The Combined Cadet Force Photo Collection.
Here are various photos gathered in recent years from numerous sources.
The quality of some is somewhat below par, due in many cases to the copying process employed
(e.g. re-photographing a hand-held original). If owners are able to make a better digital copy
sometime and forward it to me, I would be very grateful.
My apologies to those whose names I have either got wrong or have forgotten.
If you can put me right on any of these, To start off, here are the only colour pictures I have, or have seen, taken during my time at
Hardyes. They were the results of my early attempts with using and processing colour slide film (Ferraniacolor,
if you're interested). I believe they were taken during the Summer 1959 Annual CCF Inspection (a year later than
those shown at the end of this section). 1 - This one shows Drum Major Geoff Hunter and his Corps of Drums.
2 - This is a rather blurred photo of our Denis Howe plus instructor flying a Tiger Moth over the School fields.
Denis recently emailed me:- "I had done a Flying Scholarship at Christchurch and I managed to
persuade the powers that be, to let me and my instructor (a maniac by the
name of Jack Stone) fly down and give an aerobatic display. Needless to
say, it was Jack who was the pilot in charge for the tricky stuff...
He really knew how to make a Tiger perform and we did a whole series of wild
things - starting the display routine with a spin, a recovery and then into
a double loop... well, that got everyones attention! We then went on to do
slow rolls (at low level), falling leafs etc etc and at the end buzzed the playing fields -
"Swampy" Brookfield (our biology teacher and keen photographer) attracted Jack's attention.
Jack spotted him standing in the middle of the playing fields, taking pictures - so Jack gave
him the chance for a unique close up of a Tiger Moth approaching at 5ft above the ground. I don't know if
Swampy managed to click the shutter at the right moment, but as we passed incredibly low over him, he fell
backwards - giving the impression that we'd hit him! - but we hadn't - and he quickly jumped to his feet
to the obvious relief of everyone watching! I believe that Swampy's wife was there and was very pregnant
- so I was very relieved that the shock hadn't affected her.
The next day, Mr Hamilton, the Headmaster asked me if my mother was
watching, and I replied that, no she wasn't able to be there - to which he
replied "Well, just as well she wasn't"... " 3 & 4 - Finally we see two photos of an RAF helicopter demonstrating a simulated rescue operation. 5 - This is one from the 1956 CCF Summer Camp, courtesy of Tony Williams. From left to right: 6 - This photo was copied from the 1957 Durnovarian. It shows the Guard of Honour at the Dedication Ceremony
of the new School Gates. Recognisable from left to right are: U/O RWB Cleall, Air Marshall Sir Geoffrey Tuttle, with
Major K Batty behind, and from right to left: Cpl. PA Sedgwick, T Boucher, PR Tomes, RE Graham, JC Hughes,
WI Birrell, FA Barber. 7 - U/O John Hunt escorts the Inspecting Officer during the 1961 Annual Inspection.
(Photo courtesy of John Hunt) 8 - Recognisable here during the 1961 Annual Inspection are Major R Barass (left of group) and U/O John Hunt (with
sword). Mark Loosemore appears as the left hand drummer in the second row, just in front of Michel Louis Hooper
(now Hooper-Immins) on cymbals.
(Photo courtesy of John Hunt) Geoff Standring's photos from our 1959 RAF Summer Camp to RAF Wildenrath, Germany, which was arranged by a
fortunate liaison between Fl/Lt JO Roberts and the father of
the (3) brothers Witt in Southfields, who was a Wing Commander in the RAF. 11 - Left: Who's that leaving the local bierhaus (Cafe Peter Kroll, Rossbach)? Richard Loveys, Charlie Witt & David Hide. 13 - Cpl Godfrey Lee and Graham Allen indeed "keeping the motorway tidy". 14 - The entire Hardye's School Combined Cadet Force in 1955. It would seem that the RAF section had only just been
formed, judging by the size of it. The Royal Navy section was yet to come. The names are just about legible. (Photo courtesy of Chris Etherington.) 15 - The Army section's Summer Camp at Bourley in 1955. Again, the names are a little difficult to read.
