Malcolm Clubs (merged)

[aw ditor]

Do the Malcolm Clubs still exist?

[Lurking123]

I don't think so (something rings a bell about Wittering, even though they were overseas facilities).

Anyway, ahhhh the Mally. Many stories and fine memories. To the RAFG girls, thankyou - you taught me so much. :D

[philrigger]

;)

Ahh! the Mally Club at Tengah 1965/66. And only yards from the billet ('The Stables') behind the pool.

What memories. Cheapest beer on camp for us singlies until about 2/3 through the month when the duty free ration ran out. Then all up to the McGregor club (NAAFI) as they seldom ran out.

Oooooh! I can just taste that Tiger now.

But I do not know if any exist these days.







'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'

[aw ditor]

Thanks Lurking' I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who remembered them (at Laarbruch).

[downsizer]

The mally at Wittering closed circa 1995.

[Double Hydco]

No aw ditor, you're not alone in remembering the Mally clubs. Gutersloh had one. 50p a pint for "Wobbly" Warsteiner or Grolsch in the evenings, and a mean sausage buttie at lunch times, circa 1989.

DH

[Airborne Aircrew]

I remember a rather large... errr... fracas... at the Mally at Laarbruch between II Sqn Rocks and 10 Field RE circa 1981/2... I also remember sitting in HQ Plod the next morning along with half the Sqn being asked what we saw.

Funny thing was Plod put us all in this big room and interviewed us all in adjacent interview rooms with really thin walls. After the first chaps came out having said "All I saw wuz.... and then the Sarge told me to get out so I left" every single Rock, to a man, gave the identical statement. You could see Plod getting more and more frustrated 'til our boss came down and told them to charge us or release us because the convoy was leaving in 1 hour...

Result... :D :D :D

[It's Not Working]

Wasn't it a Malcolm Club just up the hill from the Embankment Tube Station where (in the 70s) you could get theatre tickets at rock-bottom prices for top-notch shows?

[QuestorPhil]

Not forgetting the 'Mally Wagon' which used to come round with hot pies in the morning. The Wildenrath Mally was also the S Met O's wife...but that was another story......:rolleyes:

[Old Ned]

Mally Clubs RIP. However, there is (or certainly was) the Lady Lampson Club (Lady Lampshade) at Akr. All ranks coffee and bacon butty during the morning shift. Bliss and run by smashing staff.

Pip pip ON

only a little thread drift, perhaps (coat getting - taxi......)

[Union Jack]

Well, I'll certainly never forget the gorgeous blonde Malcolm lady at Muharraq in about 1970 - not least the fact that, for some inexplicable reason:E, she preferred the company of the dark blue when off duty!

Jack

[BluntM8]

Old Ned

Lady L's is still in fine form, and still source of the nicest squeeky-cheese sarnies in existence!

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/BluntM8/IMG_0013.jpg

Funny how they just don't taste right in the UK...

[Pontius Navigator]

Lady L's and even Cafe Uno's are ideal true all ranks meeting places where you can do club and social business away from the tech areas.

There is something like that at Wittering too

[Lurking123]

DH, we must have drank together. I spent much of the late 80's spending my hard earned cash down there. Best bit was the summer time when we would pi$$ about at the pool and then hop just across the road to the Mally.

[downsizer]

There is something like that at Wittering too

Really? What?

[beefix]

Changi had one, it was situated right next to Tamp#x Towers. I have some very fond memories of the place. :)

[Zoom]

I was in love with a Mally girl at Bruggen - unrequited, though. Sigh.....!

[Always a Sapper]

I remember a rather large... errr... fracas... at the Mally at Laarbruch between II Sqn Rocks and 10 Field RE circa 1981/2... I also remember sitting in HQ Plod the next morning along with half the Sqn being asked what we saw.

Was that when, duty bod (he was either incredibly brave or really stupid, I leave it up to you to decide) decided the club was closing and the very well oiled RE Field Sqn sat in there could leave having just got a few wets in (slab or two each)... beer not to be taken off premises...... :*

Cue the odd heated discussion and flying cans, not all empty :E and a total refusual to leave (no sh*t sherlock) The local plod were invited to the 'party' took one look through the door and called in the hairy toothed biting machines for support..... 3 or 4 of the more behaviour challenged ones I believe... Said furry loonies were introduced via door and window resulting in a mass rumble.... They lost big time and didnt stay long leaving covered in bites :eek: .....

