Editorial (Newsletter No. 38) APRIL 2007
It is pleasing to write this Newsletter and with an announcement
of 4 new members. Plans are well advanced for our Tenth Annual Reunion
and Dinner on 29 September. With 65 already booked there is still
room for more so come on lads and lasses make the effort to join
us on what will be a very enjoyable week-end. Details are given
below.
TENTH ANNUAL REUNION & DINNER ~ SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2007
We shall meet again at the Honiley
Court Hotel situated in the countryside on the outskirts of Warwick
on 28 and 29 September for what promises to be a special weekend
away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 68 have booked
in for the dinner on Saturday. The cost for dinner bed and breakfast
is £59 per person per night. A deposit of £15 per person
is required with your booking. A booking form is attached together
with Circular No 1. At the time of writing only 10 more rooms are
available at the hotel so if you are thinking of joining us get
your skates on. Dress is lounge suit, blazer and flannels or smart
casual.
OBITUARY
The TIMES recently reported the death of Air
Marshall Sir Edward Gordon Jones on 20 February aged 91. After serving
as an ace fighter pilot in the Second World War his postwar career
was one of rapid promotion to senior appointments. By 1960 he was
Assistant Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Central Europe.
WELCOME ABOARD
Cpl
Mick Cooney was posted to AAFCE in Jul 1960 to work in
the Central Registry, RAF Support Unit. While in France Mick was
a regular member of both the RAF and International soccer XIs When
he left Fontainebleau in February 1963 he went to 7 FTS Church Fenton.
In March 1964 Mick was prompted to Sergeant and posted to Cranwell.
He was allowed to form a Saturday soccer team that entered the Grantham
& District League. Mick found himself at RAF Selestar in December
1965 and after it closed he spent 3 years in the Families Accommodation
Flight responsible for the allocation of married quarters but his
main job was managing the inter-section soccer league. In January
1968 he joined RAF Careers and was posted to Newcastle where he
was on cloud nine being only 600 yards from St James’ Park. 3 years
later another overseas posting saw Mick at Rheindhalen where he
was PA to A.O. Eng. Air Commodore Barber and once again he was able
to follow his interest in running football. 3 years later Mick was
made up to Flight Sergeant at RAF Swinderby just 600 yards from
RAF Records Office (DET). Mick’s love of the of the RAF waned following
his next move to RAF Linton as Chief Clerk where the post was downgraded
to Sergeant. Having tendered his resignation he lazed around HQ
Support Command, Brampton. After demob in August 1977 Mick became
a Pub Landlord - this lasted for 14 months before he took up an
administrative post with the NHS in York for 6 months before working
for York City Council. A heart by-pass operation forced him to retire
in December 1995. Mick who lives with his wife Tricia in York still
loves gardening and football albeit from an armchair.
July 1960 ~ Australia’s Jack Brabham
wins the French Grand Prix
Sgt
Brian Sheppard (RASC) arrived at Fontainebleau in the autumn
1953 as a shorthand writer/typist and left in May 1955.
Before joining the Army Brian was a trainee journalist
on a weekly newspaper in Dundee in Scotland. After leaving the RASC
he returned to Dundee and completed his training on a Sunday newspaper
before emigrating in 1957 to what was then Northern Rhodesia, now
Zambia, working as a reporter on a newspaper in Lusaka, the capital,
returning to Britain in 1960. While in Lusaka he married Mona, who
had travelled out to Zambia by boat and train to join him. On their
return to Britain he joined The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh
but after nine years again had itchy feet and left with his family
to pursue his journalistic career in the United States.
After around 18 months on The Cleveland Plain Dealer
in Ohio he came back to Britain just as commercial radio was beginning
to take root. He was one of the pioneers of BRMB Radio in Birmingham
and news editor of the station for 16 years before retiring to do
occasional consultancy work.
Says Brian: ‘I found the Fontainebleau Vets site
quite by chance while looking for an old army buddy Peter Kinsley
who was also a journalist on national newspapers and a successful
author. We are now in contact by email and phone quite regularly
for the first time in over half a century!’
