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What's Happening! REUNIONS Next Reunion 2011. PAST REUNIONS. 7th Reunion 17th
October 2009
Aerial Erector
School. 1959 - 2009. The Aerial Erector School moved from RAF Norton in Sheffield to RAF Digby on Thursday 10th September 1959. The course then under instruction, 9C had commenced training on Wednesday 29th July at RAF Norton and completed their training at RAF Digby on 26th October 1959. Course 9D which commenced training on Wednesday 11th November 1959 was the first course to do all their training at RAF Digby.
The reunion commenced with an afternoon visit to the Aerial Erector School at RAF Digby. A coach was arranged to take members to RAF Digby departing from Brayford Pool Wharf in Lincoln at 12-30hrs and some members used their own private transport. We were met at the main gate by Aerial Erector School staff and quickly processed through the security arrangements. We were greeted at the school with tea, coffee and biscuits in the rest room and made welcome. Members of the school staff showed us around all the workshops and classrooms and explained their various uses. A number of instructional videos were also set up for us to view. After about 3/4 of an hour of exploring in the school we moved on to the Lima Sector Operations Room Museum.
One of the Museum volunteers gave us an excellent brief history of RAF Digby. He then went on to show how the Lima Sector Operations Room operated in 1939-40 and carefully explained all the duties of the various personnel who worked in the room. Everyone then had a few minutes to look at all the exhibits on display including an Enigma machine which is on loan from Bletchley Park. We then boarded the coach and set off for RAF Stenigot and the CH tower. Everyone was feeling a bit sad as we had been told that we would not be able to climb up to the 50ft platform as they had not received clearance from the Health and Safety people. However on arrival at Stenigot we were told that provided we filled in and signed a waiver form and wore a hard hat we could, after all, climb up the ladders to the 50ft platform. Staff members with rescue and safety equipment were stationed at a number of places "just in case" but they were not needed. There was a lot of happy smiling ex-riggers up there. Once everyone who wanted to climb had done so and photographs taken it was back down to hot drinks of tea and coffee to warm us up as the Lincolnshire wind had lived up to its reputation. It was freezing up there. Then it was back to Lincoln to prepare for the evening.
A view of some of the members from the 50ft Platform. Two coaches departed from Lincoln at 18-30hrs and arrived at RAF Digby and everyone was processed through the security by 19-00hrs when the Free Bar opened in the Silver Maple Club. It was announced that due to lack of space in the club the buffet would be served in the Airmen's Mess next door. At 20-00hrs everyone was invited into the Airmen's Mess to a superb buffet. The tables had been beautifully laid out in the bright cheerful mess, decorated with Menu cards (which the school had produced complete with a Rigger's Toast), wine etc. It was hard to believe that there were only two Chefs on duty as everything ran so smoothly. Matt and Jo did us proud. And no-one had to wash their mug and irons afterwards.
The evening then progressed onwards with an imprompu raffle of donated prizes in aid of the Help for Heroes charity which raised £220. It might well have been more but we ran out of raffle tickets. Our Help for Heroes fund will remain open until the 31st December in case there are any more members wishing to make donations.
Five riggers
from No. 10 Radio Fitting Party who were last together in Aden 1962/63. There were buckets of sand and lamps swinging all over the room and the noise near the bar was deafening. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Cheerful Charlie Morrison did look a bit miserable as he had failed to win the crate of Tiger beer but as he commented to me in a letter shortly after the reunion. "If it seemed to a few people that I wasn't enjoying myself because I only moved from my seat to the bar and back, I can assure them nothing could be further from the truth. I had made a conscious decision that unlike the last 'Doo' I was at in 2005, this year I was going to be on my best behaviour. I, perhaps succeeded more than I had intended to do, as seen by the relay team of serving riggers wives who came over to my table to cheer me up when to be honest I was quite content to sit there and soak up the ambience, respect and affection riggers have for one another. This is not to say I didn't enjoy the attention I got from the young ladies and would like them to know that for a wee while they made an old man very happy. Charlie".
A new innovation for a riggers' reunion was a Karaoke machine!!!! This wonderous bit of modern technology, supervised by Wayne Eves to ensure it was not damaged or mis-used, was very popular with some of the younger riggers. The quiet area became very popular and somewhat crowded with old hairys seeking sanctuary!!! Everyone was enjoying themselves and it was great to have so many younger riggers with us. The Free bar, funded by a number of donations and all the money left over after the bills were paid, lasted out for most of the evening.
All
too soon it was 01-00hrs and time for the coaches to return to Lincoln. A great
night out in excellent company. The Aerial Erector School staff did a fantastic job
in setting it all up and making sure us old Hairys had a good time. 6th Reunion 13th October 2007. Sergeant's Mess, RAF Henlow.
The Reunion started at the RAF Signals Museum, the Curator Alf
Fisher and a number of volunteers who run the museum gave up their Saturday afternoon
to open up the building and welcome us in.
Ex-Riggers Jack Holman, Baz White, Paul Bennett and Dave Faulkner enjoying a quiet chat.
