My Time At RAF Thornaby

A Memory of Thornaby-on-Tees.

I was stationed at RAF Thornaby from March 1954 until early 1957 when I was promoted and posted to RAF North Luffenhan in Rutland in preparation for the Suez campaign, which never came to be. Sadly, that air base is now occupied by the Royal Artillery, who have shelled the blazes out of the airfield. I was an armourer, I worked with Corporal Mick Arnold and Flight Sergeant Walker. My best mate was national serviceman Junior Technician Alistar Gilmour a native of Helensburgh, Dumbarton. On demob he joined the Dumbartom Police, but left after a couple of years. He went back to his old job of engineering; got a degree and ended up as chief design engineer for BEA at AYR. I found the local people to be kind and friendly, I remember the Odd Fellows Arms ('The Odd Bods') just outside the camp gates where we enjoyed many good nights, with the weekly 'Ram Sammy's, when the local talent entertained the customers. I remember the cookhouse, there was a period when the food went seriously downhill, until the staff found that they had been trying to manage on a too low budget. The resulting surplus was re-imbursed and we all ate like kings for a long time. I haven't visited Thornaby since 1957.

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