Brian and Mona who live in Glencarse, Perthshire
have two sons – both journalists.
October 1953 ~ In London troops operate
petrol tankers replacing striking tanker drivers
Thora
Amos widow of Cpl Alan Amos spent 2½ years with
her late husband Cpl Alan Amos (RAF Police) at Fontainebleau from
January 1960 until July 1962 when Alan was posted to RAF Honnington
where they met up with Frank and Margaret Adams. After demob Alan
joined the Kent Police Force, passing out in November 1964 for duty
in the Tonbridge area where he pounded the beat for a few months
before a posting to Maidstone where he was promoted to Sergeant.
Alan then became an instructor. He wrote books on rabies, hunting,
poaching and a book for new police officers written in plain English.
When the Home Office started reorganizing the Police
Service Alan decided to retire after thirty odd years because he
could not take all the political correctness. In retirement Alan
took up writing his life story and the history of the Ramsgate Tunnels
and the Kent Coalfields. As he was putting the finishing touches
to these works he became poorly and was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
In May 1999 Alan underwent surgery followed by radiotherapy. After
a brave fight Alan died 11 months later. He is survived by his wife
Thora and daughters Christine and Donna.
Thora, was introduced by Colin Hogg, lives in Broadstairs,
Kent. She will be able to meet up with some of her friends from
those idyllic days in Fontainebleau at the Reunion in September.
January 1960 ~ HM Government announces curbs on the sale of “pep
pills”
1962 
2007
SAC Brian Bursell arrived at AAFCE
in October 1961 working in the Communications HQ as a telephonist.
Brian remained in Fontainebleau until April 1964
Entering civilian life in January 1971 after 12
years in the RAF was to be quite a shock to the system with a wife
and 2 children to support in a new environment totally different
to service life.
Brian joined a government Training Scheme in Carpentry
for 6 months followed by various other jobs. Then in 1975 in a new
direction he secured a position at Rolls Royce, Coventry on the
semi-skilled turbo blade manufacture milling work shop progressing
up to skilled in various departments of milling, ECM, and EDM drilling
until the closure in 1993 when he was made redundant.
After courses in IT at college he had the opportunity
in 1977 to have his job back at Rolls Royce, Antsy until 2000. Once
again he was bored and took a job in stores for Land Rover Parts.
Now in 2007 he is fully retired.
Joining the RAF is a decision he has never regretted.
Born in Hull he went to Newland Ave School and Lambert Street. Brian’s
decision join the RAF was whilst working for the local auctioneer
Gilbert Bateson. He applied when he was 18 and volunteered for 3
years. Once in the service he received his call up papers for National
Service. Whilst stationed at Cowden near Aldborough Brian met his
wife Maureen who accompanied him on all his postings except for
Bahrain. (Their daughter was born in June 1964 in the UK. Their
son was born just before Brian went to Bahrain) Over the past years
they have re -visited Fontainebleau twice. Now Brian and Maureen
who live in Coventry are both retired and settled in Coventry nearing
their 45th wedding anniversary this year.
October 1961 ~ The last steam train
runs on the London Underground
FROM
THE POSTBAG
A happy New Year to you all from a miserable and
wet part of Brittany.
In a recent Newsletter you welcomed Corporal Bill
Frindall to the Association and as you know he is the Official England
Cricket Scorer. It was also mentioned that he had written an Autobiography
“Bearders My Life in Cricket” I decided to buy a copy and received
it duly signed by Bill.
I avidly read the section about his Royal Air Force
Service and in particular the cricket team at Fontainebleau's travel
to the Hague to play. Imagine my surprise when I read, and I quote
'Our hosts were greatly amused to discover that one of our players
was named Dicky Dykes' .(Dicky was my RAF nickname). I was extremely
proud to know that I am now in a book along with such great names
as Don Bradman and Len Hutton and all the other famous cricketers.
I would recommend the book to anyone with a love of cricket.
