EX Drill Instructor Keeping

The Memorial Service, lead by Padre Ashley Mitchell.

Director Joint Warfare, Rear Admiral Andrew Betton OBE, from UK Strategic Command. Representing the Royal Navy, RAdm Betton emphasised the importance of crossgovernment communication and alignment of strategic intent and will on the ability to maintain a large fighting force in theatre for a protracted period of time.

The dinner was preceded by an act of remembrance from RAF Halton’s own Rev (Wg Cdr) Ashley Mitchell at the HHOM Falklands Memorial Gardens and a flypast from a Chinook from 18(B) Sqn (unfortunately not the venerable callsign ‘BN’, which survived the conflict and was only recently retired from service). Dinner Project Coordinator Lt Cdr Sam Balmond (SO2 IO from the Joint Information Activities Group based at RAF Halton), said ‘Operation Corporate is still in the living memory of a great number of UK veterans and their families, and it is only fitting that we were able to invite a broad representation of these veterans to share their experiences and knowledge with the current generation of Service personnel and to partake in an important act of remembrance. It was pleasing to see members of all Services at all ranks and rate pull together to deliver this event without issue’.”

KEEPING UP THE PACE AT 90

Cpl Chris Kendall, RTS

On 6 May, one of our instructors from Recruit Training Squadron (RTS) was fortunate enough to travel to Durham to celebrate an ex-serviceman’s 90th birthday. Mr William Bassett served in the Royal Air Force in the early 1950’s as a Drill Instructor at RAF Hednesford.

Mr Bassett is a regular at the Silksworth Sports Centre where he plays tennis with his friend, Chris Clark, every fortnight to keep himself fit. Mr Clark decided to surprise Bill with a party and a blast from his military past.

Cpl Chris Kendall drove to the sports centre to represent the Sqn and was privileged to present Mr Bassett with an RTS pace stick and mount in recognition of his service as an RAF instructor. Cpl Kendall commented that “It was a huge privilege to celebrate Bill’s 90th Birthday and discuss the differences in the delivery of phase one recruit training between then and now.” On behalf of RTS, Cpl Kendall also offered Bill the chance to see how it is done these days, with an invitation to attend No. 702 Arnold Intake Graduation parade in August as special guest.

Bill was blown away by the surprise party, even if he wasn’t happy about admitting his age: “I still feel young,” he said, "I don’t like to think about being an old man”.

Bill’s sons Philip and Gavin were in on the secret and Gavin said it was no surprise his dad was still going strong as he entered his 10th decade. "He worked until he was 70 but even after that he was still fitting bathrooms and doing plumbing jobs until he was 80,” he said.