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ken ashton
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Ray, we are not talking about the same guy,The John Whitehead to whom I refer was always a chockhead.We shared many hairy experiences both at Culdrose and on Victorious from where he went for pilot training. |
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Ray Brooker
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Johnny Whitehead was a Met man through and through - he was on the course before me at Culdrose. We both grew up together at HMS Ganges; in fact, we joined on the same day. He was never a chockhead, but the rest of what you say is quite right. He ended up as a Lt.Cdr. as did Spud Murphy, so I believe. Both were pilots of one sort or another, as far as I can remember. |
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ken ashton
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For Johnny Whitfield, yes Johnny the John Whitehead who is now the honorary president of the AHA was with us at Culdrose, he was a handler, and was drafted to Victorious with me in 1960, he eventually got a commission and flew fixed wing and choppers and retired as a two and a half ringer. |
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Johnny Whitfield
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Ken you seem to enjoy yourself with the Chockheads Association, which I am quite envious, since leaving the Service I have had very little contact with anyone until seeing you on this site. |
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ken ashton
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Went to the AHA reunion yesterday and saw a few faces I have not seen for 50 years, chockheads from Victorious like Mick Burrows, Nobby Bugg and Kipper Herring, names you may not know but they are all great lads.The most memorable part of the day was seeing my old pal Lofty Farthing, again for the first time in 50 years, not now the ramrod straight 6 feet 3 inches of old but still as equable and humerous of old. |
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ken ashton
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Tomorrow , Saturday I am going to an Aircraft Handlers Reunion in Coventry where I hope to see a number of the chaps from my days at Culdrose and on Victorious 1961/62. |
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Johnny Whitfield
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Looks like the input has come to a grinding halt. |
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Ray Brooker
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My worklife virtually ended when I started at British Gas, got into computers with a vengeance, and ended up doing 20 years on shifts in a gas control centre. Well paid, but so boring.....good job I travelled the world for 16 years in the RN - some of the blokes I worked with had never left Lancashire. |
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Johnny Whitfield
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Ken Thankyou for your post Met history, which I found most interesting, parts mirroring my own. I believe you have sent a copy to the Team, I hope it will be available for others to read. It is interesting to know what we did after the Met!! |
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ken ashton
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Ah yes! the boy Plackett, came under my wing at FWC just prior to me going outside.Went on to bigger and better things notwithstanding that he was originally an acolyte of Brian Clough. I remember the laughs we had when he swore that Derby County would win the First Division title, but how wrong we were to scoff as they did just that! |
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