The Royal Air Force Physical Training Instructors Association

The Badge Christmas Newsletter No 26/2020

For Ex and Serving RAF PTI’s, PJI’s, ATI’s & ERI’s

RAF PTI Association Motto

‘Friendship and Respect’

Thank you to all that have supported ‘The Badge’ this year and also the RAF PTI Association and

its Website which has had over 2,200 visitors since last May 2020.

Please click on the link below which will take you into the Awards page and let me know if you

have, or you know of someone who is/was in our initial PTI trade that has been given an award.

Also let me know if there is any other information that needs to go into the Website. Obviously

we have to be careful of the Data Protection Act and will act accordingly

https://rafptiassociationsite.wordpress.com/awards/

My good wishes go to you all for Christmas and the New Year, it can only get better.

Phil Moyse Editor

In this Issue:-

1. Chairmans’s Message

2. PTIC 101 – Cpl Miai Dart

3. Keith Donald Roper MBE Eulogy

4. My first experience of Senior Rugby - Martin Whitcombe

5. Pete Denley OBE

6. Covid 19 New Zealand - Dr Leonard Restall

7. From RAF PTI to Wildlife - Alan Bantick OBE

8. RAF Cyclist- John Pritchard BEM

9. 15 steps to cooking the Christmas Turkey

Chairman’s Message

Hello to everyone, well,

what a year, a complete

struggle for most, added in

some really sad times. I’m

not sure how I will reflect

upon it, chaotic for sure,

challenging, but one that

most in the trade will say

they did their best through

complexity.

I would suggest that

physical training throughout the Royal Air Force, has never been so important. Whether coping

with the new Regiment Fitness Tests, pre and post-natal courses or continuing with Aircrew

Conditioning Programmes, we have excelled with our specialist knowledge, however this year

more than ever, we have become the morale of units. Technicians have actually looked forward

to their PT sessions (well most) and the gymnasium has become the place to try to keep open as

safely as we can due to COVID.

For the School, I want to thank all the staff for their support over the past 12 months, like most

units, we have had immense challenges in understanding COVID-19 and its implications.

Graduations have continued and many of you “Zoomed” in for the last one PTIC 101 on 10th

December. Thank you for the many positive comments and the “past” memories of going over

the vault. We celebrated our 100th PTI course in October and unfortunately it was without the

friends and families, planned special events were cancelled, as was the AGM in April but we are

hopeful that things will return to normal soon!!

Thank you to the amazing committee, Dee, a wonderful asset to the Association, her drive is

astounding and every week she is busy harrying me with Association business, thank you Dee.

Archie, Phil and in particular Dave this year, it ’s been an incredibly difficult time for him, but he

has never moaned, been down, he has continued to support the members, again thank you all.

For the regional reps, thank you for volunteering, we will look to you for smaller events if you can,

get togethers, golf matches or just ringing Association members, anything to keep the spirits up

in 2021. It all helps during these tough times.

Finally, I will take this opportunity to say Happy Christmas to all our members, have a well-

deserved break, relax, enjoy the time with friends and family, kind regards,

WO Phil (Tommo) Thompson

PTIC 101 - Cpl Maia Dart

“PTI course 101 Graduation photograph made it to page 3 of the Times 14th Dec 2020

PTIC 101 Graduates Cpl Sam Anderton (Coningsby), Cpl Connor Balment (Honington), Cpl

Summer Benson (Chicksands), Cpl Maia Dart (Honington), Cpl William Lamont (Cranwell), Cpl

Daniel Law (Waddington), Cpl Ryan Maclean (Digby), Cpl Connor Nixon (Coningsby), Cpl Jaya Rees

(Valley), Cpl Samantha Russell (Lossiemouth), Cpl Toby Stone (Chicksands), Cpl Simon Wathen

(Odiham), Cpl Mark Williams (Shawbury).

Best Overall Cpl Nixon

Best Practical Cpl Williams

Most Endeavour Cpl Law

Mark Farrington Award Cpl Maclean

BPTIC has been an arduous, demanding and challenging experience, not only have we successfully

passed the course, we have managed to do it through Covid-19. Our first taste of military lifestyle

has been dramatically altered by Covid, having to adapt and overcome within this current climate.

