TTH,
The RAF first had an interest in rotorcraft in 1923, they operated gyroplanes in the 1930s and had autogiros in France in 1939-40. Later in the war they used rotary winged aircraft in radar calibration work and, together with the RN, introduced the Hoverfly towards the end of the war. The first true helicopter pilot in UK and the holder of Licence No: 1 was Wing Commander Reginald Brie.
Interest seems to have been lost until the Malayan Emergency and the deployment of the S51 Dragonfly to Malaya in 1950, which was so successful that along came the Sycamore and 194 Sqn.
I'm afraid that Bonfire Night 1969 for a first solo makes you a 'young un'. I'll tell what we'll do - you can have a couple of storyboards in the museum exhibition to tell us about loan service helios and the SOAF, can I say fairer than that!!
Old Duffer