I was Flt Lt Cont Plans at Wittering in 1982 and OC Ops and Sqn Ldr Ops were both away. My phone rang at home at 1800 -- it was Gp Capt Alan Bridges (Stn Cdr) "Come in immediately please Peter we have just had the arrival of (those dreaded words) THE TACEVAL TEAM"! You will have to be OC Ops until he can get back here. 1 (F) Sqn got their required number of jets armed up and ready to go but the OCU were struggling for Armourers. Time was ticking by and the Staish told me to phone Pete Squire and that he must transfer some of his Armourers immediately so that the OCU would also get a 1 Grade for Readiness.
With trepidation I phoned OC 1(F) Sqn Sir Peter and told him what he must do (It was his first week in post by the way) and he replied "You're the Boss--I will send them over immediately!" I have never forgotton that evening, the Station passed its Taceval with flying colours and afterwards Alan Bridges, Pete Squire and Peter Miller invited me personally and we retired to the O Mess bar for a celebratory half. What a night and what a true gentleman Sir Peter was.
I last saw him a few years ago at Colerne wearing Flt Lt rank and he reminded of me of the night in 1982 "The first and only time in my career apart from here at Colerne, that a Flt Lt has told me what to do". A lovely man whose death has shocked me.
If anyone knows when his memorial service is could you post it here please?