40 Years ago!! Part 1: Leaving Dusseldorf – John Jackett

Please feel free to contact me if there are any errors or omissions….. this is how I remember it all, it is after all 40 years ago!!

Easter 1980, Mick Kimberley and I shared a farewell `do` in the WOs and Sgts mess at Duss, so the staffing estimate of 3 PC Regt RE around Easter time of 1980 @ Dusseldorf:

CO – Len Calcutt

2 i/c – OC Depot / 30 something Sqn)  – Andy Murray (Feb 80) / Peter Linney

Other Officers – Don Bramley, Laurie Watkins, John Connelly

RSM – Bob Davidson

WO 1s Tech – Lenny Perkins, Pete Golightly, ??

HQ Sqn (30 or something??) – Alec Wilson, Dave Gladwin, Stu Cambridge, Dave Blane, Graham Warden,

Mick Buckley, Jack Kennington, Mick Kimberley, Norman Joy, Brian

(Andy) Anderson, [Some may have already left?]

Depot Sqn (30 or something) –

Don Scott [left in 78], Pat Elliott, Gerry Maguire (newly promoted from Brunsum), Mick Pickard, Graham Stewart, Terry East, Alf Fensome, Jim Brady, Terry Hughes, Lofty Brooks, Paddy Vance, Bill  Winfield, Jimmy Craig, Johnny Fee, Geoff Salmon, Lou Lister, Nigel Dickens, Geoff Baker, John (Tommy) Sands, Alf Manship,  Bob Short, `Eck Horsborough, Alan Monks, Jim Davidson, Gary Pearson. `Taff Lockwood, Don Lomax, Terry Hart, Frank Gray,

Amongst the WRAC, some names taken from my leaving card – were:  Cheryl Cannon and Scouse, Sharon, `Midge aka Michelle Francis, Sandy O, Mabs, Lynda Bunce, Jan Fairgrieve (?), Mary Ruttel (?), Ruth, Ann Sampson, Debbie Lake.

[ Maybe left already? ] : Di Waddington, Sue Battison,

Some civilian names – 40 years later very sadly I am unable to read all of them from my card: Yanis, Fr Jausen (?), Unina Haggart (?),

More names listed on F/B –  from Nov 1980, whether they overlapped with Easter of 1980, perhaps someone could clarify – these names have been suggested:  Jimmy Welfare, Johnny Wheeler, Simon Hazell, Scouse Billington, Lonny Lonnergen, Chris Clark, Bernie Breen, Spike Martin, Liz Stewart, Heather Crawford, Kim Higgingbottom,

(there must have been many others – 18 early morning courier departures, 3 x nightly TRS runs, daily staff required at Depot end = 83 persons.   Once again my apologies for the name lapses)

Accounts                                             – Tom O`Grady, Fred Wright, ????

Mails Branch                                       – Norman Harman [ left in 79], Ray Gaffey, Douggie Kerr,  Civvy net: Sandra                                                                              Archibald, Hilde Taylor, Faz Huck &  Walter ?

ERS Sqn (30 or something)              – Nick Wand, Me – replaced by Joe Kelly, FPO Lohausen staff:??

MT at Scotton Barracks                     – Andy Quinn, Dick Inkpen, Clive Billings & David Scott (REME),                                                                                                 Geordie Lachs, ????

Photos of that time that may jog a memory – or two :

I was stationed in Duss – Jan 1977 up to Easter 1980

Full details – as researched by Lou Lister, myself and many others, are on the PCS F/book sites under “Files” and also on the PCS website.

1978 – Regimental dinner night –

Me, Jack Griffiths, Ray Gaffey, Stu Macfarlane.  Seated: Maureen Griffiths, Marj, Moira Macfarlane, Tommy O`Grady, Norah Gaffey, Norman Harman and Sue on the end, Renate O`Grady between them.

1977/78 Footy team – Allegedly:  Danny McKeown, David Scott, Norman Harman, Mac Maccoll, Eck Horsburgh, Dougie Swanson, John Norton, Clive Billings, Dougie Kerr, Geordie Lachs, Ray Gaffey, Alan Monks, Jimmy Grant, Trevor Lindley.    Taken at Mill Hill around 77-78.

1978 – Unit Bar-b-que at Scotton Bcks –

The Quinn family on both photos plus: Tom O`Grady and son Simon, with Cheryl Cannon amongst those at the rear, my wife between mother and daughter.

I have several “group” photos – I am unable to find three, in particular:   Food queue, Darts, volleyball teams.Volleyball photo is mine – Scott and his mum Maureen Griffiths, Norman Harman and family, Stu Macfarlane with his back to camera.   Courtesy of Dave Blane: Dave Gladwin / Alec Wilson (not McDonald) and families.

(1979) Dustbin lid: Barbara & Dick Inkpen, with Marj between them, Pete & Sandie Golightly, Maureen & Jack Griffiths (leaving do), Graham & Rita Warden, with me at the front.

Don Bramley had established a caravan for holidays in the South of France, Dick & Barbara Inkpen used to check it out before / after lettings in the early days, by 1979 we had to book through an agency.

Where the road to St Tropez turned off the local road was a 3 lane roundabout, our first week – that was a nightmare, the 2nd week locals had gone elsewhere and it was a doddle!!   Siesta-time in France is rigidly abided by, we arrived for a day in St Tropez around late morning, not much opened until mid afternoon.  Boats everywhere – on a VERY grand scale!!

1 May 1979     Re-designation from `8 Command to 3 PC Regt RE Cpl Don Lomax was the flag bearer.

Sunday Oct 1, 1979: “several” Landrovers went to Paris for a weekend march, I was interviewed why we had been away nearly a week ………. ” We all had a great time – thank you, Sir!! ”

Up the Eifel Tower went – Jack, Dick and me.

John Jackett, Geordie Lachs (Kepi – MT driver), Steve Wade, Benny Hannon, Jack Kennington, John Connoly, Dick Inkpen, & Tommy Sands.

Front? David Scott (REME), Nigel (Budgie) Dickens and Jonny (pick up the log) Fee.

1980 – Mick Kimberley and I hosted joint farewell evening: Bob Davidson & Mick, Jim Brady, Lenny Perkins and Faz Huck – with their ladies, as marked on each photo below  –

Meanwhile, at the bar: Bob Davidson (PCS RSM) Rhine Area RSM, Mick, Len Cook (RE long service), terry Hughes, Mick Buckley and Graham Stewart.

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