98th Entry Halton Apprentices

For all of you ex 98er’s who are seniors - for all of you who know seniors - and for all of you who will be seniors one day (that’s me!) the following confused state, may, now ocassionally occur:

When calling the newsagent, the irate senior demanded loudly. “WHERE is my SUNDAY paper? ”
“Sir”, said the shop [...]

Have you ever wondered what they wrote about you when you were at Halton? You may recall that as part of our investigations to identify and trace ex apprentices from the Entry we cross check information held at Halton. The Educational  Training Record above is one such example we used to learn of the death [...]

Following a prompt from Bill Bailey I have, today, been enquiring how the hotel bookings are progressing. To my surprise, 3 names have booked in to the Holiday Inn who were not on my list. I am not complaining, indeed it was a delight to see more 98er’s coming to the Entry bash. Phil (Ginge) Beere, Keith Slater [...]

Another memorable photo sent in by Frank Duncan showing him as a fine upstanding ’snag’ doing his stuff near the Cenotaph in 1963. Am unable to recognise any of the others nearby.

1961
One of my lasting memories is the wretched barbers.  I still believe they were trained by a failed sheep farmer.  No matter what you asked for you ended up with just a turf on top of your head.  There was Flo’, Fag ash Lill -who always had a burning cigarette in her mouth and one guy.  Their [...]

Two more snaps from Frank Duncan. Above in best blues are Andy Folliard, Johnny Krause and Rob Flemmich.

Rob Flemmich and Jim Firstbrook by Tower Bridge

Tae a Fert (Tae be uttered in yer best Scottish accent)

Oh what a sleekit, horrible beastie lurks in yer stomach efter a feastie. Just as ye sit doon among yer kin, there sterts tae stir an enormous wind.

The neeps an’ tatties an’ mushy peas stert workin like a gentle breeze. But soon the puddin’ [...]

I must call the hotel
Secure my room for the ‘bash’
I must call the hotel
Pay on departure, with card or cash  
I must call the hotel
It’s the mega event of the year
I must call the hotel
What did you say to me dear?
I said “we must call the hotel”
A reunion or something is planned
98er’s are getting together
Are they? Well I’ll [...]

I thought you may be interested in this photo of the Airframes class in workshops during the welding phase. I can recognise Eric Walker, Keith Slater, Geoff Ventress    - - - Fred Rajendra   - - -     - - -  Sam Ezekiel, Dave Thom, Geoff Yalland  - - - Not sure of the blanks.
The instructor was [...]

On my first posting to Coningsby and later when we transferred to Cottesmore I was still very much a motorcycle fanatic and with another ex-98th Apprentice in the shape of Paddy O’Leary, joined the British Formula Racing Club based on the BSA 125 engine (the old Post Office Bikes) and spent weekends racing various tracks [...]