Despite this, the course has still held onto its reputation of being the hardest yet most rewarding

training course in the Royal Air Force.

Not only have we been learning the trade under the guidelines of Covid-19, we have also had the

challenge of working around a shortened course. From 9-months, to 28-weeks, now just over 20-

weeks. Having been the first course

to experience this shortened course,

I can safely say it has been a

challenge.

On day one of BPTIC, the standards

that were expected of PTIC 101 from

the School of Physical Training were

high (expect nothing less). We knew

this was always going to be the case

– “You’re in the military now.”

However, when we arrived at RAF

Cosford the first piece of information

we were given was a warning…this

course is going to be coming thick

and fast and they were not wrong.

From Part 1 warm-ups through to

Part 3 Teaching Techniques, fitness

training plans and lesson plans,

fitness testing to the Regiment

Annual Fitness Test, we have

managed to complete all of

Cpl Nixon – Best Overall

this content within the 20-weeks

allocated. It’s not been easy. We’ve

been pushed and pulled from

0730hrs-1700hrs but that was not all.

Trying to achieve the content usually

delivered over 28-weeks squeezed

into just over 20-weeks has meant

that 1700hrs was never the end of

the day as we all worked countless

hours into the night to complete

lesson plans, fitness training plans,

revision, course work, and more.

Cpl Law – Most Endeavour

I can safely say that BPTIC, without a

shadow of a doubt, has been the

hardest challenge the majority of us

have been through. It is arduous and

unforgiving but despite this it has made

each and every one of us into confident

and capable instructor. I hope I don’t

ever have to do anything like it again but

I wouldn’t have changed this experience

for the world and I’d like that thank the

Staff in the SofPT and our Course

Directors Sgt Hyland and Sgt Wilkinson

for giving each and every one of us this

opportunity.

Cpl Maclean - Mark Farringdon Award

Cpl Williams - Best Practical

Presenting Officer

Group Captain Gareth Bryant

Keith Donald Roper Eulogy – Mark Roper

I was reading about how to write a eulogy and they all said that it should be about 5-7mins in

length and reflect on who the person was, and their achievements.

All I can say is that whoever wrote that didn’t know Keith Roper, our Dad. I will almost certainly

go over the 7 minutes – and even then, I know there will be lots of anecdotes and stories I will

have missed. By the number of cards, wishes of condolence we have received in the past couple

of weeks, it is a real shame we can only accommodate so few in the church.

I once read – “The idea of life is to die young as late as possible.” This epitomised our Dad who

had a real passion for life and always acted younger than his age.

Keith Donald Roper… Who was he? Well, I always believed he was invincible and like a lot of us

here, cannot quite believe he is not actually physically with us today. He was the son of Lillian and

Gilbert, Brother to Brian, Devoted Husband to Florence Anne (known as Chris to everyone), Father

to Mark, Steve, Lynne and David, partner to Brenda, Grandfather to Noah, Michael, Frida, Astrid,

Matthew, Imogen and Lucy, Uncle to Anne, Heather, Claire and Morag, and WO KD Roper of the

Royal Air Force – Physical Training Branch.

First of all, he was a Yorkshireman through and through and proud of it. He was born almost 84

years ago in Sheffield in very different times. As kids when we stayed in his Mum and Dad’s 2 up

and 2 down, I have vivid memories of the outside toilet with its cut up newspaper (it wasn’t just

for reading) and the big tin bath for Sundays – that was in the larder. This epitomised Dad’s life

growing up.

Whilst he could afford far greater luxuries in later times - these were unimportant, it was always

people who mattered to him. Wherever and whenever he was with people he was happy and he

wasn’t known as the verbaliser without reason.

He was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps into the steel works, but as someone who

enjoyed the outdoor life, whether that was playing football, swimming or walking and hiking, he

had other plans.

