About the Author

Jean was born in South Shields and is very proud to be a Geordie.

When she was two years old the family moved to Richmond in
Yorkshire, where her father was Borough Electrical Engineer.
She had a wonderful childhood and after passing the scholarship
she went to Richmond High School.
In 1943 she was selected to represent the children of Richmond in
a broadcast to America called Bridgebuilders.
In 1945 she went to Bingley to train as a teacher. After qualifying,
she taught in Darlington Catterick Camp, Richmond, before going
as a teacher with the RAF.
After marrying, she and Ken moved to St Annes-on-Sea. She
taught juniors until retiring in 1984, then enjoyed playing golf at
many of the magnificent courses in Lancashire.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate my book to the RAF personnel I met

during my tours, especially those in RAF Abyad, Egypt.
And also to my husband, friends at Old Links Golf Club, who
supported and encouraged me to write this book.

Copyright Jean Hood (2015)

The right of Jean Hood to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims
for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British
Library.

ISBN 978 1 78455 503 0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978 1 78455 505 4 (Hardback)

www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LB

Printed and bound in Great Britain

You are going abroad for a holiday.

I am going abroad but Im going to work.
The fortune teller looked at my palm then into my eyes,
Well it will seem like a holiday and she was right.
I never go to fortune tellers, I prefer to let life take its
course, but this was a special day as the cricket club were
trying to raise money. The fete had the usual attractions
including a lady from the nearby town who had the reputation
of being good at predicting the future. She was elderly and as
she sat there in her long black coat and old fashioned hat she
exuded an air of knowledge, so perhaps she knew something
and working abroad would be an enjoyable experience.
I had applied for a teaching job with the RAF teaching the
children of RAF personnel. I had an interview at Air Ministry
in London with two RAF officers. I had applied in the usual
way after reading an advert in Teachers World. I had
references from my past heads, the mayor of the town and
from an army colonel who was in the Education Corps.
One of my references was the manager of the local bank.
One lunch time when I arrived home my mother said the bank
manager wanted to see me immediately but she didnt know
why. I went to the bank and the lady behind the counter said I
had to go into Mr Thompsons office he was expecting me.
I went in; he looked at me and said I could go. I asked why
he wanted to see me and he said the Air Ministry had sent a
form for him to fill in and one of the questions was, When did
you last see the applicant?
I can now put today, he said.

As all my references were good it was up to me to perform

well at my interview. The Air Ministry had paid for my
accommodation and train fare so I went to London with a
friend and we halved the cost, we enjoyed shopping and a
show and I must have done well because I got the job.
Air Ministry again called me to London after my medical
to discuss conditions in Egypt and answer any queries I might
have, again it was at their expense so my friend and I enjoyed
another few days sampling the delights of the Capital.
I had my medical at RAF Catterick. I was examined by a
squadron leader who passed me fit for service abroad and
immediately gave me my first injections TABT for tetanus and
typhoid. Various other vaccinations were given at various
times until April 1953 when I was ready to leave on my big
adventure. But first I had to leave family and friends.
As it happened two friends were getting married the day I
left so after the reception we all went to catch the train to
London. Goodbyes seemed much easier with so any people
around and the married couple. I got into the carriage and we
were all covered in confetti.
We set off and the occupants of the carriage gave us
peculiar looks until eventually one person looked at Mike and
said, Well which one have you married?
I left them quickly in London; they were going to
Switzerland for a honeymoon.
I was going to Woking to stay with a school friend. The
next day I arrived at RAF Hendon to meet fellow travellers and
make my first flight in a York aeroplane.
The passengers were service personnel wearing uniforms
and I was seated next to a flight lieutenant who was obviously
a pilot as he had wings and medals on his chest. He sat and
fidgeted, felt under his seat and looked around so I asked him
what he had lost and could I help him find it. He was looking
for the parachute! He didnt like being driven by someone else
and was looking for his escape in case we crashed. That
certainly helped to give me confidence.