Click thumbnails to enlarge

Nice to see the guys from the 223 (midlands) Lunch Group earlier today. Yvonne, myself, Dave Gingell, Dave Squires, Dave Shephard and Maryln. Unfortunately PJ and Julie cancelled due to work commitments.  (Many thanks to Dave Shephard for stepping in and arranging)

05/12/23 2 geezers meet in not so sunny Cologne (Keef & Keef). One a Rigger the other a Sooty. (Shame about that hat though !)

This taken 20/04/23 of the 223 (Midlands) Lunch Group Dave Gingell, Dave Squires, Dave Shephard, myself Marilyn and Yvonne.

Below emailed by Don when he and Cheryl visited Ken and Julia last weekend (27/28 August 22)

Paul & Mary's new Granddaughter Maeve born  today (21/06/22). A 7lb 11oz beautiful girl.

These taken 14/06/22 at Don and Cheryl's place whilst caravanning in the area, thanks to them both for the hospitality.

These two just in from Rich Hopkins (Jan 22) showing his latest build. He is looking for volunteers to take that first trip with him hopefully later this year !.

Below from Dick, taken when he and Dave Shephard went to visit Colin (Zocko) Stockton
at RAF Cosford Museum. Taken Wednesday 20/10/2021

After all the stick Pancho got at the reunion he decides it's time for a trim !.
(check out the mad woman in the mirror ! (only joking Mary))

	These from Ken Waugh

Quick meet with Steve & Julie Blemings while in and around Aylesbury 23/10/2020.

Dick Bothamley proudly displays his latest Grandson named Carter, 
born Sept 30th. Both mother and baby doing well.

These 2 from Dave Gingell, just back  from a visit to Arnhem. (Sept 2019)

Lucky Steve Foster managed to get a trip with 101 Squadron  at Brize Norton, thanks to the 101 Association. Jammy begger (Sept 2019)

Rich Hopkins enjoying a trip in a Spit (Sept 2019) at Biggin Hill

This from Paul Deakin before a trip with a Flybe cadet.

What about these 3, not sure when taken but Don looks like mid - late 70's to me ?. From the left, Mick Stelmach, Ken Ryan & Don Tanner.

	Latest from Chris on his travels

	Chris Lowe

This from Mr. Tanner who is wearing his favourite attire (Lycra)

March 2016

Nice to see Paul Deakin & Dave Gingell this evening, it's been a while since I last saw Paul (over 40 years !)	Ian, performing at Weeting Village Fair May 2015
22 January 2015

Latest from Mr. (Jock) Kerr	Paul Bedward during one of his trips to Amsterdam (@1980)

Below supplied by Ed Boswell (via Ian) who is an old friend of Don's, he knew Don at Brize 
when he was a J/T, as I understand it, it takes pride of place on Don's mantle !.

	02 Feb 2014 - This update from Paul Deakin in Oz:- A quick update from Oz as I've got a few days at home in Sydney before being subject to simulator training in Melbourne. So far I'm enjoying it out here. In Sydney, the temp at the mo is abound 25 - 30ºc which is just right for me but it was a bit warmer at 40º in Wagga Wagga where I've being operating recently. Recently for the first time in my life I saw santa in a beach buggy complete with surfboard and some rather nice looking helpers, much better than standing in the cold watching santa get out of a Sea king in the horizontal rain/snow in Troon back there in Scotland. There's a photo from my office as I return in to Sydney from a trip out in to the bondu, one of the plus points in operating here. Aircraft wise for the boys that worked in Thailand is one of my aircraft, the Saab 340 in NOK mini colours which operated out of Chang Mai, my company (Rex) decided to keep it in the colours you see, probably they don't want the expense of painting it in our company scheme! The other two are an air tractor and a Sky crane which are both water bombers which have been a bit busy of late. Lastly there's a photo of Claudine & myself on the beach and the obligatory one in front of the opera house. just a few minutes walk from where we live in Cronulla, I thought Id better add this one because I doubt very much that people remember me from all those years ago.