He joined the Royal Air Force and became a Physical Training Instructor and it was thanks to the

RAF he married my MUM. I don’t believe he had plans to get married at 21. But he was courting

Chris when he received what he thought was the posting that would change his life. To a fantastic

place in Norway, called Saxa Vord. This was what he joined the RAF for …

However, as Dad discovered – Saxa Vord is not in Norway, but on the most northern of the

Shetland islands – a radar station outpost and it was an unaccompanied post. He never went, but

the posting did change his life – he realised that what he wanted was to marry our Mum and he

did – a few weeks later on 31st of May 1958. A love that lasted until she died 19 years ago and

whilst he adored her, she gave him the freedom and support to live life as he wanted to.

He travelled lots, and was also a family man, so we went with him everywhere to RAF stations

across UK and overseas. Life was good, though I do remember Mum asking when we would be

going on holiday, and my Dad’s response was simply – holiday? – we have just had 2 years in

Cyprus and 3 in Germany! The role of a PTI meant Dad didn’t need a holiday, he loved the job,

the sport, the people. He moved through the ranks quite effortlessly and turned down the

opportunity of a commission because it just wasn’t for him. I know that he really enjoyed being a

Warrant Officer, as a Station Commander once told him that Warrant Officers and Station

Commanders were the only people on a base that were respected, could do what they wanted

and not be told off - That suited Dad.

The only part of the job he disliked was having to do written appraisals, and this is where his

teamwork with Mum came in. I remember him and Mum sitting at the table whilst Dad explained

the positives and negatives about his staff. Mum then wrote down what he actually meant in a

concise and understandable way and in Air Force speak. He did the talking and Mum made

sense of what he said on paper, always a great team.

I have had numerous people sharing stories of Dad going above and beyond the expected when

it came to supporting others – his generosity with his time, his advice and his energy, made some

see him as a second father and an inspiration. He was thrilled to receive an MBE for his services

to the RAF at the age of 55.

Dad loved his sport – and was very competitive - but he was also willing to have a go at anything.

Once when attending a swimming meet as a coach of the RAF Germany team against the Dutch,

German and Belgian Air Forces he realised that his RAF team was short of a second, as a coach,

he decided to participate. He came in 8th out of 8 and finished 50 metres behind the other 7. But

he gained a point for the RAF – and that was what counted. He always told us growing up that it

didn’t matter where you finished as long as you gave it a go and tried your best. Something I

have always tried to foster in my career and with my children.

When he wasn’t playing Sport himself, he wanted to be involved - and this meant a new “career”

for him at Wimbledon as an Honorary Steward with Cliff Rowlands. He loved those two weeks a

year; being surrounded by people, answering questions, telling anecdotes. His generosity with

tickets and teas was renowned. The tennis wasn’t the focus, it was visitors and the community of

stewards and his friendship with Cliff.

After Mum died and a long period of mourning, he was very lucky to meet Brenda and they

quickly became inseparable. She further opened his horizons and reintroduced him to travelling

which included a visit to Australia and regular sojourns to the South coast. They had a wonderful

15 years together and I know he enjoyed every day of it.

Dad didn’t really do cancer – but he didn’t do depression either. In His last few months, he

couldn’t be the active person he had always been, but he could still chat. He enjoyed talking to

all his grandchildren, and was always wiggling his ears until the very end to get a smile.

I am sure we all have very fond memories of him, so for those who are here today whether you

knew him as Dad, Grandad, FarFar, Uncle, Partner, great friend, colleague, mentor or the role he

loved; Warrant Officer Keith Donald Roper, the PTIs PTI. However, you choose to remember him,

do it with joy, with a smile on your face – he would want it that way.

Many thanks to Mark Roper for supplying the Eulogy and giving us permission to print it in The

Badge.

RIP Keith Roper, the PTI Family salute you.

“My first experience of Senior Rugby” – Martin Whitcombe

My introduction to rugby came from two different grass roots environments. I first learnt to play

rugby with the ‘Bantams’ (the junior section at Keighley RUFC), in addition to playing rugby league

at junior school. My journey between the two codes was somewhat moulded by my secondary

school-Bingley Grammar. Bingley Grammar was a rugby union playing school, and so union

ultimately became my game.

