Unfortunately you will not find me in this photograph. Most of my service life was with SAR and my last job for Finningley was to select the choppers required for the Falklands. At first I didn't remember Bill but with all aged memories, his likeness has surfaced and I recall many laughs with him. I think the "stone gnome" is a direct pointer to the engines used by the Whirlwind. I'll let a sooty explain that one. As mentioned in previous Pprune threads, I had the pleasure of renovating the Sycamore Mk14, XJ380 prior to taking a post to Lossie followed by Leconfield and my migration to Australia.
One reason for leaving, voluntarily, was the likes of Bill were exiting the RAF at great speed; Bob Nesbit, Ginge Roper (Bill's old boss?). These were characters not see since the introduction of National Service; in fact, they were probably the remnant of that era.
GIGFY (Bob Botwood)