Brian Singleton of the 84th wrote this week:
I am trying to locate an ex 87th member, 683581 A/A Martin, block 6 room 2, 2(A) Wing. Bas ) as I new him playing trumpet in a jazz band on camp called The Chiltern Valley Feetwarmers, in which I and three other 84th guys also played. The attached photo show him and some of the other members in the camp theatre. He by the way is on the extreme left.
Regretably Barry Martin died a long time ago. Does anyone know how and when Bas Martin died? I have a feeling that Dave Green told me it was an explosives accident. 2/5/09
I have only just come across the website. I was searching for a few names and up it popped. It was a blast from the past.I have not been in contact with any ex brats since I left the service in 1984. Have had a quick look thro the site. Impressed. Lots of names that I recall,sadly a few who are no longer with us. I live in Peterborough. I "think" (?) I would be interested in "joining up" again. Would like to be remembered to Ron Bean (ex 86th) Regards Bernard PS Nearly forgot,I'm the one who came down from the 83rd (engines) AND also missed the Passing Out Parade as I was excused rifle drill... ha ha. 14/3/09
I have just been pointed in the direction of the 87th website by a golfing friend (Roger Skinner) ex 79th. I am enjoying
retirement playing golf and holidaying - Australia, Japan, China, Kenya to name a few. January is booked for a trip to Egypt.
One or two of the Airframe group and the footballers/cricketers
may remember me from the Halton days.13/12/08
I came across Doug Cadogan at the Farnborough airshow in the mid 90s. I wrote to him in 1999 via RAF Records and received a reply in which he referred to the fact that he had seen a picture of Wally Waldron in his father's (ex 17th entry) copy of the latest Haltonian being blanket tossed on his birthday.
Doug came to the reunion at Solihull in 2000. Unfortunately we have lost touch with him. I must write to him again via RAF Records. 13/12/08
This web site is 10 years old this year. In October 1997 at the Queen's unveiling of the Halton Apprentice Tribute, I sat down for lunch opposite these people; the ladies on seeing my 87th name badge said "We're 87th!". It was Trevor Bunce, Brian Leonard and their wives! Following this meeting I started to hunt down our members. First in of course came 20+ from our Entry Rep the late Dave Green. An internet search produced most of the rest (now too expensive, unless you know the town they might live in, as for Paul Sellers, Mick Webb, and Jock Finlayson whose mother still lived there), plus personal knowledge of other members. Our subsequent first 87th meeting was also 10 years ago: at the 1998 Halton Triennial Reunion, where over 30 members out of 100 traced attended, being one of the biggest entry contingents present.
If you know where any of our unfound members might live, please let me know. Also if you know any of our lost members who would be drawing a service pension then I could forward a letter to them via the RAF Record Office. 13/12/08
Mike Campbell was at this year's reunion with his wife Carol. He left his camera behind in Betsw-y-Coed. Somebody found it and took it back to Liverpool to hand in to the police, there beeing no police station where it was found. The police were on the ball as they inspected photos and saw Mike's classic MG car reg EYH 214; they checked on the owner and forwarded the camera to him.
Mike was medically discharged shortly after leaving Halton as on the way home riding his motorbike (how many of us had one at Halton!) with the late John "Halifax" Crowther on the pillion, he lost a leg after an accident Mike wrote to me in 1998 giving me the addresses of John Crowther, Terry Corber and Colin Brown.13/12/08
I was pleased to have found lurking on the Friends Reunited site listed under No 1 S of TT two 87th armourers: Dave Gilbert and Mike Hodge. 2/5/08
I am sorry to report that Ernest Lumley died 18 months ago. Ernest retired near Bury St Edmunds after a career in the prison service culminating in the position of governor of a high security prison in Suffolk. 7/4/08
The 2008 entry reunion dinner will be held in Wales on Saturday 20th September. More details will be available in the next 2-3 weeks. 26/1/08
I regret to announce that Brian Crosby died on 23 September 2007. 23/11/07
I discovered today that Alan Reynolds (Elec) died in June 1998. I was informed by an 87th Locking school friend of his who had being trying to trace him. Family history research showed up his early death. 24/9/07
I regret to report the death of Roger Wigley (3/6/07). Roger was member of the Norfolk branch and attended at least two of Bryan Leonard's Norfolk barbecues. The 87th were represented at the funeral by Trevor Bunce, Bryan Leonard and Reg Roberts. 30/06/07
The next reunion will be held on 22 September 2007 to coincide with the Triennial reunion at Halton. This reunion will commemorate the 50th anniversary of our arrival at Halton in September 1957 20/10/06
Sadly I must report the death (2/3/06) of Bill Hall. 10/3/06
David Stephens found us today via our web site. Dave has been working in Quality Management since he left the mob.25/11/05
After a successful reunion near Belfast recently it was decided that the next reunion will be held somewhere in the Midlands on the first weekend of October 2006. 4/10/05
Jack McKee and David Andrew found us recently via this web site.4/10/05 Sadly I must report the death (22 June 2005) of Colin Brown. 5/7/05
