Also, I'd like to thank Wg Cdr Vic Wallace for reviving me after I suffered a respiratory arrest.

Needless to say, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here now.

.. I'd like to thank CPOWEM Phil Hall of HMS Claverhouse fame for helping me me sort out my confidence problem after a bad SQUADEX on HMS Spey in 1992. If it wasn't for him i'd never had made DWEO and would have left the wavy navy under a cloud. As for the t0sser who caused the problem in the 1st place...

I hope you get yours ya git!

Sorry - Bad Memms :uhoh:

I'd like to thank another previous Stn Cdr at Brize who knocked me down from a Rec to a UMR, thus making the decision to leave easier. One of the better changes in my life!

jackonicko,
if you mean Colin Patterson, RN, on Bulldogs, then he joined Bristow after leaving the Navy. After several years in Nigeria he is now Aberdeen based.

I'd like to thank the late, great Squadron Leader S W T ('Steve') Holding for sending me solo on 4 Mar 73 in Chipmunk WZ 862 at RAF St Athan and thereby changing the course of my life.

RIP Sir, much loved and much missed by UWAS lads and gaps alike.

Going back a few years here ---Flt Lt Ken Hoxey, the Stn Nav. O. at Valley--for demonstrating the real concept of team work and leadership--a great person and a true gentleman--I learned a lot from his example--F/Sgts Ken Brown and Ken Fearny--both ex V Crew chiefs--and the two best man managers I ever met in the RAF--plenty of others could have learnt a lot from these two guys--C/T Des Haynes ( Hainse) not sure about the spelling here--for using a lot of common sense at Bruggen--Flt. Lt Jock Manson--for refining my latent dislike of petty jobsworths and inane authority--- as well as for his social skills :ok: and a Lt Col Tom Jones BEM--a "dirty scruffy little Jock"---and somebody, in fact about the only person I would cheerfully and without question have jumped into the proverbial bucket of s$$t for----leadership and management skills in abundance, the history to prove it--and he always led from the front and by example.

I'd like to thank Sqn Ldr Dai John (since promoted I believe) for a couple of things.

Firstly, when he took the place of one of the SAC's on the TSW Det at Bessbrook so that he could get his GSM he stayed the whole tour and worked his arse off, rather than just doing the 28 days qualifying period and going back to Stafford leaving the site short manned as most officers did.:rolleyes:

Secondly, he and the Wing Co came out to visit us all in Bosnia over Christmas and wouldn't let us put our hands in our pocket all night in the 'Spot 21' bar (no 2 can rule at GV), and this was in the days when I could really drink! :ok:

Truely a gent and someone I'd happily work for again.

Helpfull Stacker,
I would like to thank TSW for providing superb support to SH all over the world. Also, during my 3 years in NI cooking me some ****e meals at Omagh. It was all a laugh though, keep up the good work

I would like to thank Chf Tech Al Grisedale (retd 2002) for helping me through one of the most difficult times of my life.

I really must try and track him down. He was one of those types who actually had a spine, took the flak away from the lads and, as long as you told the truth to him about anything, he would fight to the bitter end on your behalf.

Al, I still owe you big beers mate.

Door Slider - You obviously didn't have the pleasure of me cooking for you then.

I had some lovely meals at Omagh cooked very nicely indeed by TSW thank you very much, then topped off by banoffee pie from the Christian cafe over by the NAAFI.
Didn't have much choice other than to eat with TSW, despite us being on 10minutes NTM, and the mess being a 5 min run away (I am a crab!), the resident battalion wouldn't let us eat in flying suits in the mess, it was a suit or nothing. Thank you, Sir, nothing it'll be then!

So in addition to TSW, I would like to thank Flt Lt (then anyway) Mike Castle, who managed to re-teach me the entire Tucano BFT/FJLIN syllabus in about 4 hours at the end of the course, so I could do it properly and pass the FHT, which was looking decidely unlikley before he got his hands on me. (oh, and for the ranger to Spangdahlen after the course was over!)

Good work fella.

Two men spring readily to mind...Sqn Ldr Ced Hughes (OC No 5AEF) who let me be a Staff Cadet all those years ago...he and his staff gave me the encouragement I needed to get where I am now, and Flt Lt Stan Hayward (now 80+) who let me take control of a Chippy at the age of 14 or so...ex Spits recce pilot, also flew the 'Wimpy' Wellington. He came to my wings grad...his eyes welled up with tears as he heard/saw the Mossie from Hawarden fly over. Top blokes. Don't close the AEF's!!!

I would like to thank Door Slider for making me chuckle when I read this!!






Only kidding, Tim is a top bloke but once a SAR Boy always a SAR Boy........;)

Well I'd like to thank Flt Lt's Stringy Vest and Paul Cross for making me feel one of the team whilst at Scampton 20 years ago.

Then I'd like to thank F/L Fred Stokes 293 ANC, for giving me the best bit of advice ever when I was chopped at the end.

And finally, in a perverse sort of way, I'd quite like to thank the c@nt that pushed me down the stairs on 54 IOT that resulted in a year out recovering from having one's kneecap removed from the back of one's knee! Without your help I wouldn't be where I am today and I certainly wouldn't swap it with where ever you are!

Stik

I would like to thank Lord Dowding and Bomber Harris without which (nuff said)!

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If you're who I think, is it all our fault for sending you solo at Kenley?

I'd also like to thank both my current Sqn Boss' wife and my Flight Commander's wife.

My wife has been ill for the past few weeks and spending most of her time in bed. They have both arrived at my door, on seperate occasions, bearing enough hot food to feed me and my kids for 2 or 3 days. Amazing.

I would also like to thank all those WW2 veterans whose obituaries appear on an almost daily basis in papers such as the Telegraph these days, you know the script..." despite being wounded he held off a Company of....../ she cycled 100 miles through occupied territory to collect the new radio".
Giants truely walked the Earth in those days, these days we get threats of litigation over a broken finger nail.

D-IFF_ident, you forget, you're in the US now, that was supposed to be just lunch!

I'd like to thank former WO2, now Captain Mick Pendry at the School of Army Aviation for helping generations of students get through the Army Pilot Course. Considering he is a moderately hairy/ugly ex Royal Marine he has a heart of gold and is a gifted instructor to boot(!)

He saved me from myself in the last few weeks of my course when I was on the verge of failure having completely lost all confidence. His patience and good humour were remarkable. He could see that I had some potential and fifteen years later I've proved it to him by becoming an Above Average instructor myself. I try to emulate him in everything I do.

I've seen him work the same miracle on several other students. The Army Air Corps is lucky to have this particular Royal Marine in our midst.

Thank you Mick.