A New Uniform,A New Haircut.

Date: 7th May 1971

After the chaos yesterday, we were abruptly woken at 6.30am this morning by a bugle playing over the tannoy, and Cpl Jones coming in kicking everybody out of bed. "Hands of cocks, on with socks," he bawled. " Everybody washed and shaved and outside by quarter to."

We were all lined up and marched off to the mess for breakfast. Not a bad spread. Sausage,bacon and greasy fried eggs with toast or cereals and porridge that would look better between some bricks.

After breakfast we were marched back to the barracks for instruction on the fine art of constructing a blanket block(bed box). Cpl Jones showed us how to do one and expected us all to be experts at it. He gave us 15mins to do our own, then he was going to inspect them. It basically means folding your sheets and all but one blanket to the same size and then wrapping the whole with the remaining blanket. The shape should resemble a box. I did mine alright but a couple of the lads were in a right state, so the rest of us helped them out. The Cpl came and took a look at our efforts and was'nt too pleased but told us that we would get better because we had to do one every day before breakfast in future, and also to lay our kit out on the bed.

As we did'nt have any kit yet, I wondered how this was going to be accomplished but I did'nt have to worry because within minutes we were marching off to stores to pick some up. When we got there it was like a production line. There was a long counter and you started at one end empty and finished at the other full. Heaven help you if you did'nt know what size, shoe, hat, waist, inside leg etc you were because the storeman would just eye you up and say, "36inch chest, sign here, next." as he thrust a couple of tunics at you. By the time I got to the end, I could hardly carry the stuff, there was so much. Thankfully, we each got a holdall and most of the stuff went in that.

Back at the block, we had half an hour to get into our new uniforms. Battle-dress tunics and trousers, shirt,tie and beret and black shoes. The shirts had seperate collars, so that was a lot of fun, messing about with collar studs. Back outside and lined up for the Cpl to check us out. One or two of the lads uniform did'nt fit, so they had to double to the stores to change it. When everybody was ready we were marched of to the Station barbers. It cost 30pence for a haircut. Now my hair was pretty short anyway but some of the lads with long hair were nearly crying when they came out.

After that it was pay-parade. We had to march in, salute the officer, say our name and number and then sign for the cash. Another salute, about turn and march out. I received £11.75. Not bad.

It was lunch time then. I had roast beef withall the trimmings and sponge pudding for afters. Who said forces food was rubbish?

After lunch we did some drill on the parade square. Left,right,left,right,abaaaarrrrt tun. Then it was back to the barracks to spit and polish our kit, the room and block ready for evening inspection.

I'm enjoying it so far. That might not last.

A New Recruit

Date: 6th MAY 1971

What a day today has been. I set off from the train station at 10am this morning. My Mum and Dad and sister saw me off. My Dad still thinks I won't like the forces and will be back home in a few weeks. I'll show him.

Some of the lads who were at the CIO on Tuesday were on the train, so I joined them. We got on quite well and soon got to know each others names. There was Simmo, who was going to be a bandsman, Stuart , who wanted to be an airframe fitter and Mick was going to be a cook.

It wasn't long before we pulled into Newark station were we all got off. I was surprised to see a lot more blokes heading towards the exit, who looked like they were joining too.
In the courtyard outside was an RAF bus and a rather stern looking CPL.

"Anyone for Swinderby on the bus, Pronto." he was bawling. We all piled on and about 20mins later we were going through the gates of RAF Recruit training station Swinderby. We were herded into a large building called "Reception Centre." and into a large room, a bit like a lecture theatre. An officer then welcomed us to Swinderby and went through a list of do and dont's and then he handed over to a Sergeant. He called out our names for roll call and told us which flights we would be in. I was in "B" flight. There were 20 recruits to each flight. A,B and C. After that, we had to line up outside in our flights were we got introduced to our corporal. Ours was called Cpl Jones.
We were marched to our barracks were we had to find a bunk and unpack. Cpl Jones gave us 10 mins to do this before he came in bawling at us to line up outside. We were marched to the mess were we had a meal and then marched back to the barracks. Cpl Jones then set us the task of cleaning our dorm up ready for first inspection at 8 pm. We did our best but it wasn't up to scratch when he inspected it so we had to get it right by 9pm because lights out was at 9.15. The room was better at 9 but according to Cpl Jones was still a shitheap and we'll all have to do better tomorrow.

Reveille at 6.30am.

More later.

Attestation Day

Date: 4th MAY 1971

Today I joined the RAF.

I had to go over to Leeds to swear allegiance to Queen and country at the Careers information office.
When I got there, I was directed to what looked like a doctors waiting room, plastic chairs and low tables with magazines on them. There were about ten other chaps waiting as well. After a while a Sergeant came and took our names and marked them off on a clipboard he was holding. He then said, " If any of you are having second thoughts about joining, now is the time to scarper. I promise you I won't chase you, but once you've signed up, I will." Nobody moved. He then asked us to follow him into another room about as big as a classroom. On the far wall was a board with the words to the oath of allegiance on it. Next to the board was a Sqn Leader. He welcomed us and told us that what we were about to do next was a very serious and binding part of the attestation process. We then had to put our right hand over our heart and recite the oath. " I promise to bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second....etc," I can't remember the rest. After that we had a lot of forms to sign. And that was it. I was AC Fred Fox Service no-A8793625. I was issued with a temporary ID card, £3 (to be docked of my first weeks wage) and a rail warrant to Newark. I have to be there for 1pm on Thursday.

That day will mark the first day of my career in the armed forces.

At last!

Date- 22nd APRIL 1971

At last my call up papers have arrived, and I can't say not soon enough. I have got to go to Leeds to say the oath on the 4th May and then I travel to RAF Swinderby two days later to begin recruit training.

My mum says she'll be glad to get me out from under her feet. I must admit , I haven't done much these last few weeks since I left work, except mooch around the house. All my mates are working during the day and are too knackered to muck around at night . I haven't even been able to afford to go to the football on Saturdays. Mind you, it's a bit expensive, £2 to get in. They aren't doing all that well in the first division anyway. Always be a second division team will HTAFC.

Let you know how I get on.

The Sack

Date:24th MAR1971

My boss found out I was joining the RAF yesterday, and has given me a weeks notice. A bit of a bugger that, because I still haven't heard anything from the RAF. I'm glad really, because I was getting a bit fed up of this job. I was training to be a photo-mechanical engineer for the local paper., making half tone plates for the printers, but in practise, all I do is make tea and sweep up.

I hope I get my call up papers soon, but the guy in the CIO said that with this postal strike going on it could be weeks yet.

I'll keep you posted.

Jaguar of 2 (AC) Sqn 

The Medical

Date: 3rd MAR 1971

I went for my medical today and it was a bit of a farce. Fortunately my appointment was after I'd finished work, so I didn't get into trouble with my boss like last week. The B*****d made me work Saturday, just cos I had the Tues off to go to my interview. Anyway back to the medical. It was a local GP's surgery, not my own, and it took me ages to find it, but I got there just in time. I had to wait 20 minutes before I was called in.

I was expecting the Doctor to do all sorts of tests, but all he did was listen to my chest, bang me on the knee with a rubber hammer and make me walk up and down the surgery a couple of times before pronouncing me A1 and fit to join the Air Force. I felt a bit cheated, but never mind, at least I passed. One more hurdle completed. Just have to wait for my call-up papers now.

Won't be long before I'm in.