It came as a shock to learn of the recent death (9 June 05) of Lester Rawlins after a short illness. Lester was a regular attendee at reunions and I well remember him bringing his mobile home across to France to provide us with transport at the St Malo reunion. 17/6/05
Sadly I must report the death (27 March) of Dick Heaton, 3Wing Armourer. 30/3/05
John McManus found us recently via this web site. John was posted to Manby. He left the RAF in 1964, but then took over his WO's job as IC Electrical Section as Manby became civilianised. In 1973 John worked for a year in Riyadh with BAe. On returning to the UK John spent 5 years running a pub followed by several years managing private clubs. 30/3/05 Sadly I must report the death (July 2004) of Mick Murphy. 6/1/05
With regret I must report the death on 18 December of our chairman Dave Green. 31/12/04
Sadly we have recently been informed that Brian Morrison has died after a three year fight against cancer. In typical Brat fashion Brian defied medical science right to the end. I remember Brian attending one of our reunions even though we had traced him only the day before. 20/11/04
At the recent reunion it was decided that the 2005 reunion will be held in Northern Ireland on 24 September. 5/10/04
Tony Lawrence traced after meeting up with another Brat while on holiday. Tony is currently a dealer in stamps and postcards. 7/9/04
John Voisey just traced after help from my cousin and RAF PMA. 16/1/04
Barry Edrich has just been traced, sadly as a result of the reporting of the death of his father. 12/1/04
The Halton Golden Oldies band desperately needs new recruits. If you were in the band, and feel like playing again, please contact 87th tenor drummer Michael Rodd. 27/12/03
A two-pronged trace has been applied to Vic Hosking via the electoral role and RAF PMA. Michael Rodd, who lives only a couple of miles away from the likely address, has volunteered to check if Vic really lives there. On visiting the address, unfortunately Michael found that Vic had moved leaving no forwarding address. 27/12/03
Forgot to mention that Gordon "Jock" Will was traced a few weeks back. Sorry about that Jock. 27/12/03
Traced Dickie Heaton today. 14/12/03
A couple of weeks back I managed to trace Mick "Spider" Webb. Having been told the name of his home town, I set out to trace his family. I struck lucky on the second call, finding his mother. In fact Mick had moved back to his hometown. I wonder how many of us did that? 13/12/03
Following members traced in recent weeks: Gerald Beament; Brian Turner; Jock Finlayson; Stewart Belsey; Cadwallader; Michael Hawker; Frank Turnbull; Tony Foster. 24/11/03
The next reunion will be held on the same day as the next Halton Triennial Reunion which is Saturday 25th September 2004. 8/10/03
Sadly Ray Botten traced but found to have died. Tony Oxby and Ian Tilsley are also posted as having died recently. 8/10/03
More members found in the past month: Peter Colk; Alan Goodburn; Tony Hilton; Peter Davison; Peter Harmsworth; Charles Hunn and very probably Ray Botten. 20/7/03
Al Murray's talk on his book "40 Years in Aviation" went down very well at the St Neots branch of the RAFHAAA. 19/7/03
I have started using an internet search tool which is based on the Electoral Role. I am having significant success and have traced: Alan Bantick; Ernie Lumley; Roger Brinn; Michael Dart; Brian Falconar. In addition I have several other likely traces such as ML Wagge and CS Gosbee, but as they are ex-directory I need to write to them to get confirmation. 11/5/03
Al Murray will be giving a talk based on his book on 40 years in Aviation at the St Neots RAFHAAA branch (in RAFA club) on Thursday 29 May at 19.30. Please attend if you can, to give him your support. 18/4/03
I was very pleased to have had a long chat with Patrick Cull this week. He found us via an advert in the RAFA News for our 2003 reunion, placed by Dave Green. 18/4/03
Dave Allen is really pleased to have found Tony Akehurst whom he both went to school with and joined up with, amazingly living nearby in the same area where they were both brought up. 14/2/03
The next reunion will be held in the vicinity of Dave Green's place near Aberdeen on the weekend of 27/28 September 2003, not one week earlier as previously notified. Sorry for my mistake!! 22/1/03
Charles Davis has recently been traced in south east England. I visited him for a swift half while passing his way recently. 22/1/03
Wil Beare (75th Halton) has kindly just notified me of the whereabouts of Harry Reynolds (Engines). He is number 171 out of 391 that we have traced. 3/1/03
Dave Allen, Inst Fitt Gen and Piper found us via this site 20 December. I have put up a Summer Camp page in his honour as he is leading the band parading the 87th banner. 3/1/03
The 87th had a very successful reunion in St Malo, France on the weekend of 21/22 September. Watch out for photos on this web site. 1/10/02
I received the following mail informing me of the death of John Markwick. Pity we did not have contact with him.
Hi Chris
Sorry to have to let you know of the death of John Markwick,he passed away on August 4th this year after a long battle against cancer. I first met him at RAF Shawbury in 1959 & we have remained in touch all these years.
He was my best man & he was mine. His final address was in Leeds where he worked for the British Museum library .
By the way I am ex 86th but was relegated to St Athan; on passout was posted to Shawbury. I enjoy looking at your site as 86 don't seem to have one,all the best.
