For those of you that have everything
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It is poignant to watch Just Jane's taxi runs at East Kirkby when just before she gets back to the hard standing, some-one occasionally nips out into the propwash and disperses ashes over the airfield.
Back in the day, we often carried out a few ashes drops into the Moray Firth from a Shackleton (and debating whether we could claim rations for them up to the time that they disappeared down the flare shoot). The trick was to hold the ashes in a loosely bound chart that would disintegrate and dispense the ashes once it had left the aircraft (there were the occasional mishaps with an inexperienced crew when the ashes were just poured into the chute leading to a blowback - often over the unfortunate Padre, and a requirement to vacuum the aircraft on landing). Do any current types still scatter ashes for ex-RAF personnel?
This is the dispersal of Sqn Ldr Ian "Beery" Weir" of 8 Sqn, reclining in his tube in the aircraft galley before the service.
Back in the day, we often carried out a few ashes drops into the Moray Firth from a Shackleton (and debating whether we could claim rations for them up to the time that they disappeared down the flare shoot). The trick was to hold the ashes in a loosely bound chart that would disintegrate and dispense the ashes once it had left the aircraft (there were the occasional mishaps with an inexperienced crew when the ashes were just poured into the chute leading to a blowback - often over the unfortunate Padre, and a requirement to vacuum the aircraft on landing). Do any current types still scatter ashes for ex-RAF personnel?
This is the dispersal of Sqn Ldr Ian "Beery" Weir" of 8 Sqn, reclining in his tube in the aircraft galley before the service.
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They do a £99 one and if you read the description it includes a seal in the bag liner to stop you dribbling out the bottom and a pillow which won't prevent you getting a stiff neck.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Back in the day, we often carried out a few ashes drops into the Moray Firth from a Shackleton.
Do any current types still scatter ashes for ex-RAF personnel?
This is the dispersal of Sqn Ldr Ian "Beery" Weir" of 8 Sqn, reclining in his tube in the aircraft galley before the service.
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Once I’m gone, I’m gone. Srap my ashes in a bag attached to the nearest ATC radar head and let it rip!
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Old-Duffer
As done with due decorum 67-years ago.
Recently, I came across some photos in which the SWOs 'Bantam' small lorry was used to convey the deceased (in a proper coffin) to the nearby cemetery and with the requisite number of officers and men marching behind.
QRs stipulated how many made up the funeral party (depending on rank).
QRs stipulated how many made up the funeral party (depending on rank).
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I remember the swo having a practice funeral on the tennis courts at Odiham next to the guardroom with the said locker when the widow came onto the station, a pre arranged signal from the gate guard ensured a rapid double time out of sight.
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W W ... that is profoundly tacky! 
References to Starfighter reminded me of an old chum who had played a Stormtrooper in Star Wars. He wanted his ashes fired into space but his wife found out this was way too expensive. Instead she had his ashes shot up into the sky over St Ives Bay in three rockets. She said that using her kitchen scales to weigh out specified amounts of his ashes into containers to be sent to the firework company was a strange experience. Great "funeral" and no coffin required, cardboard or otherwise.
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MPN11 -
sorry, it was a poke aimed at the ruthless nature of those squeezing defence budgets over recent years, no offence intended so I have edited the comment. Apologies to anyone who felt the same.
sorry, it was a poke aimed at the ruthless nature of those squeezing defence budgets over recent years, no offence intended so I have edited the comment. Apologies to anyone who felt the same.
Is it just me, or...……
Does anyone else have a rather strange picture in their head of a number of blokes turning up at Argos for the "Click and Collect" option, with one of them looking distinctly grey around the gills and somewhat uncommunicative?
Does anyone else have a rather strange picture in their head of a number of blokes turning up at Argos for the "Click and Collect" option, with one of them looking distinctly grey around the gills and somewhat uncommunicative?
Be Careful What You Wish For
Loaded stepfathers ashes into Chippie, off it goes to deposit him in the sky over his old operational airfield (Worboys 156 Sqn PFF). Chippie returns to an East Midlands station where 'they did it on grass' OC AEF points at fin. Pick up brush and dustpan gently scrape stepfather off fin and tailplane. Reverently scatter him in front of 2 hangar, hope mum didn't notice.
