It would be July 1960 when I was posted to RAF Marham to the supply sqn. I was put into POL and spent hours out on the airfield re-fuelling bowsers. I enjoyed my two years there and made some good friends. Scouse Harrison, Clem Shuma, John Smith, Jack Andrews, Paddy O'reilly, Swede Beal, John Smith, Ginge Williams and several more. My favourite pub was The Cattle Market Tavern in King's Lynn. Plus I saw a lot of films in the camp cinema. Along with odd nights out in the NAAFI, it was a happy time. In October 1962 I was posted to Aden.

RAF Steamer Point, I was put into 114 MU, transportation, (The packing bay) and was responsible for the supplies for RAF Eastleigh, Kenya. I was billeted up Chapel Hill and that's where I met George Fleming from St Austell. (WE are still very good friends) Then I got a room in Tangmere Block down on the bottom with air conditioning, it was magic. I saw about 4 films a week and had a meal in the cinema cafe once a month. It was the heat that got me although it was the cool season when I got out there. Paddy O'reilly was sent out there too along with Jack Andrews. Happy Days.

I remember the flies, the heat, the stink of the anilmals which wandered the streets. The sandstorms. If you sealed the doors and windows, the sand still got in! Going down to The Crescent to shop in Tawahi, haggling with the store keepers over the price. Shorts and flip flops. Eating in the mess. Getting a Rooti and a tin of tuna from Ali's shop to make a sarny for supper. Being on the Guard of Honour for two years. X-group guard. Bottles of Stim Lemon. The Lido where I swam inside the netting. How quickly it got dark. Then my brother Ronnie came out.

My brother, Ronnie, was posted to Aden. He was in the Royal Engineers, billeted up chapel hill. The Army made me an honourary member of his Army Club so I could go up at any time and see him. The dances at The Lido with the local band, Mafish Cash and the Shamsan Valley Tyre Thieves! They were very good. Visiting Harry and Amy Urwin who came from the same village as I did. Harry was a civilian and worked for AMWD. They lived in a flat in Hungerford House on Maala straight. Also Bert and Peggy Escott from Alnwick who had a flat in Steamer Point.

Bert too worked for AMWD. My visit onto HMS Hermes, the Aircraft Carrier. Taking coloured slides of things and places all over Aden especially George and I's visit to Sheik Uthman Gardens. At night all there was to do was go out drinking, stay in, or go to the pictures. George and I saw a lot of films. It was when I came home on Lukfree leave in January '64 that I met Heather, the girl who would become my wife, on a blind date. In October '64 I was posted to RAF Boulmer, Northumbria.

I was demobbed in March 1965. I got a job straight away driving buses for Rochester & Marshall. Heather and I were married on 2nd October 1965. I left the buses twice, but always came back. finishing my driving career at Tyne Valley Coaches, Acomb, Hexham, where I spent about 25 happy years. At the end of July 2003, I was medically retired from driving buses or ever working again due to respiratory problems. I now live in Hexham and fill my time with the computer, reading, gardening and other things. I have enough to do to keep busy.