RAF Haydock

[cocker]

I was stationed at RAF Haydock from 1959-1961. The head count at that time was approximately 200. More than half were women. During my time  at Haydock there were two St helens rugby players doing national service. The first was Alex Murphy, who later became a commentator for the BBC. The second was Austin Rhodes and as far as I know both lived in St Helens. When they were playing on saturdays but were expected to do duties, such as fire picket, I would stand in for them for the grand sum of ten shillings that is fifty pence in new money.

The living quarters for all single men and women were in two blocks opposite the entrance to the business part of the camp. The station commander had the rank of Squadron Leader and lived in a house further down Haydock lane.

There was a British Legion club down the bottom of Haydock Lane where the local bookies runner plied his trade, betting shops were illegal at this time.
I my minds eye I can still see the layout of the station. However, I dont have any photo's.

Hope you find this of interest

Cocker   

[JAMIEKLUTE]

Cocker,

Where did you work in the camp ?.

I was stationed there from April 61 and worked in the General Office.

I also stood in for Alex Murphy on fire picket duty. Good money in them days !.

Please reply.

Cheers

Jimbo

[cocker]

jimbo,

nice to hear from you.

I worked in the SWO's office as best I can remember his name was mc garvey and he was from liverpool. I was posted to Akrotiri cyprus in february 1961 therefore we would not have met. The only person I can remember who was probably still there when you arrived was a Cpl barnes in the fire section who was married to a girl from cyprus.

I went back to haydock about ten years ago to see what the place looked like now and even the slag heap had gone.

Regards cocker

   

[JAMIEKLUTE]

Cocker,

Thanks for rapid reply.

I was across the square from the SWOs office. Alex M used to work there when he wasn't playing rugby !.

Do you remember the big Sgt policeman (can't remember his name), well he died shortly after getting demobbed.

I had many a pint in the Legion down the lane.

I went to Rheindahlen after Haydock, but I did get to Episkopi in 1971.

Have been back to Cyprus on hols many times and am seriously thinking of retiring there, mind you, it has changed a lot, hundreds of ex pats living there and there's even a British Legion club in Limassol.

I am in the Orkney Islands, what about yourself ?.

Any, good to, talk, look forward to hearing from you again.

Cheers

Jimbo

[cocker]

hi jimbo,

Sorry I have no recollection of the sergeant mp. However, I do recall that in the time I was at haydock they started recruiting WAF'S from the local population
who were allowed to live at home and as far as I know would not be posted anywhere else.
Were you aware of this ? and do you know if the practice continued.
There was a corporal in the stores who's first name was Danny and he was Scottish, you might remember him.

After haydock I spent two and a half years at akrotiri. On return I was posted to 16 M.U Stafford for six months before demob in 1964.

I retired from the civil service in 2006 and frequently holiday in Cyprus.

If you know anything about the live at home WAF'S do let me know.

regards cocker

[JAMIEKLUTE]

Cocker,

Thanks for another rapid reply.

Do you remember a W.O. Nash ?. (I think that was his name). He was in charge of the stores. I can't remember any guy called Danny there.

You may remember a Cpl who worked in the SWOs office. He was a fairly small and thin guy, a very good snooker player as I recall, even though he was colour blind !.

About the local lasses who lived locally. Yes I remember them well. I actually courted one for a while. Her surname was Liptrop and she came from Ashton under Lyne?. A very pretty girl she was as well.

A few names you may remember: Gwen Nicholas (worked in General Office).
Gerry Scotland (worked with the SWO)

I actually did 15 years in the RAF in total. I was knocked off a motorbike in Germany, got 2 perforated eardrums and eventually was invalided out in 1976. Not too bad though, I got a half decent pension.

I have been back home in Orkney for 29 years now and manage a Shipping company. Am due for retirement next year and am looking forward to it.

Where are living in retirement now ?.

I'll close now but it's great talking with you, pleaselet me know if you remember any of the people mentioned.

Cheers

Jimbo

[cocker]

Once again Hi,

Can't say that any of the names ring a bell. However, the Cpl in the SWO'S
office was a short skinny chap with a very distinctive mustache I think his surname was Smidgey and he lived in Newton-le-willows.

I have lived in Swansea for the past thirty five years.

cocker

[JAMIEKLUTE]

Cocker,

Yes, that's the guy I recall. I used to play snooker with him a lot, he was a fairly good guy for somebody working with the SWO !.

A pity you don't remember any of the names I gave you, mind you after 47 years, it's little wonder !.

I eventually married one of the WRAFs I met at Haydock, unfortunately our marriage broke down 15 years later and I'm now married to a local girl for the past 25 years. I probably should never have married an English girl in the 1st place !.

We were last in Cyprus last year. We stayed in Limassol, but that town is getting more commercialised by the day. I see that the Turks are beginning to open up the north end of the island a fair bit. I think that they realise that, without the tourists, ther isn't much economic future for them.

The Paralimni area and Protoras area seem to be attracting a good few Brits these days. Paphos is very expensive, probably down to the tourists !.

I certainly intend to spend a few months each year somewhere in Cyprus when I retire. I will then be in a better position to decide whether or not we'd like to move over permanently. The weather certainly seems to have hotted up a lot since I was there with the RAF.

Any Cocker, once again it's great to talk with you, feel free to reply anytime.

Regards

Jimbo
F4269386 (never forget your nuber !)

[alexisian1]

Hi Greyhound!

Just found this site and since I was a WRAF at RAF Haydock from Feb 64- August 65 thought I might be able to answer some of your questions. 
Yes, there were local WRAFs at RAF Haydock.  In my time, I believe there were only 2 and both working in HQ in the Accounting Office with me.  One was from the Manchester area and the other from Liverpool.  At the time, there were additional MQ's in Fazakerley, on the outskirts of Liverpool and the Liverpool "local" WRAF  caught the RAF bus at Fazakerley MQ's with the married personnel. She later went on to Cranwell and became an officer.
RAF Haydock was (what we called) de-WRAFfed in summer 1965 in preparation, we believed for the ultimate closing of the camp. 
For anyone who was at RAF Haydock during the time I was there, do you remember:
Cpl Ken Dodds - Accounting
Flt Lt Symondson - Accounting
SACW Jacqui Hurley - Accounting
SACW Janet O'Dell - General Office
SACW Roisin Mullen - General Office
SACW Pam Smith - Telephonist
Cpl Andy (forget his last name) - Police
Sqn Ldr Pollock - our C.O.
and of course, last but not least Spud Murphy, our camp comedian.