Below extracts from RAF Laarbruch Handbook (70's/80's)

These two of Nick Rogers, 1st one 1980, 2nd one 1970

This pic 'borrowed' off Facebook, shows John Kerr with his latest band

Photographs of Don Tanners new cycle helmet (waiting for the shots of him wearing it!)
nice touch with the 223 Scorpion

Ian Hovey's new motor                            (yes it is an 1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit)

Rod Wallace starts training for next years get together

Below Davey & Irene Jones just back from sunny Jamaica

Dave Squires

Not something that you see often, with the Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association Golf Society on Wednesday at Chestfield Downs near Stevenage SG4 7EQ    at the southern boundary of the course a private air strip encroaches onto the course. Sign reads;   WARNING  Aircraft use the airstrip parallel to the 3rd hole when siren sounds stand clear of the approach to the landing strip

These from Pete Lewis:
Happy to say Cadet Cpl. Amy Lewis of 303 ( Worksop ) ATC Sqdn  successfully 
completed a week's leadership course at R.A.F  Cranwell (28.07.12)

This is Ian Hovey's new toy!

Rod on his recent Adriatic trip, looks well prepared for that Trawler!

These from Dave Squires 2011 trip to Florida (yes he goes every year)

"Yes Marilyn, I would love to shake something!"

Meet the Astronauts

New pal Ally...

Duxford Air Show 3rd September 2011 (rather warm!)
photographs from myself & Dave Milnes

These two from Stuart Thomson

and this one from Pete Lewis with his daughter Amy

Following on from the Vulcan pic's taken at Finningley or should I say 'Robin Hood Airport'
by Dave Milnes, these below from Rae Stevens who says his 737 was parked next door!.

Look at these from Paul Hayworth as his company takes delivery of  their new Gateguard, oh and should you wish to lend a hand ..........

This from Ken Waugh, taken when he was working in Oman

Click link below for Trev Dutton's latest album

http://cdbaby.com/cd/TrevorGDutton

Below from Dave Squires on his recent visit to Florida,
he found the B17 was on a tour of the states giving pleasure flights.
As for the others !!!

Rich Hopkins recently completed a trip to Peenemunde the WWII German V-1 & V-2 test site on the 
German/Polish border in his aircraft, 16 hours flying time and lot's of miles. 
Below some of the photograph's he took.

The following from Nick Rogers and his work in sunny Thailand:-

Just thought I would keep you abreast of my movements and stuff. I will attach a couple of pictures from our site in Thailand, progress 
at last. All the piling has been done, the excavation for the pit under the irradiator is under way and I have to keep going out there to check up 
on it all, bloody nuisance but hey ho, its a hard life sometimes. We have one set of sub contractors building the body of the 
irradiator  and another lot making the moving parts that fit inside, some bunch of dodgy sods are making the Cobalt 60,  good for them I 
dont want to get too close to that stuff. We have to put it all together and do a factory aceptance test over here in November, hysterical laughter 
is coming from me, some chance of being on time for that.... So anyway here are some pics, the ceremonial beating in of the first 
pile, with a Buddhist monk doing his thing, then some pictures of a muddy hole. The people doing all the re bar work are girls, they dress like that 
due to keeping the sun off, not cos its bloody cold. The men kindly sit on the side and pass them re bar when they need it. Just like home eh ?

Self indulgence here I'm afraid, my daughter Heather's wedding 15th August 2009

Paul & Mary on their visit to John Kerr's farm in Wales. (left - which one is Bill & which is Ben ?)

These from Nick Rogers when he dropped into     Old Warden

3rd July 2009, Dave Squires visiting Staverton when he was in the area

This one was in the Summer 2009 edition of the Haltonian and shows Ron Hearfield at Brize

	Rich, myself &  Dave Milnes	These taken 20th June 2009 at Rolls-Royce Merlin Pageant Hucknall,  by Myself & Rich Hopkins  when he few in for a couple of hours.

Check this one left of Davey & Lynn a few years ago ..........

These 2 on the right are of our intrepid Detective Hercule Poirot (Rod) on a case in Syria....

These 2 taken by Keith on his visit to 'Pancho's' home

Photo of Taff Wilson with the ATC, old & new
   

Pic just found - me in 1985 working as a Test Engineer at Plessey's in Nottingham .....

Look who's got a new toy then ...............
that's right - Jan !

Check out these 2 from Don Tanner, still competing on behalf of the RAF.   (fit bugger)

Check out these from Ken Waugh in Dubai who has decided to shovel some money into the bank before retirement.

