Dan:
Similar story. My last RAF Chipmunk flight...just checked...was on 17 Aug 90, a couple of weeks before starting re-settlement leave. From Brawdy to Shawbury for maintenance, WP900.
A very early start, beautiful morning through the Welsh countryside, time at SY just long enough to sign and hand over F700, zip on G equipment, and climb into the weather-ship Hawk that had come to collect me for the return trip to Brawdy. A slightly faster journey!