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A good day was had by all!

The day started, for me, the night before! I arrived at Halton Gates at 18.45hrs after a long drive from Cardiff, my hometown. I checked in at Three Wing's guardroom and was directed to the block where I would spend the night. I drove through the, now imposing, security barrier where a Ghurka Soldier allowed me through, as I progressed up the road to my quarters, I decided to take a look at the old block I knew as Zeppelin Flight. I continued past the old mess hall and recalled the tuff meat we used to get at lunch times, that quickly went out of my head as the NAAFI approached, Oh! the games of pinball I used to lose!

Arriving at Z Flight, the only thing to have changed is the windows, they now have uPVC double glazing, makes a change from the old sash windows that never used to open. I got out of the car as a group of young Halton trainees marched past. I didn't enter the block, remembering the Standing orders we'd been given, asking us not to enter the trainees living quarters. From that nostalgic moment I continued onto my night quarters on what was Two Wing, I checked in with the duty sergent, and was given the keys to my room, number 13, "Jeez", I thought, "Thats Lucky!" Ha! I put my bags into my lucky room, and rang Bill 'Taff' Jones as we had aranged to meet in a pub in Wendover that night, I was running a little late and Bill was already drunk after having a few in the Red Lion. We then agreed to meet in the Swann, so I made my way there. I parked in the Wendover Pay & Display car park and made my way over to the Red Lion, thinking it was the Swann. (Been a long time!) As I arrived in the Red Lion, I phoned Taff to see where he was, he told me he had just left the Lion and was entering the Swann, he did an about face and came over to meet me. He hadn't changed a bit! We bought each other drinks during the night to keep the nostalgic stories flowing. Eventually we decided to retire for the night so I drove Bill back to his hotel and we had another pint, I then programmed my SatNav to take me back to Halton (Isn't technology amazing!) on arrival back at my hights quarters I locked up the motor and me & the Dog (Bandit) went in for the night.

In the morning I took Bandit out for his constitutional pee and walkabout. And whilst waiting for revelly I chatted to some other brats, at the time of revelly I heard the tune 'Fall in A - Fall in B' The real thing was unknown to him. After, we assembled on the road and sounded off, we marched to the mess singing the tune 'Hitler has only got one'. "Wow", the Mess! it was more like a Hotels Restaurant. We all ate a hearty breakfast and chatted about love, religion and politics. I went outside for a ciggy (I would say Fag, but after living with Americans I cant really say that word) after the Cigarette, I thought I would go look at the Tornado GR1 standing on the parade square. Nothing changes does it! still got leaky Oleo's and Flat spots on the tyres. Afer the Tornado, I went to the Trenchard Museum, meeting other Brats! we reminised about the things we used to make, we all thought were useless, until we got to an operational base. The museum is host to some amasing nostalgia, including a Gnat from the old Red Arrows. (To see it, is a must). I bought a poster portraying the apprentices Jaguar training bays, in my day it was Hunters.

And on to the airfield, I had arranged to meet Bill (Taff) Jones at the gates and was late, so I rang him on his mobile (again modern technology) and he was on the bus travelling to the bus stop at the gates, I arrived there as the bus turned up and Taff jumped into the car. We continued on to the makeshift car park, and disembarked to foot and walked the rest of the way. We showed our passes and started the airfield tour (See photo's). Which is where I lost Taff, until lunchtime, when he noticed me standing by the hangar doors. Whilst we chatted along came Kieth (Dud) Shelly he also had not changed, I must say the years have been kind to them both. I looked at the lunch queue, and thought "That's massive! I decided to travel into Wendover and have a pub lunch at the Red Lion. I got very involved with a young lady there and lost all track of time, so I missed the air display. I phoned Taff and told him I was on my way. Not home but to meet a friend of mine in Luton

It was a pity that our entry turnout was small, but I am hoping for a bigger turnout in future years.

I hope to see you "ALL" there!!

Regards

Peter "Nick" Howells

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