FEB 2008 NEWSLETTER No.43

01756 792058

www.members.aol.com/haltonnapps/halton.htm

 Dear Friends

I began this before Dec. 07 has arrived. I have to scratch notes when the thought enters my head or else in 1 min.  IT’S DAMNED WELL GONE! Yes! You all, by now, know the feeling.

Ted Querzani is now in possession of the Entry Album - that was so well put together by Steve (CJ) Stevens. Ted is investigating the possibility of producing a handbag (sorry, large pocket-) sized version of the album for individuals to keep. I write handbag size as it will be bigger than pocket size - there was no intention to cast nasturtiums  in any direction.!  Ted’s last email went “Have had a meet with my printer friend and he is looking into costs of production and collation. By far the biggest cost would be scanning and he has asked whether the original scans done by your daughter are still available. If so, would she be willing to release them to keep the cost of reproduction down.

Have mentioned that we are looking at a cost of £12:50 per album max with a print run of up to 50 copies.

Let me know and I'll keep you up to speed as I am updated. Cheers, Ted Q

11/11/07: Long letter from Phil Brain (Oz). Phil and Joan are still well and go “bush-walking”. Because of heavy rain near Melbourne they had to postpone their recent walking plans. I sent a lengthy reply with comments on walking in the Yorkshire Dales. I must send him some photos. Before he emigrated to Oz Phil was at Maralinga and Christmas Is. He also mentioned Brian Lindus, an ex room mate at Halton and by now will have contacted him, no doubt.  Phil is still up to his elbows in model a/c and ships. I told him about the display at Halton in Sept. 07.  Phil can be contacted on email through his daughter’s email address.

For the interest of readers I plan to repeat the  “What did they do after Halton” bits at the end of the NL. Those esteemed readers who have not sent me their adventures after Halton and would like to I’m sure everyone is interested in what you got up to.

10/12/07: Just had Mike Crabtree’s Dec NL returned to me “Moved away”. I’ve got his email address and will try it.

Ah! Mike has moved to a new address. If you want it just ask. He writes “I'm currently sitting in the lounge of the Dow Palace hotel having just about completed six solid weeks of training in Dubai.  Got to keep the of the wolf from the door somehow. Never mind, I'll be home for Christmas and then out here for another week in the New Year.
Have a wonderful Christmas and thanks for all your work. Great to hear from you. One day when I get a moment I'll burst into print

Mike

12/12/07; Thanks Bill Bailey for the £5, and ‘Ginge’ Meaney (or should that by now be ‘Grey’ Meaney?) for the tenner, and Don Overall for the stamps; Bish for stamps;  a late acknowledgement but if only you all  had email .…………………

12/12/07: Colin Baker had 4 wks in Malaysia at the beginning of the year; It’s 12 yrs since he had a cancer Op. “I’m no longer living on borrowed time” he writes (So its not all bad news! TH).

 Also news from Robert Wilson-Brown (Australia); he has a new email address; they have two 2500 litre (550 gallons in real money) rain water tanks on the house roof and they were empty for 3 months! The only time my 50gallon rainwater butt is empty is when I drain it to clean it (not very often!). Robert walked the Tasmanian Overland Track – evidently a 7 day hike. Time for old men to rest up now, Robert! You MUST be turned 70 now.

21/12/07: Les & Jo Rumsey have moved  - new address from me on request. Also the nights have started to draw out! Have you noticed? You must watch these points!

8/1/08: I have 68 acknowledgments out of 100 for December’s NL. Thank you those who are still about.

Derek & Doris Caffrey are now in Malaysia for 2½months. Presumably they are escaping our lousy weather. I think in the last month I have seen the sun on about 5 days – and that was not ALL day.

Those of you with a wretched PC will know how their ability to gobble up time is legend. One certainly has no excuse to get bored – access to the internet brings all manner of amusement. Due to my various duties as a carer I have little time to indulge and as the better weather slowly comes (I wish) I like to be out on the hills away from the rest of this mad world – but at the moment walking in wellies and full waterproofing is not my cup of tea. In the 4 months of Winter I plan my spring/summer walks in our beautiful Dales.

Had an e/m from Mick Crabtree in mid Dec: I had had a go at him for still working – he’s in Dubai at that time. He explained his reasons which, in a nutshell are, he says, his planned pension dropped out of sight due to him seeking his fortune abroad. Seems he lost a packet which involved Deutsche Bank and the devaluation of the South African Rand. “I continue to work in order to build up my pension here in the UK to a point where I can afford to retire. I also continue to work because, quite frankly, I can. And, believe it or not, I also continue to work because I enjoy it.” He remembers Rod Foreman because “ He was always so … how can I put it…neat! I, on the other hand was such a scruffy erk – always in trouble with … just about everyone.” He adds “Since I spend about 5 months of the year in the Middle East), my work schedule has always been in conflict with your annual ‘bun fight’ – hence my absence. He also notes “right now I'm just signing up for a two-year research masters degree through the University of Manchester.” Well, I wish him the best of luck and am damned glad I can crawl out of me pit at 0900, fetch Reen a cup of tea and when it’s a poor day weather-wise (often) I can crawl back in again and lie there dozing. That must seem a terrible waste of time to many folk BUT I LOVE IT!!.

29/1/08: Letter from Robert Wilson-Browne: He won’t be able to come to the Sept. meet. He’ll be in UK from 24/9/ to 11/11 so visit relatives. Ron George and Dave Gray please note Robert’s COA which , from Dec ’07, is 5 Hawthorn St., Portarlington, Victoria 3223. Australia. Tel: (03) 52593113.

We welcome any one in the area to stop over – we can offer basic accommodation inc. beans on toast.

I have many pics from Jon lane that I will attempt to send out  to folks as and when I have time. They may interest some of you ex £ Sqn blokes. Ditto from John Arthur. It’s just finding the time! Know what I mean?

 here’s one to amuse you.

Best wishes

Tony & Reen

The post Halton adventures of :  JOHN LAWN – 1955 - 70 Sqn, then 111 Sqn. Cyprus, back to  East Anglia. Left RAF 1966; he became a plant maintenance engineer; early 1970's became qualified as a millwright. He restored many mills in Norfolk. John died in Dec 1999.

Can anyone put a name to these faces? They were all Airframes (omission of No.4 is deliberate)

2                         3                         5                       6                        7                         8                   10

PS: Dave & Celia Gray have very recently become grandparents for the 1^st time.