The Sqn was err invited to leave and never return the following morning!

[Warmtoast]

Wasn't it a Malcolm Club just up the hill from the Embankment Tube Station where (in the 70s) you could get theatre tickets at rock-bottom prices for top-notch shows?


No it was the Nuffield Centre.
I too used it frequently for the cheapo theatre tickets, which impressed my then girl friend who thought I had connections in high places by being able to obtain tickest that I would otherwise have been unable to afford! The Nuffield Centre was also a good place to get a cheap meal and drink when in the West End. It was located in Adelaide Street just across the road from Charing Cross station. In 1974 it moved to John Adam Street off Villiers Street which was just up from the Embankment Tube, and adjacent to Charing Cross rail station, it closed in March 1980.

[Mr C Hinecap]

There is something like that at Wittering too

A rather nice coffee shop run under the banner of the Salvation Army - does great cakes and pretty decent coffee. Comfy chairs and the newspapers of the day.

[ARINC]

The mally at Wittering closed circa 1995.

Only seems like yesterday...many a great night out, particularly good time when the Oaklahoma ANG paid a visit...flying A7's !

I was in love with a Mally girl at Bruggen - unrequited, though. Sigh.....!

Anyone remember the blonde at Gütersloh mally ? :\

[k3k3]

Zoom: I was in love with a Mally girl at Bruggen - unrequited, though. Sigh.....!

If it was the dark haired girl around 1976, wasn't everybody?

Made me come over all unnecessary....

[Krakatoa]

Also at Seletar in the fifties. Still remember the great meals, lamb chops,chips and peas.

[Samuel]

The Malcolm Club at Tengah 1965-66 was a beaut place. Much more relaxed than the McGregor. There were good bands played there too, one of which I recall had everyone lustily singing Irish Protest songs ; that was before PC of course.

[pohm1]

The Oasis at Mt Pleasant, run by either the WI or the WRVS, cant remember which. Kind and well meaning dears, but not as eye catching as some of the clubs described! Coffee and cake while writing blueys.....ah almost makes me wish I was back there;)

P1

[kilwhang]

At the moment I'm living in the Changi Village Hotel. From my window I can see the old RAF Transit Hotel (Changi Creek) and just up the way is the old Malcolm club building in Martlesham Rd. It's behind barbed wire now but still there.
Thinking of bacon butties and old ladies, does anyone remember the MMG (Military Mission to the Gulf) in RAF Sharjah around 1970?

MMG - commonly known as the Machine-Gun Club.

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

Samuel says

The Malcolm Club at Tengah 1965-66 was a beaut place. Much more relaxed than the McGregor. There were good bands played there too, one of which I recall had everyone lustily singing Irish Protest songs ; that was before PC of course.



That was before the troubles in NI.

[Blacksheep]

Sorry to contradict you kilwhang, but the Changi Malcs was demolished a year or three back along with all the other domestic site buildings, barring the old block (152?) with the Changi murals. Google Earth shows the bare patches where they once stood.

I remember "laughing boy" the old Chinese counter hand at the food counter with the fag end permanently hanging out of his mouth. We got Miss Malcs pissed on closing down night in 1971 and discovered she knew all the words of songs like Old Penang, I Stood On the Steps... etc. Well she would of course, the Old Dear had been hearing them for years. :)

Our syndicate bought the middle eight of a block of ten Singapore Sweepstake tickets in there once and the 'zero' ticket of the block (that we had left out 'cos the zero never won :ugh: ) won the sweep that month. So, someone at RAF Changi in 1970 won S$400,000 and no one ever coughed up to being the beneficiary. At the time a pint of Tiger cost $0.50c - 7p in the new fangled decimal money - so that win was worth was 100,000 gallons of Tiger. Or in more up-to-date terms, ten decent three-bed semi detached houses in SE England.

[goudie]

What great memories of the Malcom Club. The one at RAF Whan was just a 50 yard stagger from the block. Egg n chips, Export lager and Elvis on the juke box singing 'Don't Be Cruel' as I lusted after Anne, a lovely Irish redhead WRAF.
Celebrated getting my 'Third' in the one at Tengah whilst on detachment there in '64. Flt. Cmdr. popped in and bought a round of drinks.