Bob Wilson circa 1988                                               and 1989         
(check out the jumper !)                                            (and those PJ's)     

Just surfaced, can you guess who this good looking lad is:

that's right Ian Hovey before he found other interests !.

On the left a very nice photograph of Mr. Goss hard at work !. On the right Trev Dutton collecting his 1300 post classic 3rd place trophy. (Well done Trev)

Check out Steve Farmery's latest Grandchild:

These two from Ken Waugh at Netheravon where he has been working.

This one taken last year over Lincoln

Thanks to Jim, another ex 'Sooty'

These 2 from Jock Strachan when he was on the trawlers......

These from Keith Godden photo on left last July in Alaska, on right with his pals at German cup final in Berlin.

Below is Ian with his new band, on the second pic I think he is the big one second from left...

This is a 'first' of the Sentinel in formation with the Red Arrows which 
I took at RAF Waddington Airshow 30th June 2007

'Pancho' through the ages:

These from Ian's latest expedition to Alaska:-
first pic shows him conquering Wisilla, Alaska,
second shows how hard the transportation links are - a toaster on wheels !
third shows the oustanding view when you look out your bedroon window,
fourth shows what happens when you go native !

The following are of Tony Newman
(he hasn't changed much !)

The following from Dave Squires who attended an exhibition at Halton 22nd March 2007

workshops where the     Sea Hawks and Sea     vixens used to be

Doors where they  got the aircraft in/out

Adjacent to where the       hydraulics /pneumatics     used to be laid out

opposite to 2nd image

Airfields looking    towards main road

                      Bob Wilson's 3rd Grandchild 'Bobby' born 5th March 07 looks just like him !           
                                 

Just surfaced - Jock's wedding last October (nice skirt)

Ken Waugh with one of his Gazelle's

Congrats to Rae Stevens & Julie who were married 18 October in Cyprus, I'm sure
you will join me in wishing them all the very best for the future and we look forward
to meeting Julie at the next reunion.

Here's health freak Rod on his lunchbreak during a hard days racing at the Dartmouth regatta !
 

Just look at Taff now:-

Rod Wallace on his latest sailing trip - well he looks the part

Keith's first Grandchild (so he says !),  grandaughter Faye

Look at this lucky bugger !! friends with Vicky (where's that flying helmet.....)  

Check this pic of Gezz Goss in the 80's at Dofa look he even has hair !!

How about this pic of Bangkok taken by Nick Rogers recently when he was over there on work duties - believe that and you will believe anything !!  Long shot of the site where Nick is installing a gamma greenhouse for research on plant mutation for Malaysian Institute of   Nuclear Technology ? (I thought he was a Rigger?)    Downtown Kajang  Pic of the bones of the gamma greenhouse     These women got in the way of the camera !

The following taken at RAF Finningley 1981, see if you can spot Dave Gingell !
(hint - he has a dead rat on his top lip !)

      Another pic of Ian in the 80's                                               and look what Jock Kerr got for his 50th !!

                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                               I think he prefers the sheep in the background really !

Look who bumped into each other whilst on holiday  in Cyprus                                                                  Keith Bass & Phil Scott                      (I think they make a lovely couple !)

Sir Prancalot  !         Ian & Jan

Steve Foster & Dave Squires meet up at an Airshow

Why we have standard operational procedures. I bet that woke them up in the back.
(From Rod Wallace)
 
 Last week one C-23 Sherpas flew into a US operated airfield in Iraq during the day and saw there was construction equipment on the runway.
Yet there was no NOTAM (notice to airmen). A trench was being dug in the runway, and it was not marked. Its a long runway and they just
landed beyond the construction. They filed a safety hazard report that was immediately forwarded to our higher headquarters and to the Air
Force wing based here.
 
 Well, it seems the construction continued and still was not marked or NOTAMed or anything. A C-130 landed on the runway the night of the 29th
and didn't see the construction. It wound up going through what is now a large pit on the runway. A few pictures are attached. The C-130 was
totaled. There were several injuries to the crew and the few passengers that were on board but luckily nobody was killed. Quite the set of
failures somewhere in the system regarding this improper construction and no notifications about it

The following are photographs from Rich Hopkins and show him enjoying his new kite ?

These 2 taken from a 'Herc' during the first Gulf War by Rod Wallace - (its taken him a few years to find them !)

These 3 photo's taken at Bruntingthorpe with myself & Dave Milnes (September 2004)