Memories Page 4
Included on this page are;
Stewart Ross / Chris Short / Ian Vipond
Ian Vipond - Siggiewi Back On Line 1972
When I was posted to Malta for my tour in early August, 1972, I was seconded to the Henlow fitting party, headed by a Scottish Sergeant by the name of McBeath. There was a corporal team leader , Mo Rowland(s), and I was instructed and teamed up with him to wire the Comms relay room. There were thousands of wires and terminals. If I remember rightly, the first switch on failed, and we were plunged into darkness down the cave at Siggiewi!! Panics abound, guys frantically rechecking equipment, and the main switch had to be replaced and wires were crossed, etc. Next thing I know, the lights came back on and the Comcen was live! Everyone sighed audibly in relief, as the visiting Air Vice Marshall was about to visit. Everything worked perfectly that day, and the “Boss” went to the Officers Mess for lunch, and went off. The next day I was on nights in the Bids room, (Cypher Room), on Shift.
Some names that people might know are Roger Davies Barratt, he was a J/T at Benghaisa and latterly Siggiewi. Tiny Rogerson was another mate of mine, and Neil Spieght.
When I was posted to Malta for my tour in early August, 1972, I was seconded to the Henlow fitting party, headed by a Scottish Sergeant by the name of McBeath. There was a corporal team leader , Mo Rowland(s), and I was instructed and teamed up with him to wire the Comms relay room. There were thousands of wires and terminals. If I remember rightly, the first switch on failed, and we were plunged into darkness down the cave at Siggiewi!! Panics abound, guys frantically rechecking equipment, and the main switch had to be replaced and wires were crossed, etc. Next thing I know, the lights came back on and the Comcen was live! Everyone sighed audibly in relief, as the visiting Air Vice Marshall was about to visit. Everything worked perfectly that day, and the “Boss” went to the Officers Mess for lunch, and went off. The next day I was on nights in the Bids room, (Cypher Room), on Shift.
Some names that people might know are Roger Davies Barratt, he was a J/T at Benghaisa and latterly Siggiewi. Tiny Rogerson was another mate of mine, and Neil Spieght.
Chris Short - RAF Luqa Air Commanders Staff - 1974-1977
Served in the RAF from Jan 1971 to feb 2002. My one and only accompanied full overseas tour, apart from operational detachments overseas, was to the Air Commanders Staff at RAF Luqa from Sep 1974 to Sep 1977.
Names of some staff on the Secretariat I can remember, included Air Commodre Mawer, Fg Off Stella Gillette, Wg Cdr Bunny Warren, Sqn Ldr Mike Butler (AEO) (who retired from the Service as an Air Commodore and have since met in the Gym at RAF Cranwel), and Cpl Andy Suttie
Have fond memories of a Maltese gentleman, Steve McLean, who looked after us with making tea, coffee and general cleaning of the building. Never got tired of this gentle, kind man who insisted on occasions that we share his lunch of delicious Maltese bread. A quiet man he would often tell us of his stories at being a steward in the Royal Navy on board HMS Ajax at the battle of the River Plate.
Although a Clerk Secretarial, I played football at Safi for the RAF Police team. Anyone remember a police dog handler called John Tandy ? You would never make a slide tackle on the playing surface unless it was a goal saving challenge !
My wife and I lived in hirings in both Marsascala and NaxxarI have many significant memories of Malta including our first son being born in the Naval Hospital Mtarfa in 1975.
I was fortunate to go back to Malta when I served on the Red Arrows but my wife and I have since been back several times and the connection continues with my brother in law marrying a half Maltese girl (dad was Scottish and served in the Royal Marines at Tigne Barracks in the 1970's). Her Mum now lives back in her home village of Qrendi.
We could all write a book about our times in the RAF and someday think I will!
N.B. - DJR
15 July 2021 Chris sent me the photograph below with the following explanation;
I worked on the Air Commanders Secretariat RAF Luqa between 1974 and 1977.
Here's a picture of a social event held at the AOC's residence. Apart from the many people, personalities in the picture include Wing Commander Bunny Warren, Squadron Leader (retired Air Cdre) Mike Butler, who I knew at RAFC Cranwell and Flight Lieutenant Stella Gillette. I am pictured crouching down at the front of the group with my young son, Darren, who was born at the Royal Naval Hospital at Mtarfa and was delivered by a Royal Naval surgeon from my home town of Exeter!
Served in the RAF from Jan 1971 to feb 2002. My one and only accompanied full overseas tour, apart from operational detachments overseas, was to the Air Commanders Staff at RAF Luqa from Sep 1974 to Sep 1977.
Names of some staff on the Secretariat I can remember, included Air Commodre Mawer, Fg Off Stella Gillette, Wg Cdr Bunny Warren, Sqn Ldr Mike Butler (AEO) (who retired from the Service as an Air Commodore and have since met in the Gym at RAF Cranwel), and Cpl Andy Suttie
Have fond memories of a Maltese gentleman, Steve McLean, who looked after us with making tea, coffee and general cleaning of the building. Never got tired of this gentle, kind man who insisted on occasions that we share his lunch of delicious Maltese bread. A quiet man he would often tell us of his stories at being a steward in the Royal Navy on board HMS Ajax at the battle of the River Plate.
Although a Clerk Secretarial, I played football at Safi for the RAF Police team. Anyone remember a police dog handler called John Tandy ? You would never make a slide tackle on the playing surface unless it was a goal saving challenge !
My wife and I lived in hirings in both Marsascala and NaxxarI have many significant memories of Malta including our first son being born in the Naval Hospital Mtarfa in 1975.
I was fortunate to go back to Malta when I served on the Red Arrows but my wife and I have since been back several times and the connection continues with my brother in law marrying a half Maltese girl (dad was Scottish and served in the Royal Marines at Tigne Barracks in the 1970's). Her Mum now lives back in her home village of Qrendi.
We could all write a book about our times in the RAF and someday think I will!
N.B. - DJR
15 July 2021 Chris sent me the photograph below with the following explanation;
I worked on the Air Commanders Secretariat RAF Luqa between 1974 and 1977.
Here's a picture of a social event held at the AOC's residence. Apart from the many people, personalities in the picture include Wing Commander Bunny Warren, Squadron Leader (retired Air Cdre) Mike Butler, who I knew at RAFC Cranwell and Flight Lieutenant Stella Gillette. I am pictured crouching down at the front of the group with my young son, Darren, who was born at the Royal Naval Hospital at Mtarfa and was delivered by a Royal Naval surgeon from my home town of Exeter!
Stewart Ross - 1968 - 1971
I served in Malta from 1968 to 1971 as a photographer on 13 and 39 sqdn. I have a lot of photographs from that period do you want them, I have posted many of them on facebook before I found this site.
In 2002 I was part of the crew that delivered the last export Canberra to Australia routing via Luqa where we were greeted by many ex Maltese Canberra people, a wonderful homecoming for me.
I served in Malta from 1968 to 1971 as a photographer on 13 and 39 sqdn. I have a lot of photographs from that period do you want them, I have posted many of them on facebook before I found this site.
In 2002 I was part of the crew that delivered the last export Canberra to Australia routing via Luqa where we were greeted by many ex Maltese Canberra people, a wonderful homecoming for me.