[Zoom]

If it was the dark haired girl around 1976, wasn't everybody?

No, slightly earlier and slightly redder.

[teeteringhead]

Thinking of bacon butties and old ladies, does anyone remember the MMG (Military Mission to the Gulf) in RAF Sharjah around 1970? ... certainly do! A very Proustian madeleine moment thinking of the MMG's bacon butties - and real bacon too, none of this turkey rubbish!

ISTR Sharjah had a Mally as well, or is memory playing tricks - and you could sometimes scrounge freebie butties from In Flight .......

...... Moh Begh (sp?) the Station tailor ..... I've still got the Sqn cummerbund he made ..... seems to have shrunk a bit since 1970 though ......:ooh:

[It's Not Working]

Nuffield Centre, that's the place. I too impressed a girl friend then sometime later took new wife there to find it had gone. The converstation went along the lines of, 'well it was here the last time we were in London' when the penny dropped and a quick change of subject ensued!!

We have had Malcolm, Nuffied, WI and WRVS. Can I throw Toc-H into the melting pot? Unbelievably cheap accomodation in Berlin long before walls came tumbling down.

[forget]

Kilwhang, This is what you need to get your bearings. RAF Changi 1971. HERE. (http://www.singas.co.uk/HTML/changi.html) :ok:

[kilwhang]

Thanks for the info. I must admit that, because of the security wire, I've only seen the Mally Club area from the 5th fairway of the golf course and I obviously picked the wrong building. As for the Changi map, I've had that for a few weeks now and have had great fun trying to see how much is still there. Things are changing fast, though, it looks like the old Changi hospital will be a health resort and the Fairy Point Officers Mess, a hotel. I go for a walk most evenings and, as well as the 1971 map, I also use a modern walking map which you can see here: www.ura.gov.sg/rediscover/images/wmChangiPoint-Book.pdf

There are lots of good pics and facts and, at the bottom, a map. It's amazing how much of the area has remained unchanged.......but for how long?

[john50uk]

Can anyone tell me if Selerang Barracks, which was just up the road from RAF Changi still exists? Can't seem to find it on Google Earth. Many happy nights at the Mally in Changi

[Old Ned]

BluntM8

VMT for the pic. It does bring back memories. I never remember any hassle from either the staff or the boys at the Lady L. Happy sigh.........

Pip pip ON

[forget]

Selerang Barracks - Copy and Paste into Google Earth.

1°22'3.80"N 103°58'34.42"E

Incidentally, 800 yards, bearing of 75, is that aircraft what I think it 'was'?

[john50uk]

Forget, many thanks for that. My wife and I are hoping to visit here in 2010. trip of a lifetime. regards John. Not sure about the aircraft though.

[Al R]

Mally birds RAFG. :ok:

Fridays afternoons Witt Mally. :ok:

The blonde lass who worked in Lady Ls. :ok:

The bird who worked in the Bruggen Golf Club. :ok:

No more. :{

[NRU74]

I'm going to Bruggen tomorrow - now Javelin Barracks - Elmpt Camp
I'll give an update on my return on Monday next on what, if anything, remains of the Bruggen Malcolm Club - opened, if I recall, by Lord [Leslie] Scarman QC etc etc.

[Airborne Aircrew]

Unfortunately, so does my wife.

You got caught????? :eek:

[Warmtoast]

Other service clubs

Union Jack Club Singapore - taken about 1958

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/UnionJackClubSingapore.jpg

[Warmtoast]

Memories of another service club. The NAAFI-run Britannia Club in Beach Road, Singapore, just across the road from Raffles Hotel. The resaurant and swimming pool made for a welcome break when shopping in Singapore town.

These photos were taken last year when it was in the process of being demolished. Singapore City erected a plaque outside that records the history of the club. See below.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClubSingapore.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClubSingapore4.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClubSingapore5.jpg



http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClubSingapore3.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClubSingapore2.jpg

[kilwhang]

This thread has certainly brought back some memories............I don't remember a Malcolm Club in Sharjah but I do remember the blonde WRVS lady.

And at Masirah around 1972 the C of E padre used to show porn movies in the church annexe (pay at the door, bring your own beer) - all proceeds went to an orphanage in Kenya.

