End of Course - requested to go to Aberdeen. Partly because my last post as a Cadet was to a hole 100 feet below ground at RAF Buchanan- Highland Radar . They were about to expand & I was afraid that was where I would be posted - No thanks !

As I was in the area, I had a look at Aberdeen. I was quite taken with it; they were about to get radar, it was a very busy station, the average age was 26, it was challenging. If I could do the job there, I could do it anywhere. I didn’t want to go to Area.

It was an excellent choice. I enjoyed it immensely & there were some exceptional controllers there. Additionally, Sue had close relatives in the Elgin area. I did two years there & it set me up for life.

Jersey.
Sue & I are both from Guernsey & , eventually, we wanted to go back to the Channel Islands - admittedly, not this soon; but the opportunity came up of a job in Jersey. I didn’t really want to work in Guernsey - too quiet, so I took it. Very good decision, as it was basically all three ATC disciplines rolled into one - TMA & APP & TWR. Plus, Jersey was staffed for summer traffic, & even within that, it was staffed for weekend peak traffic. Add to that no real night duties & operational hours 0730 - 2130 & plenty of EGs & gash days off during the weekdays - even in the summer- it was basically a doddle. One week in winter I actually was only on operational duty for nine & a half hours !

Graham can substantiate what I say; he joined with me, but left within 2 years for pastures new. So did Dave Woodnutt.
Probably the best decision of my life ; a relaxing life style, busy when you needed it & relaxed most of the time. Add to that the beach & proximity to France - what’s not to like ?

Eventually got to Watch Manager & Deputy SATCO. Also , took on the role of staff representative (union). Kept up my flying & eventually had a share in a Piper PA12 Super Cruiser - basically a Cub. Made it my mission to visit as many airfields in France as I could. I got to 98. Stopped flying in 2008 - the PA12 was becoming something of a money pit !

Used UKATTS extensively - particularly to USA & visited 39 of the States. Elsewhere, spent many holidays in France - usually the west coast. Also discovered the Seychelles - have visited 10 times; although Donald Trump has just put paid to our latest visit! Never bumped into Maurice (Lousteau Lalanne) though. Having said that, he did phone us the first time we were in Praslin, but we were out. He became MD of Air Seychelles & was instrumental with UKATTS getting concessions, I believe. He then became a member of the Government. Last I heard , he was serving a prison sentence for corruption !

Retired in 2007. Got a job at Coventry ATC. Only lasted a year because of a medical issue. Basically, I had been diagnosed Type 2 diabetic & the CAA wanted me to have an angiogram due to issues with my ECG. I didn’t fancy it, So I packed it in. Eventually, I had a mild heart attack in 2021. Experienced the delights of the NHS at first hand - Never underestimate the NHS; it is brilliant. We don’t have it over here , if you didn’t have it, you would soon regret it - for all its faults !

We had bought a luxury apartment on retiring from Jersey ATC & I needed an extra income to pay off the mortgage; hence the job in Coventry. So, when I gave that up, I got a part time job in the Jersey Magistrate’s Court. A real eye opener - what a sheltered life we had led !

Finally retired in 2014. “Working” in Jersey ATC had been ideal preparation for retirement !
Had 2 children , Lauren , born in Aberdeen, who is the financial controller at one of our secondary schools & has 3 children - all little darlings ! & Nicholas, who is a Senior First Officer on the A380 with BAW - beats working , any day ! He hasn’t married, but has a long term relationship with a girl who is a cabin manager on the B777. No children.

That is probably more than you all wanted to hear - probably written too much !

See you all in Bournemouth/Christchurch.No information provided