At Bingley Grammar, fixtures were played on Saturday mornings and in the afternoons I played

for Keighley RUFC, in the open age teams. Aged 15, I started in the 4th team playing centre or wing.

At 17, I got a game in the front row for 1st XV in an era prior to league rugby. Local ‘derbies’ against

Bradford, Morley and Bingley were challenging experiences back in the day, and gave aspiring

young players a good grounding in club rugby. These experiences were particularly influential on

me. I later found them to be a great help when trialling for the England Schools and later making

the England team to play in the 1979-80 U19 Group Schools Five Nations Tournament.

Shortly after the tournament, I met PEdO Roger Hill at a school careers convention at Belle View

in Manchester. Roger took over from Dickie Jeeps as scrumhalf in the Northampton team. Roger

had been a very good player and told me about the opportunity to join the RAF as a PTI. I visited

RAF Cosford and met FS Terry Stones, and from there things moved quickly. A week later in July

1980, my father bid me farewell at the railway station as I travelled to Newark North Gate for

basic training at RAF Swinderby. Having completed this on the 17th September 1980, I went

straight to join No 13 course at the School of PT, RAF Cosford.

Back Row L-R Stuart Motion, Martin Whitcombe, Andy Richardson, Martin Bonner, Mark Browes,

Brian Harris

Middle Row L-R Mark ‘Buck’ Rogers, Keith Glester, Ron Booth, Andy Lee, Simon Edwards, Mike Evans,

Steve Goodman

Front Row L-R Sgt John Slinger, WO Joe Kerry, Wing Cdr Dave Wright, Sqn Ldr Chris Davidson, Sgt Bob

Palmer

Four days later on Sunday 21st September 1980, I played for the RAF U21 v Staffordshire at

Cosford. The team was managed by Bill Bevan and Brian Mott, and our coach was Ian Laurie who

later successfully coached the RAF senior team. The U21’s had further fixtures (mostly at

weekends) throughout November. Some memorable fixtures for myself were games against:

Severn Sisters, Bath, Clifton, South Wales Police and Buckinghamshire, the first time I had played

under lights.

On Thursday 23rd November 1981, I played my first game for the RAF senior team against Lydney.

Whilst my first start for the RAF was memorable for the ferociousness of the contest, it was

nothing compared to the journey home after the game. At Cosford, the demands of the course

meant that it wasn’t practical to play midweek games. Having started for RAF on Thursday, WO

Joe Kerry told me I had to be back at Cosford for Friday morning. To make this journey, one of my

new team mates dropped me off at Wolverhampton railway station after the game, where I

unfortunately discovered that the last train to Cosford had left hours ago. In hope of some

transport, I phoned the MT section. However, I was disheartened when the duty NCO advised me

to walk back, which I reluctantly did. Brian Harris kindly completed my gym sweep for me in the

morning, and I later went to work. This arrangement wasn’t an ideal way to start a new career in

the RAF as a PTI, or as a rugby player. Both of our course instructors John Slinger and Bob Palmer

offered me some good advice, and told me from then on in I could only play for the RAF at

weekends.

I continued to play rugby for RAF Cosford Rugby Club on Wednesdays. Wednesdays were sports

afternoons, and were great fun both on and off the field. I remember Bob Wooton and Paul Hunt

organised a night out at a ten pin bowling alley in Wolverhampton. I hadn’t been bowling before,

so after handing my trainers in I was issued with bowling shoes. The bowling shoes were of much

superior quality to the shoes I had handed in! After a memorable evening bowling, I later travelled

back to Cosford in my new bowling shoes, much to the amusement of my team mates. My two

appearances for the RAF against the Civil Service at Chiswick, and Oxford University at Iffley Road

didn’t fill me with confidence that I would play in the Inter Service tournament. Therefore, it was

a great surprise when Joe Kerry called me in to his office and read out the selection signal, telling

me I had been picked to play for the RAF in the Inter Service fixture against the Navy.

A proud moment Air Vice Marshall David Parry-

Evans presented new boys Ric Allison, Mal

Coptcoat, Martin Whitcombe & Bob Allison with

their RAF caps in the changing rooms prior to the

game against the Royal Navy.