[Blacksheep]

S'funny, I don't remember pulling out of Singapore in 1969. In fact I distinctly remember arriving there in 1969 and often taking part in the Trishaw races from the Brit Club to Bugis Street via the Raffles loop clearly shown in the photos above. The large Sikh gentleman who guarded Raffles front door to stop erks invading the place used to go ape****, which only added to the general merriment.

[goudie]

Remember seeing a bunch of drunken matelots performing the 'dance of the flaming arseholes', with copies of the Straights Times, on the balcony of the Brit Club. Shore Patrol came in and dowsed the flames with pints of Tiger

[Nimman]

kilwhang

When I was there in 70/71 it was the hangout of the boys from Hereford, with their pinkys parked outside. Lost count of the number of times I heard " Leaving on a jet plane" being sung at Gozome Doos there.

What about the Rugby Club, had some good nights there, seem to remember a short dumpy SWO trying to make love to a full size pin up picture.

[NRU74]

Presently sitting in the WRVS Club at Bruggen approx 100 yards from what was the Malcolm Club. It's now called The Bistro and seems to be fulfilling pretty much the same sort of role that the Mally did - families in the day time having coffee etc and it's still open at night to sell the troops beer etc - and there are still some attractive young ladies serving behind the bar.

[Hugh Spencer]

In August '45 we flew to Bari, Italy on Operation Dodge, ferrying 8th Army troops back to the UK, 20 to a Lancaster. We stayed overnight at a Malcolm Club on the 4 occasions we went.

[forget]

The photograph of the Singapore Britannia Club was taken from the front steps of Raffles Hotel. The road in front is Beach Road; years ago it was next to the beach giving great sea views from Raffles. The story goes that Lord Nuffield wanted to build an erks Services club when Lady Nuffield discovered that Raffles Hotel did not allow the same erks into their hallowed premises. Being very pro-erk Lady N pulled a few strings.

The land was bought and the Britannia Club built, disaster for Raffles - sea view .......... gone.
:eek:

I do believe this is true. The power of the Raffles hierarchy would have easily prevented any casual planning applications This has to be true.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/cumpas/BritanniaClubSingapore2.jpg

[Warmtoast]

The photograph of the Singapore Britannia Club was taken from the front steps of Raffles Hotel. The road in front is Beach Road; years ago it was next to the beach giving great sea views from Raffles

It was indeed as this (c. 1960) postcard, as sold by the NAAFI club shows.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Changi%20%20and%20Seletar/BritanniaClub-Postcard.jpg

[GavReal]

Wow this has taken me back! The Mally at Bruggen was my first ever job.... was there when it became a YMCA and left when Bruggen closed.

My mum and my sis both worked there as well... those silly apron dresses in pink stripes, and the tannoy food calling system... strange what one remembers!

The Mally waggon was THE dream job, but I failed my driving test first of all and then Bruggen closed and we moved - gutted!

[Rigex]

I remember one occasion when the chaps of a well known Hornet (badge) squadron needed a large container to drink beer out of. Only thing suitable / available was a large vaase/vase/vaws (bowl) full of flowers (Marigolds IMSM). To obtain the necessary space, said flowers were eaten...:uhoh: "Mrs Mally" not impressed! http://static.pprune.org/images/icons//icon8.gif

[parabellum]

Raffles did allow 'Erks' in before and during the war, (until the surrender), as a visit to the original Long Bar would show, with pictures and autographs etc everywhere. After the renovations in 1991/92 the bar was moved upstairs, the original bar became a restaurant and a lot of the memorabilia seems to have disappeared, possibly in storage?

[ian16th]

I know that it is very late, but I have just found and enjoyed reading this thread.

Why no mention of the Yatesbury Malcolm Club?

[brakedwell]

A Malcolm Club opened in Bahrain about a year after I joined 152 in 1959. It was on the main island near Jufair, about three miles from RAF Muharraq IIRC. A young lady from the emerald isle who worked there livened up my bachelor existence.
There was a very sociable WVS lady at Sharjah, who was treated like one of the boys.

[NutLoose]

Brings back fond memories, the Mally at Bruggen, Sunday mornings, bacon buttie, coffee and the papers then into the spotless and quiet lounge to sink back into the most comfortable chairs I can remember sitting in, whilst enjoying the morning with coffee and the papers. Memory plays tricks on me, but were they pink???

