Another great privilege I enjoyed came just after graduation from FTS at Syerston in early summer of '65. One of our course mates was getting married, so several of us were at the wedding. In the early evening, as the reception was ending, the Best Man announced that we were invited as guests at the Polish Ex-Servicemen's Club in Scunthorpe, so off we trooped.
What a night. Five fresh-faced Pilot Officers in No 1 uniform, complete with three-day-old wings. The Polish families welcomed us like long-lost nephews. Several of them had been BoB pilots, Hurricanes mostly, and did they have tales to tell. My abiding memory is of the relish with which they told their tales, but also of the humour, charm and modesty of them all. One quote I shall always remember:
"Two ******* years to get from Poland to Spitfire. All repaid when I get first German ******* in gunsight!"
Gentlemen warriors, to a man!