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.