Graham South, Met Office

[langleybaston]

I am sad to report the recent death of Graham South, who was one of a fine team of Met men at RAF Finningley in the 1960s, was posted to I Group Bawtry, and thence promoted to Supervisor at Leeds Weather Centre.

No more diligent, competent and devoted observer ever served on a RAF station. Those who frequented the Eagle and Child [t'Bird n' Bastard] may well remember him, and raise a glass, as I do.

RIP Graham

[NutLoose]

My condolences to family and friends, it is often forgotten that a myriad of people make up the RAF, both military and civilian.

[smujsmith]

My commiserations to all his family. I was fortunate to fly with Graham whilst tasked with repairing a Hunter at Lossiemouth, many moons ago. Graham was doing a survey on clouds I believe, flying in the Shackletons, and managed to get me a trip with him one day. A great bloke, and very knowledgeable, who was even more fun in the mess bar, post aviating. It's sad to hear of the passing of good men.

Smudge

[Pontius Navigator]

Sadly many of us met Met Men but often never knew their names.

One at Hullavington could, when well oiled, sing the shipping forecast. Another gave us a very accurate 3 h r warning to get out of east Anglia. Or more recently Alan Sills at Warrington, Steve Wattam adventurer, Eric Buckley of the waistcoat.

So for Graham and all other unknown heros, thank you for your forecasts right more than wrong, thank you.

[langleybaston]

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. Many of us served a great variety of customers: civil aviation, public services, the media.

We who served the RAF were absolutely sure that we had the best deal ...... anyone posted out of an RAF station to "some other job" went kicking and screaming.
Eric of the grotesque waistcoats and ties was one such, until I rescued him from Bracknell after a period in exile.

[NRU74]

What was the surname of 'Norman' at Bawtry c 1978-81 ?
His specialist subject was carburettor icing on his Renault 16 [as he commuted home to Hull, or somewhere in that direction].

[langleybaston]

Norman was almost certainly Norman Grandy, a Senior Scientific Officer in the post of Deputy Principal Met Officer. He was previously a senior forecaster at RAF Manby.
Like many of us, he had his little foibles and, like many of us, was the butt of some good wind-ups.
I think he retired when he left Bawtry as I arrived. There was some connection between the two events.
I took over from Bob McGain as P Met O: Bob was a Mess one-armed bandit expert and offered to show me how to beat the system during our mercifully brief handover.
Thereafter Met 1 Group was under totally new management, with Bob Ward as Deputy. Bob is still going strong, we met this year.
Met Bawtry was renowned for its pretty young girls, and retained this accolade until it closed in, I think, 1984.
I could go on, but this is about Graham South, who watched these comings and goings and got on with the job.

[NRU74]

Langleyb,
Sorry to hear of the demise of Graham....and my post was no criticism of Norman- merely an observation.
The great thing about the Bawtry Bar was that any member could keep it open for as long as he chose as long as he (eventually) handed the key in the Ops Officer

[langleybaston]

I cannot resist the NG legendary episode at Manby. Apologies if this is drift, and if I have told the tale before.

NG did not allow the office radio to be played when he was on duty [radios were allowed, TV not allowed]. When he came on duty as senior man, he switched the radio off without comment.

One day it failed to switch off. A very early transistor radio, battery driven, had been inserted into the cavernous guts of the old 1950's style Roberts or whatever.

Grown men were seen to be crying with laughter as he pulled the plug out of the wall socket and the music went on
and on
and