Pen Portraits: what happened next
Pen portraits of post-graduation life, as submitted to the 69th Association newsletter over the period 1994 - 2011
Barrie Curtis, former Engine Fitter to Her Majesty
On leaving Halton, I was exiled to Pembrey in South Wales where to my amazement became a Corporal quite quickly. Flushed with enthusiasm I studied at Swansea and obtained C Eng. Worked on Hunters, Vampires and Balliols (at Coleme). Applied for a Technical Commission, but after a spat with the Wing Co Tech applied for the Chiltern Hundreds instead, September 1957.
After spells at BP and Hawker Aircraft Co., became a Service Development Engineer on Spey and Adour engines, etc. at Rolls Royce, which meant quite a lot of travelling. Joined RR aero club flying Austers. Obtained Flight Engineers and C gas turbine licenses. Made redundant when RR failed in 1971 and then found myself contemplating an excellent summer at Hassi Nlessaoud in the Sahara desert as a gas turbine adviser.
That was the start of the wandering life, mostly in the oil and gas industries. Spells in Saudi Arabia 1972-73 (Dharan and Abqaiq), Canada 1974 (St John), Norway 1975 (Mongstac), Saudi Arabia 1975 (Abciaici), Abu Dhabi 1976, Togo 1976-77, The Hague 1977; South Africa 1978-80 (Secunda, near Johannesburg), S. Arabia 1980-81 (where coming out of a cinema one evening in Jubail I found myself facing Ian McPherson), Athens 1982:82 with many side trips to S. Arabia (Rabigh), Kuwait 1982-83, S. Arabia 1983-84 (Hail), Kuwait 1984-85, Abu Dhabi and Das Island 1985-86, Syria 1986 (Damascus), Abu Dhabu 1986-87 Iraq 1988-89 (Basrah) where my part in Saddam's downfall was to pee on the wheels of his sidekick one night.
Since then have stayed in England eeking a living in the precarious business of contact. engineering which included a period on one of Shell's platforms halfway between Norway and the Shetlands. Became frantically interested in all racquet games (doubles tennis champion Jubail, S. Arabia - OK so its not Wimbledon!), played squash and badminton all hours in the Middle East. Now due to back trouble, cycling, eating and computers are the most energetic activities. Hoping soon to resume flying in the USA.
With a mug like mine, turned down more times than a bed sheet so never managed to get married.
Now it can be told! Yes, it was me who introduced the elderly fish to the rear of Sgt. Brice's filing cabinet!
- RAF Halton and the Brats
- The Aircraft Apprentices Scheme
- Clubs, Societies and Sports at Halton
- RAF Halton's goats
- Tributes to Halton and the Brats
- The 69th and the Apprentices Network, 1951
- The Presentation of the Queen's Colour, 1952
- Summer Camp, RAF Formby, 1953
- The 69th and the Queen's Coronation, 1953
- The 69th's Graduation Review, 1954
- The Senior Entry - a graduate's letter, 1954
- A full list of 69th Graduates
- Halton days: stories from the 69th
- The 69th's Burmese Brats
- The 69th's commemorative window
- 69th Entry Reunions