(Photo courtesy of Chris Etherington.) 16 - Two colour photos, courtesy of Mark Loosemore, of the 1962 CCF Annual Inspection. 17 - This second photo was taken in the same year and shows the Corps of Drums marching past the then 'new' science
block. Here now are the photos of the 1958 Annual CCF Inspection - all taken by Nick Boultwood.
The date was 12th of June, and the Inspecting Officer was Maj-Gen Duncan.
These were originally shown on my first website.
Under each, I have put the names of people that I can recognise and remember.
The size of the group in many of these photos is often quite large and the clarity is not the best,
making identification more difficult.
The numbers are just for my reference purposes - please quote in correspondence.
My apologies to those whose names I have either got wrong or have forgotten.
If you can put me right on any of these, please
e-mail me. 18 - Royal Naval section: Taunton-Rigby, Damen & "Ali" Barber leading,
Tim Bowen in charge. And the Band played on... 19 - Under Officer "Tubby" Cleall, foreground, faces the parade,
with CSM John Saville in front of the Army section,
and (tall) Mike Snelling front row (feet obscured by Saville)
are the only positive identifications I can make. 20 - Royal Air Force section (foreground), fronted by W/O Robin Tomes.
The Corps of Drums in the background. 21 - RAF section. Front row from the right: I E Diffey, Graham Allen, R L Brown, J Boucher, R Davies,
others unknown. 22 - Taking the Salute: P/O Rogers (nearest camera), F/Lt Joe Roberts, two visitors,
Major Ken Batty, Maj-Gen Duncan on rostrum, visiting naval officer,
Mr Tompsett (rank?), Captain K Barass. 23 - U/O Cleall reports Hardye's School CCF ready for inspection. 24 - Inspection starts with the RN section, headed by Tim Bowen.
Roger Newton(?) is being spoken to, John Perry stands to his right.
"Luke" Townsend extreme left (Sorry - don't know the naval ranks.)
Behind them, in the Army section, we see Cpl Robin Miller & L/Cpl Mick Humphrey (I think). 25 - Sergeant Ken Rushen is chatted, Mike Snelling stands to his left, Nigel Pitcher on his right. 26 - Mr A N Hamilton, Headmaster. 27 - RAF section. Front Rank, from left of picture: Sgt Payne, ?, Cpl JC Hughes,
Nigel Newbery, Malcolm Freeth, Alan Neades.
Middle Rank: Godfrey Lee, Denis Howe, Geoff Standring. 28 - RAF section: Front Rank, from left of picture: R L Brown, Graham Allen, I E Diffey.
Godfrey Lee is two rows back behind Brown, and Will Pope is behind Diffey. 29 - Spectators seated by the Cricket Pavilion, including (l to r) Messrs Jimmy Whittaker, Stan Walton, Berry,
Lambert (Assistant Housemaster at Southfields), Bertie Cruse, & Kenyon. 30 - Sixth Form Hut & Groundsman's Shed in background. 31 - Sgt RJ Hallett, with Ron Cave on his right. (Capt K Barass, left - Click here for
anecdote) 32 - In the centre, Sgt Banks. (Photo courtesy of Roy Carder.) 33 - Inspecting Officer checks cadet's boots, while Ken Batty checks I.O.'s boots. 34 - Who's that 'orrible little man in front who can't resist looking over his shoulder when he's at attention?
RSM Meakin ("The Mekon") from the Dorsetshire Regt barracks at the Top o' Town would've had his guts for garters -
or worse. 35 - Cpl Nick Prideaux (Sgt Geoff Hunter in the background with the Corps of Drums). 36 - Here we see Cpls John Hunt, Mick Northover and Bob Rench, with U/O RWB Cleall, Maj-Gen Duncan,
Major Ken Batty and CSM G Bartlett. (Photo courtesy of John Hunt). 37 - RN section marchpast, Moore leading, "Ali" Barber extreme right. 38 - End of RAF section (out of step!!), followed by the Corps of Drums. 39 - CSM John Reiss (Tim's elder brother). 40 - Another photo that I "stole" from Stewart Easton's gallery on the Hardyeans' Club website.