[langleybaston]

The Mally at Gutersloh!

I arrived unaccompanied first 10 weeks April 1967. Billetted in the furthest Stalag from the Mess. Could walk to Met Office/ATC thro' woods.

There was some sort of an Open Day and as a "singly" I volunteered to do the Sunday flyaway day [or the Monday, not sure which].

At 0700 on a spring morning in the woods I met a vision of pulchritude, in semi undress. On passing time of day, she propositioned me .... in English, for such she was. My mum had warned me against wicked wimmin in the woods, and [she was a cracker] I plodded in to work. She was gone by 2000!

A week later in the Mally, there she was as the manageress or deputy, showing a great deal of flesh and surrounded by panting airmen. Mally sales went through the roof.

Soon after, there was a very believable rumour that a WgCdr [who shall be nameless] was consorting with her, and soon after she was despatched, to Gib. I think.

Exciting times, pity about the babe in the woods.

[threeputt]

Mrs threeputt (ex manageress) confirms your thoughts about the colour of the seat covers.

3P:ok:

[pamac51]

The Mally at Gutersloh in 79 -82 was a great place for a few pints and a frickadella at lunchtime - before the 'no boozing at lunch' brigade took over the RAF. It was a haunt of 63 Sqn rocks who did not endear themselves to the rest of us by singing 'another one bites the dust' on hearing that yet another Harrier had come to a sorry end ( there was a few in those years).

I seem to remember a Mally at Muharraq in 70 - 71 (again next to the swimming pool) - the barman was a fearsome looking Yemeni who had come up from Aden - and the height of sophistication was to drink gold Charlies out of a 'DD Connected' glass.

Abdul Ghani's was also a saviour manys a morning for a bowl of soup and a roll to try and sober up for work. Joy joy!

[ShyTorque]

Anyone remember the blonde at Gütersloh mally ?

If you mean the lovely Scottish girl........Oh yes. :E

[NutLoose]

Thanks Threeputt, first time I went in there I thought blimey this is so nice, must be new and no one sadly will respect the lounges.......... boy was I wrong, really did make a difference from all the other facilities on the station and were treated as such........ Thank Missus Threeputt for making my weekends so restful.

[johnclaxton]

Hi there wasnt a 2 squadron RAF Regiment at Laarbruch,it was in fact 26 squ Raf Regt,they had returned from the Falklands in April 1984,several Mt drivers had been entertaining some of there wifes while they were away,and the punchup was between them and MT.I was in the punchup,I had my leg in plaster at the time and they broke the plaster off,and rebroke my leg in 5 places.:(

[Dengue_Dude]

The Malcolm Club at Tengah 1965-66 was a beaut place. Much more relaxed than the McGregor. There were good bands played there too, one of which I recall had everyone lustily singing Irish Protest songs ; that was before PC of course.

Remember it well, just behind the Meteor gate guard and just on the right as you came through the main gate. Next to the swimming pool if memory serves.

My dad was the Station Warrant Officer at that time (sorry). I loved the place, McGregor was built around 65 too I think.

Aah, memories . . .

[malkyson]

hey guys
I've just come across this thread and could use some help to fill in the gaps.

My name is Malcolm Ritchie......and my brother is Gordon Ritchie. And we found out some time ago that we were named after a close friend of my Dad's by the name of Hugh Gordon Malcolm!! Thing is - believe it or not - that I only found out about the source of the name for the Mally Clubs about six months ago!!

I was born in Gib in '52 and then was shunted back to Leuchars for a refit apparently....and then someone had the awesome idea of moving us to Butterworth in about 53/54. Couldn't have thanked them enough as it turns out. Magic memories of the place despite the fact of the place being somewhat busy over the next few years :rolleyes: Kid brother was born there at Taiping.

Only problem was that it then got "busy" enough that we were moved out in about '56/57 and I distinctly remember standing at the top of the steps at Brize in the middle of sodding March, looking up at my mother and thinking "Whatever I've done, whatever I've said...I promise I will never ever do it again. Now can we go home"

Sod's Law - they didn't but sent us to Marham instead!! And then finally, after 25 years in, Dad decided we were both hitting that "11plus" stage and that they didn't want us moving again just before we were set to take exams.

