1970 Tim completed his RAF service at RAF Brize Norton as a corporal. Since leaving the RAF Tim worked in the Transport Industry at Maidenhead, Chesham and Aylesbury. In 1984 he joined the Waste Industry as a Fleet Manager and, after 20 years and two take-overs by American and French Companies he took voluntary redundancy. Married to Linda in 1970 Tim has a son, James, who is in his last year at Glamorgan University studying Drama and Media Studies. Tim and Linda have lived in Thame, Oxfordshire for the past 30 years.
	SAC Ken Jackson - Having been in the RAF just under six month arrived in Fontainebleau in May 1951 as an LAC shorthand typist, ACOS Intelligence under Air Commodore R.N. Waite. Camp Guynemer was still being completed he was billeted on the fourth floor in Caserne Demene. It was used by the French National Servicemen and the smell of French army issue cigarettes and garlic was overwhelming. The “inmates” on the top floor entertained themselves launching balsa wood model aircraft out of the window whilst the French army was having their colour hoisting parade on the parade ground below. The offices were in the Chateau and Ken remembers being part of a Guard of Honour for General Eisenhower when he visited Allied Land Forces in an adjacent part of the Chataux. During his AACE service Ken remembers detachments to Metz and Bad Eilsen for NATO air exercises and he once flew from Melun to RAF Buckeburg with Group Captain Gray in an Avro Anson which then flew back to Tangmere for a weekend where he got a bit of aggro from jumped up RAF Policeman (What are you doing here? Where do you thing you're going? What's that badge?) . Ken was present at the opening of the Club and Cafeteria when Richard Todd and other celebrities attended. Ken left Fontainebleau in June 1953 after demob at the end of 1955 he worked in the heavy steel industry being a victim of the shake out in our manufacturing industries in the 1980s. Having retrained as a computer programmer he retired at 60. Ken and his wife Lorna, now live Rotherham and spend time at their Pentecostal Church where they feed and minister to the homeless and down and outs. They have toured in caravans for over forty years and Ken enjoys coarse fishing.

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