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Continuing the "young" Haltonian thread, I am submitting my
perspective as a 117th Entry apprentice.
The 117th (Technician) Joined-up with 216th (Craft) in October
1969 and Passed-out with the 219th (Craft), and the 410th
(Mechanic) on the 19th October 1972.
We were the middle of the ten-year Technician Apprenticee
experience/experiment, and perhaps the largest T/A entry with a
graduating party of 36 aspiring corporals dispersed in groups of
six to various front line stations. Firstly, I sympathize with Bob
Rodham (223rd) who points out that there was a definite "Class"
system of Technicians, Craft and Mechanics. Then again, there was
little to-do within each structure; the 116th looked down on us,
as we looked down on the 118th.
Being very much outnumbered by the Craft Apprentices, and because
we were split between two wings, we always had a problem
maintaining a close entry "Identity". This was true after Halton
as it was during those three years from 1969 to 1972. Sadly, I
don't think there exists an Entry photograph.
Our pay when we started was 10 shillings a week (plus deferred
pay which came to about £50 by the time Christmas 1969 came
around).
Our Claim-to-fame range from being the last Entry (perhaps the
last service people) to be issued with underware (Shreddies),
proper hob-nail drill boots and pajamas ...
Being three-year Apprentices amongst the one and two years
apprentices has its own pressures (apologies to my older Aircraft
Apprentice cousins); Three years is a long time when we see people
arrive after us and leave before us. Some of us (myself included)
were Sergeant Apprentices for the whole final year. That is a long
time to play mini-god to the the rookie entries (some of the 220
and the 222 may read this and say "That B******d, I remember
him").
Mini-godliness has its responsibilities too; I remember being
asked to referee a football match between two rival flights. At
the end of time it was a draw, so we decided on a shootout. Five
players from each side duly lined up and took turns to score - or
not. A true god might have taken tally of the goals scored. I did
not, and had to deal with both sides claiming victory (now a
another bunch of ex-brats will be saying "That B******d, I
remember him").
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On a sad, but memorable note; one of our numbers - Alain Choat -
actually got married while an Apprentice. Within months of that
event, Alain was killed in an "Air Experience" flight in a
Chipmunk flying from Halton airfield. Anybody at Halton at that
time will remember that sad event.
We were at Halton for the 50th anniversary; celebrated in August
1970. In our final year (1972), many apprentices from different
entries participated in the man-powered flight project, headed by
Flt Lt John Potter (One of our teachers if I recollect). Both
these events were commemorated with a First Day Cover.
As to my overall impressions of Halton: They are nearly all
positive. Halton was well populated in those years. All three
wings were in operation, the bands were at full strength, the
clubs and sporting facilities were available and well used. That
all added to the Halton Experience. We T/As worked hard at leaning
four trades, we leant many sports and pastimes, and we grew up in
those three years. Yes, we probably did "lord" it over the Craft
Apprentices, not through malice. Remember, we were nearly all
under 20 years old and establishing our Entry (and personal)
identity. We were picked on by more senior Craft Apprentices and
we were a little jealous of the Craft apprentices leaving after
only two years at Halton.
Our "Schooling" included the civilian Ordinary National
Certificate (ONC) in Engineering which many found useful when
transiting to civvy street. Many of us (Including myself) attained
a HNC at a local community college during our two-year "Improver"
training - following our Halton experience.
Some of us went on to commissions, some aircrew, but most of us
served on first and second line serving for many years. I
completed my nine years, worked at British Aerospace for a year
before emigrating to Canada to work on aircraft simulators. My
Halton experience and education stood me in excellent standing to
take on responsibilities ranging from programming software
systems, installing aircraft simulators overseas, even working
with aircraft manufactures programming wind-shear models and other
special projects.
Although I do not work within the aircraft industry any more. I
do consider my Halton experience as the excellent basis of a solid
career. With all ex-Halton apprentices we leant discipline,
self-discipline a solid trade (or trades), Sports, and plenty of
square-bashing!
Bob Chassels, 117th
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