The Passing Out
Review The passing out parade of the 303rd Entry of Craft Apprentices
took place on Tuesday 26th April, 1966. The Reviewing Officer was
Air Vice-Marshall E. M.T. Howell, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., Senior Air
Staff Officer Technical Training Command. He was accompanied by
Air Vice-Marshall B. Robinson, C.B.E., Air Officer Commanding No.
24 Group and Group Captain H. Durkin, M.A., Commandant No 2 School
of Technical Training. The review consisted of an inspection by
the Reviewing Officer followed by ceremonial drill and march past
with the Craft Apprentices Band in support.
The parade was entirely under the command of the
following apprentices:-
Parade
Commander |
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Sgt.App.
Patterson, A. |
Parade
Adjutant |
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Cpl.App.
Shatford, W. F. |
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No
1 Squadron Commander |
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Cpl.App.
Robinson, L. |
No
1 Flight Commander |
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L.App.
Farquharson, I. R.W |
No
2 Flight Commander |
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L.App.
Morris, R. |
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No
2 Squadron Commander |
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Cpl.App.
McGrath, W.J. |
No
1 Flight Commander |
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Cpl.App.
Scott, A.G. |
No
2 Flight Commander |
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L.App.
Burgess, K.J. |
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No
3 Squadron Commander |
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App.Rudge,
I.D. |
No
1 Flight Commander |
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App.Wright,
N.L. |
No
2 Flight Commander |
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App.McClelland,
P. |
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Drum
Major |
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L.App.
Linstead, G. |
Trumpet
Major |
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L.App.
Jacobs, C.A |
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Standard
Bearers |
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App.
Newbold, J. |
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App.Thomas,
D.A. |
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School
Appointments |
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Head
Boy of the School |
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Sgt.App.
Patterson, A. |
Deputy
Head Boy of the School |
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Cpl.App.
Shatford, W. F. |
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Prizewinners |
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Awarded
the Victor Groom Ceremonial Stick |
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Sgt.App.
Patterson, A |
First
in Order of Merit |
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App.Hart,
D. |
First
Telegraphist |
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App.Hart,
D. |
First
Photographer |
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App.Luck,
R. G. |
First
in Education |
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App.Hart,
D. |
First
in General Service Training |
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Cpl.App.
Shatford, W. F. |
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Distinguished
Passes |
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Distinguished
Passes are awarded to those Apprentices obtaining:- |
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a.
80% in Part I and, |
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b.
80% in Part II and, |
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c.
An overall S.A.C. pass in the examination. |
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Distinguished
Passes are awarded to the following Apprentices:- |
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Telegraphist |
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Photographer |
653
App. D. Hart. |
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637
App. R. G. Luck. |
660
App. D. R. Mace. |
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684
L./App. A Renshaw. |
672
App. T. P. Robertson. |
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683
App. R. H. Spink. |
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678
App. A. Williams |
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No.
303 Entry Notes |
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No.
303 Entry consisted of boys under training in the
trades of Photographers and Telegraphists. It was
formed in May, 1965. The Entry was the first in the
recent history of Cosford to complete the course of
training with all the original intake passing out.
They had the benefit of the experience gained with
the two previous craft apprentice entries, and
seized their opportunities to show what a good entry
they were. They were the first entry of craft
apprentices to spend their summer camp in September
in Wales. Frosty mornings alternated with torrential
downpours and added to the rigours of camp life.
There was plenty of scope for initiative in such
activities as canoeing, bridgebuilding and
mountain-rescue and most of the entry qualified for
the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Silver Standard) during
their two day cross country treck. Although there
were no really outstanding sportsman amongst the
303rd Entry they had 53 representatives in 13
station sporting activities. |
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The
following apprentices represented Junior R.A.F.
Teams:- |
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Athletics |
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Apps.
Robinson and Williams |
Shooting |
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Apps.
Cadwallader, Morris, Atkins and McDonagh |
Rugby |
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App.
Reece |
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The
following apprentices have been awarded their
School Colours for sport:- |
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Athletics |
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Cpl.App.
Robinson |
Rugby |
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Cpl.App.
Robinson and Apps. Reece, Hart, Lydon and Anstis. |
Swimming |
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Cpl.App.
Robinson App. Rampton |
Table
Tennis |
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Apps.
Atha, Jones(357) and Williams(639). |
Hockey |
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Cpl.App.
Shatford, Apps. Mutch and Lydon. |
Soccer |
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Apps.
Clegg and Johnson. |
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They
were, of course, the first entry of apprentices to
be assisted in their passing out parade by Ben the
newly joined Squadron Mascot. The 303rd Entry in
the years to come will be able to look back with
pride at their Cosford days and know that they did
more than was asked of them. |
Reviewing
Officer’s Address to the 303rd Entry
Air Vice Marshal E. M. T. Howell, C.B.E. welcomed
parents, thanked them for their interest and support and
congratulated the 303rd Entry on a fine parade. In a
reference to the new mascot, he recommended that Ben
should be taken on strength as an Apprentice. The Air
Vice-Marshall went on to stress the importance of hobbies,
sports and social activities as a means of character
building, and urged the Apprentices to avoid boredom and
idleness by taking part in voluntary activities. The
trades of photographer and telegraphists are important
links in providing information and communication. The
Reviewing Officer hoped that the 303rd Entry would
continue to pass trade and education examinations in the
future in order to prepare for promotion. He concluded by
saying that it was not easy for him as an armament officer
to forget the Entry because, to him, 303 meant "good
calibre"
The
Daily Mirror 27th April 1966 |
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BEN
THE MASCOT IS SO BORED BY THE BIG PARADE |
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©The
Daily Mirror
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Every rookie knows
the feeling. There
is so much standing around to do that even the
biggest parade can be a bore. And what recruit has
not longed for a spot of shut-eye while the
reviewing officer is making his rounds? There is not
much you can do about it when you are an R.A.F.
apprentice. But if you are the mascot, anything goes
- even sleeping on parade. And that is just what
Ben, Pyrenean Mountain dog mascot of the
Apprentices’ Squadron at R.A.F. Cosford,
Shropshire, did on Tuesday (26-4-66). The occasion
was a passing-out review for boys of No.2 School of
Technical Training. Ben enjoyed leading out the
band.Who wouldn’t? But when the reviewing officer,
Air Vice-Marshal E.M.T. Howell, started inspecting
the parade, Ben soon got tired of just standing
around doing nothing. First he yawned - and a real
jaw-cracker it was. Then he sat down in the middle
of the parade ground. Finally, he shut his eyes and
dozed until the boring part was all over. Ben’s
handler, Apprentice Howard Barnes, had nothing but
praise for him after the parade. "I was very
proud of Ben" he said. "The band didn’t
get him excited - he was great." And that spot
of unmilitary shut-eye? Well, it was supposed to be
a passing-out parade, after all.
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©The
Daily Mirror |
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