Just had a look at the video and was somewhat shocked at the difference in accomodation and facililities provided including the restaurant they have against the time I was in during the 1970s' For instance our accomodation you could expect to share between six or more other airman with only a small bedspace, the washroom and toilets were all shared, as far as the Mess was concerned the food was not brilliant and as for the Naafi, the tea was often stewed, coffee just about palatable and as for the bar.....always went into town!! One time I had to travel to a number of stations delivering parts and eventually ended up at RAF Hendon (I think) to stop overnight before continuing on, it was middle of winter and very cold. I was duly given my bedding at the guardroom and told to go to the transit accomodation.....a lovely world war two wooden hut!!! on entering there were a number of iron beds and a stove in the middle of the hut to keep it warm. On settling down for the night one other airman advised me to put as much cover over me, during the night I found out why, the stove had gone out and their was no more coal in the bucket frost everywhere outside and ice on the windows on the inside!!.....boy, was I pleased to leave the next day. How times have changed.
That's a far cry from the old Vimy Lines in Catterick, the old Victorian 'Sandhurst ' blocks with cast iron stair rails and 20,000 layers of wax on wooden floors that required daily 'bumping'. The move down the road to 8 Sigs for trade training was a shock, there were carpets on the floor. Some bright spark asked if we needed to remove our boots before entering
The old wooden 'spiders' had recently been demolished, for which I am eternally grateful.....
...tell youngsters today and they wouldn't believe you
Derek
'My Auntie Mabel told me I'd make a great soldier, though I don't know how 30 years working in a biscuit factory had qualified her to make that judgement.....' Eddie Nugent
Ah, those were the days. Not so much wax on, wax off - more like wax on and on and on and on...
Listening to the commentary was interesing - double bed! What would that be for then? Surely no fraternizing with the opposite sex allowed? Positively encouraged by the sound of it.
My first stroke of luck in the RAF was to be one of the very first 'inmates' in Gibson Block at RAF Swinderby. Whilst lesser mortals in the old blocks had to buff the lino with old fashioned 'bumpers', we had carpets and brand new Hoover vacuum cleaners! We still had to make bed packs though!!
Things were improving into the 80's, but varied a lot even in the differing Sgt's messes around the western world.
calypsos wrote:My first stroke of luck in the RAF was to be one of the very first 'inmates' in Gibson Block at RAF Swinderby. Whilst lesser mortals in the old blocks had to buff the lino with old fashioned 'bumpers', we had carpets and brand new Hoover vacuum cleaners! We still had to make bed packs though!!
Things were improving into the 80's, but varied a lot even in the differing Sgt's messes around the western world.
IIRC the carpets had gone by 1979 WIWT...ah, bed packs...and Monday night 'bull' ready for Tuesday Inspection,
Senior Flight on night patrol...I didn't get a full carpet on the floor of my 'singly' accomodation until I made NCO
ttfn
Pete
An Elephant is a Mouse designed to
a government specification.
remember, the RAF show you the BEST accomodation. There are only a couple of camps with that standard, most, like Leuchars still have the old H blocks etc.
One time I had to travel to a number of stations delivering parts and eventually ended up at RAF Hendon (I think) to stop overnight before continuing on, it was middle of winter and very cold. I was duly given my bedding at the guardroom and told to go to the transit accomodation.....a lovely world war two wooden hut!!! on entering there were a number of iron beds and a stove in the middle of the hut to keep it warm. On settling down for the night one other airman advised me to put as much cover over me, during the night I found out why, the stove had gone out and their was no more coal in the bucket frost everywhere outside and ice on the windows on the inside!!.....boy, was I pleased to leave the next day. How times have changed.
I wonder if the Eagle Squadron still exists and is looking for any 48 year old recruits? 
.. you were lucky!