Aged 19 this was a big day for me. Our coach Mike

Beer did great work bedding in the new players. I

grew in confidence surrounded by my RAF team

mates in a very strong side, especially in the back

three with Paul Bate at fullback and flying wingers Neil Coyne & Ric Allison. Our four outstanding

forwards, Peter Larter, future England captain John Orwin, Mal Coptcote and Graham Still were

also hugely influential on me.

The RAF team gave a good account of themselves before eventually coming up short against a

very good Navy side, 15-12. The Navy lads went on to win the Inter Service title that year. Whilst

the result was disappointing the game itself was a triumph for the PEd Branch, as seven players

including: Paul Bate, Rick Allison, Neil Coyne, Gareth Thomas, Austin Paddon, Paul Aherne and

myself took the field. I didn’t realise the significance of being capped as an AC in this game until

many years later.

Recounting on the Inter Service Tournament, Dave Smith RAFRU secretary quoted, “in doing so

he [Martin Whitcombe] joined a small select group of Airmen to be capped at the lowest rank in

the RAF, AC, Aircraftsman. In 1978 AC Paul Bate, the Rosslyn Park fullback was capped while doing

his basic training at RAF Swinderby, and in 1981 AC Martin Whitcombe of RAF Cosford became

the last AC to be capped by the RAF. No one has been capped since and it will probably never

happen again.”

There were some very famous ‘Ercks’ capped by the Royal Air Force, especially during National

Service. These included: AC Mick Sullivan (Great Britain RL) in 1956, AC Don Rutherford (England

and British Lions) & AC Jim Challinor (Great Britain RL) in 1957, AC Alex Murphy (Great Britain RL)

in 1961, and AC Billy Steele (Scotland and British Lions) in 1966.

Royal Air Force v Royal Navy Inter Service Twickenham 28th February 1981

Back Row L-R Sgt Grant (Physio) Mike Beer (Coach), Kenny Pugh, Mal Coptcote, Bob Allison, Peter

Larter, Gareth Thomas, Les Bruckner, Neil Coyne, John Orwin, Martin Darby, Martin Whitcombe,

Rick Allison, Paul Bate

Front Row L-R Rhys Owen, Austin Paddon, Mike Jones, Graham Still (c) Paul Aherne, Gwyn

Williams, Al Rust, Tony Fenlan

After passing out from the School of PT on 9th April 1981, I was posted to the PEd Flight at RAF

North Luffenham. Ironically this was the same camp where Roger Hill (who recruited me), had

been PEdO back in 1965. I owe Roger a great deal. There were better days around the corner for

the RAF rugby players, as on 21st April 1981 the RAF team visited the USA and won the Austin

Tournament in Texas. A year later, having already defeated the Navy, the Royal Air Force defeated

the Army 10-6 on 3rd April 1982. This achievement saw the RAF become the Inter-Services

champions for only the ninth time since 1920. The tournament had been previously dominated

by the senior services. The RAF team went on to enjoy a golden era in the 1980’s, winning a hat-

trick of Inter Service titles in: 1982 1985, and 1986. The 1984 title was a triple tie.

I have wonderful memories of playing rugby for the Royal Air Force.

Great Mates

Mal Coptcote, Martin Whitcombe, John Orwin, Gareth Thomas & Steve Worrall

27th March 1982 prior to the match Royal Air Force 16-14 Royal Navy

Martin Whitcombe

Pete Denley OBE PTI/PJI 1951 - 1963

I qualified as a PTI at Cosford on 45 LQ Course 1951 and remained a PTI until 1953, when I

qualified as a PJI AT Abingdon. Returning to No 1 PTS, from a tour in Iraq and Cyprus in 1958 I

immediately joined the Oxford Sport Parachute Club at Kidlington, jumping evenings and

weekends whenever weather permitted quickly building on the few free falls I had done at

Akrotiri, courtesy of French PJIs in the run up to the Suez invasion. In 1959 PTS was tasked with

establishing a free fall training arm. Because of our sport Parachuting experience Keith Teesdale

and myself joined two commissioned and two SNCO PJIs when they returned from the French

equivalent of No 1 PTS, where they had completed a 20 jump free fall course.

