ve3id ; Thread creeping a bit but still an enjoyable read. I ask, only, about Canadians trying to get into Hamble (!) In my search for sponsored cadet training (still at school) I wrote to TCA and asked if they would like to sponsor my training and I was even prepared to emigrate ! I did receive one of the nicer reject letters. I also asked Max Ward the same question and offered him, in return, a lifetime of service on his B727's and, again, declared a willingness to live in Vancouver. Rotter didn't even reply.
Gosh, next we will hear of Ozzies, NZ's and even Yanks going to Hamble.
Another way into the RHS was to emigrate to Oz, join the RAAF, do three years (yep, they only wanted three) and return to blighty for RHS BOAC VC10 ! Risky as they wanted Residential status at the time of applying. I had just flunked all GCE subjects in the mock and looked at other routes.