But Christ I miss the place. Butterworth was the most amazing place to be growing up. I remember whole days spent diving for coins in the "big pool" helping turtles up the beach to lay their eggs, the Ferry across the water ...one day, I swear I am going back. Mind you, with the Amah I had, I have been spoilt for life and would probably never come back!!

Anything you guys might have in the way of photographs and stories both about the Mally Clubs and Butterworth would be greatly appreciated. It's kinda humbling knowing that we are named after such a man ...but even more amazing to realise the background to the Clubs is also based on a friend of Dad's

Cheers guys and best wishes!

[Pontius Navigator]

then got "busy" enough that we were moved out in about '56/57 and I distinctly remember standing at the top of the steps at Brize in the middle of sodding March

Brize might be ingrained in the memory together with memories of the notorious Gateway House but I think you will find that you actually returned to Lyneham which was the main transport hub until 1970.

[talking horse]

Anyone who has spent time on 18 Sqn (as I did) will be aware of Hugh Malcolm and anyone who served in Germany (as I did) will remember the Malcolm Club.

Wg Cdr Hugh Malcolm was OC 18 Sqn in 1942/3 when it was a Blenheim squadron operating in North Africa. He was a regular RAF officer, Cranwell graduate etc, and so was appointed to command a wing of several co-located Blenheim sqns in Tunisia. By 1942 the Blenheim was obsolescent (even the upgraded Blenheim IV or Bolingbroke) but, as usual, it was all that was available, so they just got on with it.

On the day in question, the Blenhein Wing was tasked with attacking a German airfield and was provided with an escort of Hurricanes. Following the attack it was asssessed that another attack was required, so a repeat performance was planned for the afternoon. This was led by Hugh Malcolm himself, and although 18 Sqn's history records that it was an 18 Sqn mission, I understand that the majority of the crews came from the other attached sqns. When they got to the RV, no Hurricanes appearred, but Hugh Malcolm decided to press on regardless. The attacking formation was intercepted by a number of Me 109s and all 12 Blenheims were destroyed or forced down. Hugh Malcolm was killed but there were other survivors. As a result, Malcolm was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Shortly after the invasion of Italy, an organisation was being established to provide welfare facilities for RAF personnel serving there, and after receiving a blessing from Hugh Malcolm's widow, they were named in his honour. They still existed when I served at RAF Gutersloh and Laarbruch in the 90's but I don't know what happened to them after the demise of the RAF in Germany.

I don't consider myself a revisionist, but when tempted to place anyone on a pedestal, it is worth keeping things in context. The Tunisian campaign was something of sudden check to allied successes in North Africa in the wake of El Alamein/Operation Torch. This raid exposed significant weaknesses in terms of organisation (why no RV with the Hurricanes), capability (why the need to re-attack) and equipment (using Blenheims in 1943), and so the award of Hugh Malcolm's VC served as a useful distraction.

Some years ago, I had the privilege of hosting a visit to 18 Sqn by the veterans of an RAuxAF sqn (memory fails me, I can't remember which one!), which had also served in that Blenheim wing. A couple of the sprightly old boys had been there in Tunisia, and counted themselves fortunate not to have flown on that raid. One of them paused by the painting of Hugh Malcolm and said, with a touch of bitterness, 'I knew Hugh Malcolm, but I didn't like him.' But leadership isn't a popularity contest, and I think Hugh Malcolm was trying to do what he thought best in an impossible position.

If you would like more detail (with more accuracy than my random memory!), your best contact would be the Squadron Historian of 18 Sqn at RAF Odiham, Hook, Hants, RG29 1QT.

[Danny42C]

At RAF Geilenkirchen in the sixties, we had an all-ranks Malcolm Club and shop. I bought a "Baldamatic" 35 mm camera there for DM120 (about £10), with coupled rangefinder and synchro flash. It was no Leica, but it gave me a box-full of excellent slides: I have it, and the slides, somewhere still.

And in the fifties, there was an officers' Malcolm Club in Cadogan Gardens (off Sloane Square), where you could get DB&B for 18/6 (IIRC). I used it several times in '52 - '54.

D.

[zetec2]

Oh lust & love, the young lady who ran the Wildenrath "Mally" paper shop, enough to make any young airman weak about the loins I must have spent a fortune buying papers and magazines just to be in close proximity, ah them`s were the days (67 - 70).