The bar staff were very fast, efficient and pleasant. At one of the earlier reunions
which shall be nameless,the bar staff all looked as though they were doing community
service, rather than serving customers. 5th Reunion September 2005, Lincoln University. The reunion took
place at The Atrium in Lincoln University on the 3rd September 2005. Full details of the
"Doooo" will be sent out to all members in the next Update.Some details will be omitted
to prevent embarrassment to certain members.
The congregation assembling.
The event proper commenced at 18-30 hrs when the Free Bar opened, funded by several very
generous donations and the money left over after all the bills had been paid. In all
£600 was handed over at the start of the evening and as the prices were very reasonable,
lasted longer than expected. Having draught keg Bitter and Lager this time proved a big
hit. Held at the University of Lincoln. The day started out with our excursion to the Aerial Erector School and to Stenigot Tower. Everyone started to assemble outside the Marriott Hotel at 12:30hrs and by 13:00 the last detachment led by two colonials who had been prized out of the Horse and Groom pub after being forced inside to sample the real ale! When we arrived at R.A.F. Digby, we were escorted to the Aerial Erector School for a fascinating visit exploring all the classrooms, offices and even the stores. Members of the School staff were in every room to explain all the various equipment now in use. After other tours around the Station, we were headed off to Stenigot. On arrival, we were given a quick talk on Safety and Working at Heights in the R.A.F. Today before those who wished to were issued with safety helmets and allowed to climb up to the 50/60ft Platform. I think most of us including several wives or 'significant others' made it up there with a certain amount of huffing and puffing.
There were a lot of very happy riggers up there. It was a great afternoon out, and we were all treated 'right royally'. everyone was reluctant to leave, so there was a frantic dash back to Lincoln to get ready for the evening bash. Grateful thanks go to Paul Robbins, Mark Hartley, Martyn Clayton, John Summerson, Mark Austin and Woo Davies and everyone at the School for making our day. For the dinner, there were 145, although a few last minute people hadn't got any places, but they just waited at the bar - would you believe! they were then joined by the Aerial Erector School Staff whom we had invited along for a later part of the evening. At one point, the bar almost ran out of beer! Until further supplies arrived, but we did manage to drink them out of tonic water. Everyone had a great time, and the 2005 DOOO will be very difficult to top this one! Held at the Royal Armouries Museum Leeds where 160 people had a lively evening. Held in the Halifax Room at the Yorkshire Air Museum where 149 attended. This was the first Re-union held by the association and took place in the Halifax Room, Yorkshire Air Museum near York (Ex R.A.F. Elvington).
123 riggers
plus wives, girlfriends, live-in lovers etc. had a fantastic evening. RIGGERS OPEN
GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2010. Thursday 10th June College Pines Golf Club, Worksop. CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST. Schedule. 08-30am Coffee and Cob on arrival. 13-00pm 18 Holes Riggers Open Championship. 18-15pm Meal and Presentation. COST £40. £10 deposit required by Monday 15th March 2010. Balance required by Monday 10th May 2010. Cheques payable to "SAFA RAF Digby". To register please contact Carl Hill or Dave Cann at the Aerial
Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincoln, LN4 3LH. Event limited to 32 players - Register early to avoid disappointment. RIGGERS OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2009. Thursday 30th July Boston West Golf Club. This year the
organisation of the event was taken over by 90 Signals Unit at RAF Leeming, with Sgt
Doc Foster as the chief organiser. Winner of the Riggers Open Golf Championship 2009 Holder of the Riggers Green Jacket.
Andy "Bully" Turner. 40 points. Second Place. Scott Hughes. 38 points. Third Place. Derek Martin. 36 points. Fourth Place. Rob Hitchen. 36 points. Fifth Place. Stu McColl. 35 points. Ties decided back nine, front nine, middle six. Nearest the pin was won by Steve Linstead. Longest drive was won by Justin "Lobbo" Lobb (Not bad for a novice player). A special thanks to all the Ex-riggers who made the trip and a extra special mention to Dave Higate who, although delayed by flight problems travelling back directly to the event from Malaysia and suffering from jetlag, turned up with minutes to spare for the afternoons main event. Dave managed a respectable 24 points using a set of borrowed cheap clubs that looked more suitable for a twelve year old (Dave is at least 6ft 4"). The Ladies Event was won by Jen Hollins (OC AEF at Leeming), it was, as our American cousins would say, "a shoo thro" as Jen was the only female contestant. She was presented with a set of pens which were hand made and donated by Andy Turner. The weather was not as bad as had been expected, with sunny spells and only one very heavy shower. The catering was up to the usual high standard and everyone enjoyed a throughly good day in excellent company.
Finally, Doc's thanks go to Carl Hill for his
help with the scoring and for his general "on the day" organising which was greatly
appreciated. RIGGERS OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 The Riggers Open Golf Championship took take place on
Thursday 19th June 2008 at the Boston West Golf Club, Boston, Lincolnshire. Competition Results 1st place. Kevin Smith 44 points Winner of the Green jacket 2nd place Mark Keen 3rd Place. Eddie Walsh 4th Place. Dave Crooks 5th Place. Darren Smith After Bacon butties a 9 hole Texas scramble Fun competition
was held during the morning. Grahame Cooke, Carl Hill, Rob Hitchen and Chris Salmon
came home the eventual winners. Back to Top
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