Hi, I'm Keith Simmonds, an ex-RAF Old Fogey from many years ago.
I joined as a 16 yo Boy Entrant u/t Ground Wireless Mech at Cosford in '59. Training there lasted until April 61 when I was posted to:-
RAF (as it was then) Boscombe Down. Actually stationed at the transmitter site close to Bulford village.
In early 62, posted to RAF Bishops Court, Northern Ireland. Had a wonderful time there, lots of pretty girls and dances to go and meet them.
In October of 62, I had the misfortune to be posted to RAF Kai Tak in Hong Kong for 2.5 years. I was a 19 yo virgin when posted there, and 22 when I came back to UK. You poor guys don't get many overseas postings, and certainly not as good as HK, I feel sorry for you. I was working at the top of Tai Mo Shan mountain in the New Territories, but living at Kai Tak.
In 65 I came back to RAF (as it was then) Topcliffe in Yorkshire, for 2 years before going to:-
RAF Locking in 67 to do my fitters course there. A great place to be in summertime, lots of girls on holidays to meet and dance with. After leaving a a Ground Wireless fitter, I was posted to:-
RAF Tangmere, West Sussex in '68. Met and got engaged to my (now) wife, before being posted to:-
Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, late in 69. Fairly good time there working at the Joint Comm Centre at HMS Jufair, before returning to the UK in 70 to get married and posted to:-
RAF Cranwell my final posting in the RAF before leaving in 73.
Largely enjoyed my time in the RAF, but looking ahead I saw myself as a pi***d off Chiefy doing a desk job, so I left and joined GCHQ initially at Cheadle, Staffs, then here at Cheltenham in 77. A very good career move, mostly loved my time there and found it technically stretching.
In 95, many were offered an incredible deal to leave early on pension, so I grabbed it and ran. I was asked to return a year later, so had to form my own company to do so. I worked for another 10 years there before retiring again in '06.
Then I was asked to go and work for a small electronics/comms firm nearby, where I've been working part-time for some 6 years now. Rapidly approaching 73, I really feel I should retire sometime soon.
I joined as a 16 yo Boy Entrant u/t Ground Wireless Mech at Cosford in '59. Training there lasted until April 61 when I was posted to:-
RAF (as it was then) Boscombe Down. Actually stationed at the transmitter site close to Bulford village.
In early 62, posted to RAF Bishops Court, Northern Ireland. Had a wonderful time there, lots of pretty girls and dances to go and meet them.
In October of 62, I had the misfortune to be posted to RAF Kai Tak in Hong Kong for 2.5 years. I was a 19 yo virgin when posted there, and 22 when I came back to UK. You poor guys don't get many overseas postings, and certainly not as good as HK, I feel sorry for you. I was working at the top of Tai Mo Shan mountain in the New Territories, but living at Kai Tak.
In 65 I came back to RAF (as it was then) Topcliffe in Yorkshire, for 2 years before going to:-
RAF Locking in 67 to do my fitters course there. A great place to be in summertime, lots of girls on holidays to meet and dance with. After leaving a a Ground Wireless fitter, I was posted to:-
RAF Tangmere, West Sussex in '68. Met and got engaged to my (now) wife, before being posted to:-
Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, late in 69. Fairly good time there working at the Joint Comm Centre at HMS Jufair, before returning to the UK in 70 to get married and posted to:-
RAF Cranwell my final posting in the RAF before leaving in 73.
Largely enjoyed my time in the RAF, but looking ahead I saw myself as a pi***d off Chiefy doing a desk job, so I left and joined GCHQ initially at Cheadle, Staffs, then here at Cheltenham in 77. A very good career move, mostly loved my time there and found it technically stretching.
In 95, many were offered an incredible deal to leave early on pension, so I grabbed it and ran. I was asked to return a year later, so had to form my own company to do so. I worked for another 10 years there before retiring again in '06.
Then I was asked to go and work for a small electronics/comms firm nearby, where I've been working part-time for some 6 years now. Rapidly approaching 73, I really feel I should retire sometime soon.
