View Full Version : Happy Birthday Sir Michael
Peter Carter
17th May 2015, 06:24
MRAF Sir Michael Beetham is 92 today. I'd just like to wish him many happy returns.
Wander00
17th May 2015, 07:28
I'll second that. Used to live not far down the road from him in N Norfolk
Secret1
17th May 2015, 07:51
Agreed.
I trust Mr Ward in his Caribbean hideaway has sent a card :hmm:
.
A card with a hole just clipping the top edge?;)
Tankertrashnav
17th May 2015, 08:47
Had a huge, thoroughly deserved bollocking from him when I was a PO at Khormaksar and had made some cockup or other. He could be a hard man when required!
Happy birthday anyway, Sir Michael.
Fair's fair, Orca. One hole right in the middle!
Exascot
17th May 2015, 08:54
I had the honour of flying you a few times Sir, wishing you the very best for many more birthdays.
Wander00
17th May 2015, 09:03
Secret1/Orca -Clearly I am missing something...............
Archimedes
17th May 2015, 09:14
Wander - think Falklands, think Sharkey Ward...
(The irony being that the files show that Sir Michael wanted Sea Harriers to conduct Black Buck, but the RN asked for the Vulcans...)
Served for 40 years then a MRAF pension (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304994/senior_officers_pension_benefits_14.pdf) for 32 (so far). Bargain.
Many Happy Returns.
Treble one
17th May 2015, 10:04
Still on the active list apparently Al R....according to this anyway!
A remarkable career it seems.
Michael Beetham - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Beetham)
Old-Duffer
17th May 2015, 10:42
Marshals never retire, they merely cease to be appointed on the active list and are effectively on half pay.
It follows that when they are required to turn out, they get a car! - fortunately not provided by the Phoenix system.
O-D
Wander00
17th May 2015, 12:01
Archimedes - sorry, had not realised SW was perhaps a tax exile - thought he was still in N Norfolk too, where his fans hijacked a pub previously devoted to the Immortal Memory. Always thought it an odd juxtaposition.
ian16th
17th May 2015, 15:25
Sir, Many Happy Returns.
Still the best squadron commander I had.
Tengah Type
17th May 2015, 21:54
Happy Birthday Sir.
When he was on a visit to Ascension in June 1982, I had the pleasure to meet him. While talking to him and the Fg Off OC Supply at Ascension, the Fg Off expressed concern about accounting for all the equipment that was passing through Ascension both Southbound and Northbound.
Sir Michael said "Do not worry about that. When it is all over, we will work out what left UK, and what gets back. All the rest was on the Atlantic Conveyer".
Danny42C
18th May 2015, 01:04
May I, on behalf of all the "Arnold Scheme" alumni, living and (but mostly) dead, wish you a Happy Birthday, Sir.
Danny (ex Class 42C).