Don Dykes (Barthelemy, France)
The letter about the despicable treatment meted out
by HM Customs Officers reminded me of my own time as a conscript
in 1954, in B.F.P.O.6 in France, with NATO.
A young soldier (19) serving his two years on leave
from B.F.P.O. 6, had proposed, to his future wife in England. Back
in France he bought her a small, single diamond engagement ring
in Paris, took it home and she was delighted with it, chiding him
for spending all his savings on her. She asked him for the box,
as it would have the Paris jeweller's name in it. He said he would
bring it on his next leave, when he was being demobilised.
At Dover H.M. Customs officers waiting in big sheds
to divest British soldiers who had been serving in a war zone during
the Suez Emergency of their pitiful souvenirs and presents to wives
and girl friends A heroic Customs Officers found the box in my friend’s
baggage and asked him: "Where's the ring?" "I only
have the box," he explained. "My fiancee has the ring
from my last leave but she wanted the box as a souvenir."
"Pull the other one," they said, and not
heeding his protestations, they took his equipment apart, slashing
the linings of his civilian clothes, cutting into his suitcase lining
and cutting the uniform he had worn ("National Service!"
) for two long years. When they had found nothing and reduced him
to tears as he watched his civvies being cut up, they handed him
a heap of rags and said: "You'd better watch it. You think
you're pretty clever, don't you? We'll get you next time."
In my 40's my wife could not understand why I refused four times
to dine with her cousin and his wife. Then I told her: he is a customs
officer, and I swore never to speak to, drink with, or even acknowledge
any of them as long as I lived and told her why. And I haven't,
and I won't.
Peter Kinsley (Peckham, S.E. London)
I should have got this to you earlier.
Right after the parade at the Arc and as Pat and
I were leaving with Alistair and Monica Fraser, a small boy of about
8 Years of age and obviously English was overheard say to his Mother
"Mummy, who are those Old Gentlemen wearing Medals and Badges"?
"Oh, Darling they are all Spitfire pilots from
the war".
Now I think I left my Mark Nine somewhere along
the Plas de la Concorde, it has probably got a parking ticket on
it by now, so if you see one in the lost and found columns it's
mine and I'll go and fetch it back, Then again !. Maybe not.
Here's wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous
New Year, and if you win the jackpot on the National Lottery I'll
be around with my Begging Bowl.
Ken. Harriman or 'Arry ter me Mates (Wigston Manor,
Leics.)
Just a note to say how much Brenda and I enjoyed
our trip to Fontainebleau. It was a real eye opener to go back to
Camp Guynemer, and particularly when the gendarmes opened Quartier
Chateau specially for me to see my old room.
The parade at the Arc de Triomphe was very moving
and the French authorities put on a superb show. I would also like
to express our appreciation to Max Avey whose organisation was second
to none. Brian Moulding our interpreter also made the trip move
along smoothly with his local knowledge and expertise. Once again
thank you, the Fontainebleau Veterans Association for a memorable
trip,
Tony and Brenda Hand (Rochester)
The 37th edition was packed with news and photographs
and was first class.
You may wonder why I don't visit the local get together but my wife
is disabled and I/we spend all our time looking after our disabled
son who is a diabetic and suffers with agoraphobia.
I am now on tablets for Blood pressure, and my Cholesterol level
is far too high, but I get by ok.
I do love to follow the news and the work you do. I too wish more
would place their photos on the website.
During 2008, we may move to live in Brisbane, Australia, (where
my other son lives) and where that climate may do us all good.
Keep up with the good work, you are the nearest I have to keep me
in touch with my two years in Fontainebleau, 1958/60 Have a peaceful
Christmas and New Year
Jeff Lester (Oldbury West Midlands)
Finding your web site was a pure accident whilst
looking for something else and reading Flt Sgt Keith Adams record
among others I read was for me a stroll down memory lane.
I am still in touch with a Mrs P Bartram whose husband was a Police
Dog handler in the RAF for many years she now lives sadly on her
own at Boscome Downe.
