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Basic Training ,RAF bridgnorth 1960 in 1960
written by Geoffrey Pallett...changed name to Powell after leaving raf.
 I remember going to Cardington like a lot of others and being kitted out, after about 14 days I think undergoing aptitude tests and various interviews ,we were prepared for the journey to recruit training at a place I never heard of called Bridgnorth ,and I remember I had been employed on the railway as a porter and I had a thing about creases in my trousers , so when I went to bed at night I put them folded under the mattress and when I took them out from underneath the mattress in the morning they were impressed with the pattern of crossed wires from the wire bed. So much for that I could not wait to get some sort of crease in them which occurred at Bridgnorth.I got my parents to post an electric iron, Yes I remember well the packed sandwiches in heavy grease proof paper and the passing countryside on my way to Bridgnorth, it was october 1960 and I thought the journey would never end.
Ever since I came out of the service I have pressed my trousers three times a week, despite being married 40 yrs I have never had the wife do them.About Bridgnorth like a lot of others we arrived on a bus from the station and I thought I had entered a lunatic asylum banging the sides of the vehicle shouting etc.escorted to a billet, I thought certainly in later years looking back the huts were not decimilar to a prisoner of war camp.However we settled in, and soon made aquaintences,fused solid friendships as like the TITANIC we were all in the same boat, looking back I do wonder how I got through it but I was never so fit as when I left there, I remember also the fatigue duties in the kitchens, and when I am doing the veg preperation at home my mind drifts back, About square bashing we had a corporal who seemingly was cross eyed and he called me out(SEE PHOTOGRAPH ON BRIDGNORTH SITE) and three others stepped out and were promtly ordered back in line, he gave me sixpence and told me to fetch him a fizzy drink at the double, I did this and on my arrival back I handed it to him and he gave me another sixpence.I said I dont want that corporal , its a pleasure ,to which he replied ,its not for you ,you idiot fetch another one for my mate, I thought you B......, but did as I was told and put it down to experiance and that is when I grew up.I remember the innoculations and giving blood, I collapsed on the parade ground shortly after and was put in sick qts I needed The blood putting back I think,but it never was. The music I remember was played every night while bulling our kit was Elvis ,Its now or never ,I thought how appropiate, after 8 weeks I went on trade training and joined a Bomb Disposal Sqdn 5131 to be exact, and went to Goldsborough north yorks and worked out in that bad winter 62 clearing the area of UXBs and variants which is now Fylingdales .I am now 66 , anyone who remembers me I am SAC Geoffrey Pallett, hut 206 18 flt B sqdn RAF Bridgnorth. Oct 1960, other stations were Holbeach lincs, Lyneham Wilts,I think the RAF days were wonderful and it gave me an education and on leaving I went into the medical profession ,private practice and just retired after 40 years.so thank you RAF for putting me on the right track. left 1963.anyone out there do send an email ..many thanks.... geoff |
click here to email Geoffrey Pallett...changed name to Powell after leaving raf. about this Campaign/Arena
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