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LITTLE BOY’S DREAmS DO cOmE TRUE Story and Images: Gerald Bell

n the 4th January 1983 I realised up on stories of all the places that many Anyway they got to Portstewert near
Omy dream to follow in my father’s of you will know so well, from the cold Stranraer and came over a bridge
footsteps and joined the R.A.F. as a waters of Ballykelly to the warmth of and ended up crashing into a ravine,
Painter & Finisher. It was an exciting Borneo. Winston joined up as a boy needless to say the bike was a mess. My
journey from Bangor in Northern Ireland entrant at 15 ½ in 1955. I know my Grandmother has often told me how
to RAF Swinderby and as my life long generation had a much easier time in they woke her up late at night standing
friend and I both flew out of Aldergrove comparison to my fathers era when we at the front door looking very sorry for
we could only think about the adventure first joined up but I never heard him themselves. It seems funny now.
that lay before us. complain, far from it he always felt that After my father died on 24th Dec 2002
he had been privileged to travel the world my Mother said that she wanted me to
The six weeks at Swinderby were a at a time when most people were lucky have all his photos and everything to do
culture shock to the both of us as they to stay in a caravan for a week in the with his time in the R.A.F as she knew
are to all new recruits, however we both summer. I would understand what it all meant
passed out in mid February and had a and she knew I would ensure its safe
weeks leave back in Northern Ireland. I I remember when he would be a little keeping. Now when I miss him the most
can still remember feeling so grown up worse for wear some nights pulling I can look at the photos of his life and
even though we had only been away six out all his training notes from various remember those wonderful moments as
short weeks. courses on such wonderful phrases as a child when I was on the edge of my seat
Blue Silk and ASAWDO (forgive me if with anticipation at his stories. Maybe
On arrival at ST Athans we commenced I hav, nt got the acyronom quite right). some of them had stretch on them I will
our sixteen-week course in Painting He would try and explain to me the finer never know.
& Finishing and as you all know went points of air radar, which of course as a
through the pressure of weekly tests 10-year-old I understood perfectly (not). In July 1987 I was posted to Gib as the
and the dreaded phase tests. The time My father was gifted with his hands sole Painter & Finisher for the R.A.F. I
passed quickly and before we knew it and as his life went on after the R.A.F couldn’t believe it I was going to serve
we were at the end of our course and he proved that he could have achieved somewhere where my father had served.
awaiting our postings. On the dream anything but sadly as I explained to My time in Gib was great I made good
sheets I had requested the London area. Leon Jacobs when I first discovered the friends and had some memorable
Oh what joy when I was told I was to Shackleton Association my father had a experiences.
be posted to RAF Valley. Where in the life long battle that he eventually lost with
hell is that I remember thinking? My alcohol. I always dreamed of flying in a Shack
instructor Corporal had been at Valley hence the title of this piece. While I
prior to undertaking instructor duties at I always knew was in Gib I shared my room in Devils
St Athans. He sarcastically painted it as a that I would join Tower Block with a cook whose task was
wonderful place. the R.A.F, do in flight catering. His name was Pete
not ask me how Dinner, I kid you not. Pete,s task was as
On June the 20th 1983 I arrived at R.A.F but I did. I lived the job title suggests was to provide meals
Valley in the early evening in a taxi, very on my father’s for any staging aircraft and to provide
nervous and trying to remember all stories when I meals for the crew of the weekly Herc
my training . How would I remember was a child, he which came in every Friday. Pete always
everything? was larger than managed to scab the fresh milk of the
life, as are all Loadies ( Yum Yum ). You have never
For those of you who may have served fathers to their seen 2 blokes get so excited over fresh UK
at Valley or stayed there around this sons. milk.
time you will remember the Shack that
sat at the end of the runway near the My father was a keen motorcyclist as Anyway in January 1988 Pete came back
guardroom. I had never seen one before am I, (no surprise there). I remember to our room one night and told me that a
but I was mesmerised as I came over the his stories of owning a brand new 1960 Shack would be coming in about March
railway bridge and saw her sitting there, Triumph Bonneville T120R which he and staying for the weekend. Obviously
I felt I had met an old friend. I know bought while serving in Gib. Any of you he was informed early so as to plan for
that sounds melodramatic but this is who know motor bikes will know what in-flight catering. I remember him telling
the reason I have decided to share my that means. me that he thought that as this was a
thoughts and feelings with all of you who One of his favourite stories was of riding training flight that there may be seats free
like my late father served on the Old back from Gib to Northern Ireland with for jollies. I’m not joking you I knew at
Grey Lady. his good friend Dave Coulson who was a that moment that I had to get a flight and
sumpy, whom I believe ended his time as so I phoned Air Traffic that night and
My father’s name was Winston Mavor a Chief Tech at Lossiemouth about 1987. asked if I could put my name down for a
Bell and he served as a Radar mechanic (If anyone can put me in touch with Dave flight. They said yes but made it clear it
and later as a technician on Shacks all I would be most grateful.) was up to the Captain of the aircraft on
through his 12 years in the R.A.F. I grew the day. Any way at least I had my name

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