Would Joe Connelly remember a Cpl Alan Sedden who drove for AM Sir
Morris Heath about the same time? I have a photograph. Anybody who
at any of the stations below at the same time as me please contact:
brianbursell06@tiscali.co.uk.
Training RAF Cardington/RAF Bridge north Jan/May
59
Leconfield/Cowden Trade Training/ Compton BassettJun/Dec 59
RAF Stanbridge/Jun 60/Jun 61
AAFCE Camp Guynemer Fontainebleau France Jun 61/Apr 64
Henlow PBX/Jun 64/Sep 64
Debden PBX Dog Training school Oct 64/Jun 66
RAF Muharraq Bahrain Unoccupied tour till June 67 extended tour
to
Singapore HQ RAF Changi transferred to RAF HQ Tengah did a detachment
to RAF PBX Seletar
Returned to the UK January 70
Posted to RAF Gayden for my last year left the RAF in 71
Brian Bursell ( Coventry)
TALES OF YESTERYEAR
One of the unusual aspects of my post as the British
Press writer at Fontainebleau (1960-63) was that every so often
I would be asked to go somewhere at very short notice. AAFCE exercises
were of course planned well in advance but on the odd occasion it
was a case of going into the office expecting to write a local boy
story and by lunchtime be scribbling my notes in another country.
One day we received a call that the Netherlands
Royal Family had made a late decision to honour a particular parade
in Holland and it was decided to cover it with pictures and a story.
I drew the short straw along with my USAF photographer but as the
event was in less than 3 hours, getting there in time was going
to be a problem. Our French PIO came to the rescue with a call to
the French Air Force at Melun. In what must have been less than
an hour Sgt Dick Junot and myself were being kitted and climbing
into a four seater training jet with a casual warning that we might
experience some ear pain as there wasn't time to go through any
pressurisation procedure.
What we also didn't know was that the flight would
be done as a low flying hedge hopping exercise wherever possible
and the ups and downs necessary would make it a choppy ride. Time
will dull some memories as we all know but I can still visualise
the colour of my photographer's face. A very similar green to the
hedges and trees flying past us. He was very very sick, poor chap
and for me the ear pain as we descended into the Leeuwarden Airbase
was the equivalent of having all your teeth pulled by hand in one
go. We got our pictures and my accompanying notes but I have no
memory at all of how we got back. Dick would have settled for a
horse and cart - anything rather than a 500 mph jet. And the next
day - taking two new RAF arrivals around the Chateau, and writing
up a hometown story to send back to their local papers. Variety
- the spice of life.
Brian Russell (Mold, Cheshire)
OPENING OF THE NEW CINEMA.
The first film to be shown at Camp Guynmer was Moulin
Rouge and the cinema would be opened by one of the leading female
stars but "she did not arrive. A duty NCO from each of the
six Nations was to be present and Flt/Sgt. Allan decided that I
would do for the "Brits".
I cycled from my home in Thomery; best blue and
great-coat being the dress code. When the film ended so did the
duty. Then the fun began!. Unfortunately for me, when I arrived
for duty the roads were clear, but it was a different story when
I left - it had snowed. I had not got very far when, due to the
snow compacting between the wheels and mudguards, I came to a halt.
I should explain that the bike was a Claude Butler hand built job
with narrow wheels that I used for road time trials.
After several stops, clearing the snow and not getting
very far with the pedalling, I took up the sport of "drag"
cycling. Having left Avon, which had some street lighting, I then
entered the Forest without any lights. Dragging the bike and keeping
clear of the large American cars, it became quite a journey. Eventually
I reached the curve in the road where there is a choice to either
continue on the main route or turn left on to the minor road, which
was the route I always took (Alan Lake will know where I mean as
he lived at the other end of the village to me). I should explain
here that both routes are downhill. My route, however, had two further
turns. All was going reasonably well until I got to the turn, at
which point the bike and I parted company due to an icy patch. Imagine
the scene then, me trying to stand upright, surveying the damage
that consisted of a buckled front wheel, broken pedal, smashed watch
glass and a snow covered uniform that "Chiefy" would definitely
not have approved of. No wonder I was heard to say "dam the
wretched snow, blast the weather and other sayings". Somehow,
although that is what I meant to say, it came out quite differently.