(Sorry, Stewart! Hope you don't mind.) 1961 I estimate. Sgts. Stewart Easton & John Gleghorn, W/O II Godfrey Lee
and Nick Lee (son of schoolmaster "Bunny" Lee) nearest the camera, et al, contemplate the wonders of the jet engine.
John and Godfrey must have been in their third year Sixth form. Now three photos from an earlier era, courtesy of Terry Parsons:
41 - Dorchester Grammar School CCF Camp circa 1948: Capt. Joe Hopewell and Lt Col. Jimmy Whittaker.
Joe Hopewell was a PT master, a real old soldier who had served in the 14th/20th King's Hussars.
Note the unusual pattern of his tunic. 42 - Dorchester Grammar School CCF Inspection circa 1947: 43 - CCF Signallers circa 1947: 44 - CCF Camp, Pirbright, July 1952, left to right: 45 - L/Cpl Etherington.
please e-mail me.
Standing: Cpt.R.Barras, Peter "Frank" Zealley, ?, John Saville, Peter Lawrence, U/O John Dillon,
?, Phil Daubeny, ?, Chris Etherington (in mufti), Tony Williams, Roger Newton, Brian Nattrass, ?, WJ Pope,
RJ Hallett, CD Moore, Anthony 'Taffy' Evans, Bob Rench, ?, D Ralph?, Major K Batty.
Seated or kneeling: Cpl Robin 'Reg' Graham, Peter Burke? (in blazer), John 'Luke' Townsend, John Ratcliffe,
Chris Borries, Brian Gill, Martin Garner, GN Herbert, ?, Tim Bowen, ?, Andrew Nickell, Mick Northover,
Nick Dennis, JM Cartwright?, Alan Congdon, John 'Spike' Hunt, ?, Alan Shaddick, Nick Prideaux, Tony Mugridge,
Denis Howe?, John CA Hunt.
9 - Left: Ian Diffey, Colin Sharpe,
Charlie Witt (whose father was instrumental in getting us invited to RAF Wildenrath, Germany),
Richard Loveys, Joe Roberts, Dickie Duckett, ?.
10 - Right: Dickie Duckett & Graham Allen?.
12 - Right: Waiting to fly back home - JC Hughes, David Hide, Colin Sharpe, Graham Allen, Ian Diffey,
and the luckless Charlie Witt.
I say 'luckless' because I remember he brought back a bottle of red
wine in his suitcase, which was broken somewhere in transit. Also, during the camp, it was rumoured that
Joe Roberts had placed a crate of beer at the top of the nearby high hill, and the first of us to climb it next
morning could keep the beer. Charlie was up at the crack of dawn, climbed the hill, and upon return
revealed that it had all been a hoax.
The upper one shows Mark boasting Corporal's stripes and the drum insignia of the leader of the Corps, with
Gavin Easton to his immediate right. The Inspecting Officer is taking a keen interest in the list of tunes to
be played which were all kept marked on a slip of paper attached to the drumhead.
(Mike Snelling is a gifted jazz clarinet player, and was even then.
Earlier this year I heard a recording of him in a relatively recent group on BBC radio.)
Sgt with rifle at slope arms - John White;
Front rank - Terry Parsons, Ray Fooks, Alan Sully, Desmond Long, Gordon Jones;
Rear ranks - ?, P White, Moore, ?, Phillips.
Note the earlier style of tunic, buttoned up to the neck, replaced with the open neck pattern in the early 1950's.
Also note that, whereas we wore black berets from the early 1950's, we see here the earlier bonnets made of the same
khaki cloth as the battledress.
Standing, with 38 sets - ?, Cowper; Lying, with 18 set - Rogers?, Willis, Parsons.
Sgt M Turner, S/Sgt J Rawlins, CSM D Willis, Sgt J Dutot, SQMS J Biggs.
Photo courtesy of John Rawlins.
Photo courtesy of Chris Etherington.