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APRIL
2001
Turning
of the Page Ceremony; Dave
Taylor's Short Surprise;
Harrogate Visit
(Click
on the article you wish to review - for
other months click on Archives)
(These
pages contain lots of pictures so will be slow to download)
HARROGATE
VISIT
21st
April 2001
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Some
of our members headed for Harrogate on Saturday 21st April.
"York"
was being entertained in that other North Yorkshire town known to all
wartime aircrews, especially those wild and courageous Canadians
of 6 Group. The hosts were the Harrogate club, not as wild
as the Canadians, but no less hospitable. A very enjoyable night
was had by all.
Right
- Tholthorpe? |
This
mural covers the wall of the Harrogate club |
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Some drank...... |
Some gambled (Bingo)....... |
What
a den of iniquity it turned out to be...... Booze, gambling, women &
grub!!! The Canadians of 6 Group would have been proud of us keeping up
old wartime traditions!!!!
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Some chatted up
women....... |
and some just over
indulged!!!!! |
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Brian
Wilkie (Harrogate) & Jack Kilvington chatting up a couple of young
ladies in the bar - note, typical RAF, they haven't even bought them a
drink!! |
Guess
who? Eating again! Jack & Kath are even timing him - and he's on a
diet!!! |
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2nd
April 2001
TURNING THE PAGE CEREMONY
IN
YORK
MINSTER
One
of the RAF's "turning of the page ceremonies", which take place four
times a year in York Minster, was held on 2nd April to mark the
83rd anniversary
of the formation of the RAF.
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The
ceremony was headed by a Squadron Leader Chris Cornish and eight
officer's from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Flight Sergeant Glenn Young, also
from Linton-on-Ouse, read the commemoration and commanded the joint
parade of RAF and RAFA.
The York branch of RAFA was well
represented with the York Branch Standard and 20 members on parade,
including the Branch President, Air Commodore W.G.Gambold
RAF(Rtd.) and immediate past President Rev.Canon J H Armstrong.
Left
- The RAFA York contingent form up in the Minster under the command
of Flt. Sgt. Young |
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Led
By Sqn.Ldr.Cornish the RAF & RAFA contingent march to the North
Transept and form up in front of the "Astronomical Clock"
beneath the "Five Sisters Window" |
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Left
The ornate astronomical clock was created by craftsmen at the Royal
Greenwich Observatory, and was given to the Minster to commemorate the
18,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in World War II when flying
out of bases in Yorkshire and the North East. A book containing
the names of all these airmen is located below it. A page is
turned every day of the year. This is normally carried out by a
Minster Policeman, but 4 times a year the RAF & RAFA turn out in
full ceremony to honour their fallen comrades.
Right
The
Five Sisters Window. Glazed with 'grisaille' glass, it the largest
of its type to survive anywhere in the world. It was completed around
1250 when coloured glass was only manufactured in Europe and would have
been prohibitively expensive to import in such quantities. Each lancet
is 16.2 metres high and 1.5 metres wide with the entire window
containing over 100,000 pieces of glass. The window is dedicated as
a memorial to the women who lost their lives in the two world wars.
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The
"Five Sisters Window" dominates the North Transept |
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More
than 100 UK & overseas visitors to the Minster watched the ceremony and
could not fail to be impressed by the bearing and conduct of all on
parade. The reading, by Flt.Sgt.Young, of the commemoration to the
over 18,000 allied airmen and airwomen who died operating from Yorkshire and
the North East, & who are listed in the book of remembrance, could not fail to move the audience.
It brought home to all, especially the visitors from overseas, exactly how
many nationalities operated from Yorkshire between 1939 and 1945 and how
many made the ultimate sacrifice in order that their countries could be free.
In addition to British airmen, there were Canadian, Australian, New Zealand,
American, South African, Rhodesian, Polish, Czech, French, Belgian,
Dutch, Norwegian, Danish and other countries aircrews operating from Yorkshire's airfields,
many never returned to their homes....
To them we owe a
never ending debt
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York
Branch Standard Bearer Fred Ullathorne lowers the standard for a
minutes silence
Left
- Sqn Ldr Cornish turns the page |
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The
Royal Air Force escort contingent - from left to right -
Sqn.Ldr.Chris Cornish, Flt.Lt.Rob Jackson, Flt.Lt.Mike Duffy,
Flt.Lt.Jerry Woodward, Plt.Off.Charlotte Faratian, Plt.Off.Ben
Hawkins, Fg.Off.Kev Terrett, Fg.Off.Stephen Tucker, Fg.Off.Mark Wilson
Left
- Standard Bearer Fred Ullathorne in front of the RAFA York contingent |
A
'SHORT' SURPRISE FOR DAVE
After the ceremony the
RAF contingent were invited back to York RAFA's HQ for a pre-lunch
drink. Once there, a surprise was in store for one of the RAFA members. Dave
Taylor had thought he could keep his 65th birthday quiet, but the branch
"intelligence officer" was up to speed and had prepared a surprise!
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Dave
Taylor (right), who has flown in over 140 different aircraft types
from Avro Lancasters to Vickers Valettas (and survived to write a
book about his exploits - titled "A suitcase Full of Dreams"),
is presented with a cake depicting one of his favourites, a
Sunderland. It was delivered by a "leggy stewardess"
from Teeny Weeny Airways - well nearly - Fred Ullatorne was as close
as we could get! |
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Above - RAFA members get to know
members of todays RAF
Right - No one
leaves Aldwark empty handed - Sqn.Ldr. Chris Cornish keeping tight hold
of his "Sunderland" cake |
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