At this point an upstairs window opened and a French
voice said that they did not have this trouble with the Germans.
Being patriotic, I gave a reverse Churchill salute coupled with
a "bon nuit" and went home.
"Management" greeted me with "where
have you been? What on earth have you been doing? And why are you
in that state?" And with great forbearance I only said "hello"
as I walked in"
Stan Bone (Baldock, Herts)
MORE FROM THE CATON COLLECTION
More from correspondence received by Ted Caton following
the publication of his “An Erk’s-Eye View”.
From P of Sheffield:
“I did my National Service in the RAF and applied
for a “home” posting after training, hoping for Norton (which was
on the outskirts of Sheffield) or somewhere else near but finished
up in Egypt!!
However, my brother in law, who asked to be posted abroad, served
his time at Norton (a real 9 to 5 job).”
From T of Lincoln:
“When we passed out at RAF Hednesford there was
a rail strike so we did not get any leave, but put on a truck to
my trade training station at Shawbury, Shropshire, picking up at
Bridgnorth S of RT on the way. When we got there the SP said “Don’t
march, walk like everyone else”, and we knew we were in the real
Air Force.”
From P of Leicester:
“The bed I was given (at RAF Newton, Notts) I was
later to find out when the airman arrived back after his day’s work,
was that he was being demobbed within 3 days of my arriving (sic).
He came from Blackburn and the way he wore his beret he looked a
great deal like Benny Hill. His beret was pulled right down the
back of neck and when he went to bed that night – read on Ted –
he kept his beret on, he slept in it. Next morning down we went
for a wash and he had a wash and shave with his beret on and that
same night I asked his pal who slept in a bed the other side of
him, what was the reason for the hat! Later that night the pair
confided in me and swore me to the secret. This airman had been
posted to RAF Newton as an admin orderly, he had the job of emptying
dustbins and the likes and had not had a haircut since he left the
training camp. It was all tucked under his hat. Later still that
night the pair took me down to the washhouse. While one stood guard
the lad from Blackburn stood in the doorway of an empty cubicle
and took his beret off – his hair dropped down over his shoulders.
I could not believe it but it was there. He had avoided inspections
and went out of the gates the following day. He had got away with
it. …”
CHARLES NAPOLEON
Charles Napoleon the 56 year old pro-European and
pretender to France’s imperial throne and great great grandson of
Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother Jerome is standing for Parliament in
Fontainebleau and environs. Whilst Fontainebleau Palace was the
birthplace of almost every French king since the 13th century Napoleon
Bonaparte is indisputably the star attraction in the town. Following
a failed suicide attempt the defeated Napoleon, forced to abdicate,
ceremoniously descended the famous horseshoe staircase in the chateau’s
grand “Cour des Adieux to bid farewell to his Imperial Guard before
going into exile on Elba.
AND FINALLY………..
Those with access to the Internet are
advised by e-mail that the latest Newsletter is available on our
Website http://www.fontainebleauveteransassociation.co.uk with a
request that they let me know when they have accessed it. For those
without computers the Newsletters are circulated with distribution
lists for 22 circuits which after circulation should be returned
to me. 4 of the December 2006 Newsletters have not made their way
back to me which leads me to believe that someone in the chain has
either moved or does not wish to receive the Newsletter. Some members
at the bottom of the chain may not be receiving their Newsletter.
If you prefer not to receive future issues please indicate this
on the sheet covering this edition. This will avoid the need for
me to phone round to find out where those missing ones are “stuck.”
MERCHANDISE
There is a good stock of blazer badges, ties and enamel badges in
stock in addition to the table- mats, coasters and mouse-mats all
reasonably priced.
Editor : David Rogerson,
Brookwood, Hungerford, Bursledon, Southampton, SO31 8DF ~ Tel :
023 8040 2846