This group of six formed the first (unofficial) RAF Free Fall Demonstration team which Peter Hearn

dubbed ‘The Falcon Fathers’ in his 1995 book “FALCONS”. Other than domestic and overseas

demos we experimented with high altitude infiltration at Training which was on the horizon.

Three of us also ran conversion courses for a growing number of PJIs who held up their hands to

convert to free fall. In June 1960 when I departed fro PTS, I elected to work with Boy Entrants.

Three years later I left the RAF for family reasons. I continued sport and competition for another

20 years logging up a total of 3,004 jumps. On the way, I struck gold by marrying Scotland’s first

female sport parachutist, who is still taking great care of me 59 years later.

Nairobi airport I am doing safety checks before em-planing Middle East Medical Rescue Team

prior to take off to Kisumu on the second leg of HRH Princess Margaret’s Tour of British East

Africa in July 1956. We had been tasked with providing air safety cover.

The first unofficial RAF Free Fall Demonstration Team aboard a Beverly at RAAF Amberley,

Queensland, Australia about to take off on our first overseas demo. Peter Hearn, in his 1995 book

“Falcons”, dubbed this team ‘The Falcon Fathers. From left to right; Alf Card, Keith Teesdale,

Peter Hearn, John Thirtle, Pete Denley and Tommy Moloney.

Pete Denley - Second Career

My second career was in the Criminal Justice System. I was granted a Home Office bursary to train

as a Probation Officer. Having completed Home Office sponsored probation training at Leeds

University, I worked as a basic grade officer for 8 years gaining experience in a range of probations

service responsibilities. During 10 years service in England I worked in the field, Courts, a Regional

Training Prison and Hostels for offenders who had received a residential condition as a

requirement of their Probation Orders.

After completing further professional training at Glasgow University, I was promoted to Senior

Probation Officer and tasked with establishing, then managing a Probation Hostel for adult

offenders where I remained for 3 years before transferring to Northern Ireland where I worked in

the newly established Young Offenders Institution for two and half years.

At this point, I attended a full time management studies course at Queens University, Belfast.

Soon after this I made a successful application for promotion to Assistant Chief Probation Officer

for the six counties of Northern Ireland. My first post at this level was responsibility for teams

of probation staff, located in Northern Ireland’s six prisons, providing training aimed at offenders

leading a more socially acceptable lifestyle on release from custody.

My second tour was overall responsibility for post qualification training, in-service training and

the mobility of some 400 professional staff. In addition I had responsibility for providing field

placements for University students undertaking professional qualification as Probation Officers

as well as providing inputs to those university courses. For the next three years I had responsibility

for service development, in terms of providing new methods of work as well as fashioning and

introducing a qualitatively measured code of practice.

I served at this level for nine years, spending three years at a time with responsibility for six

prisons, then for personnel and training and

latterly with responsibility for service

development. I then left the employ of the

Probation Board and moved to the Northern

Ireland Probation Service having been

appointed as the first Northern Ireland based

Inspector of Criminal Justice Services, and

Social Services Advisor to the Northern

Ireland Office of the UK Government. In line

with NI Civil Service Policy, I was required to

retire on reaching the age of 60. The

following day I took up my final full time post,

on a 3 year contract as Director of the

Secure Juvenile Justice Training School (a

euphemism for Juvenile Jail) at Lisnevin,

which housed up to 40 offenders aged under

18, in a disused Class 3 Prison.

In 1996 I was awarded the Order of an Officer

of the British Empire (O.B.E.) The citation indicated that the award was for -“was over many

years having made a significant contribution to the development of the Criminal Justice System

in Northern Ireland”. A year later, age 64, I decided to retire. As I approached the end of this

final contract I was asked by the Justice Minister, following my retirement to provide an

information and development service, on a consultancy basis, to the Criminal Justice Services

Division of the Northern Ireland and a range of its agencies. I agreed to do this for a three year

period, but in the event, it stretched out to fourteen years, finally retiring on my 78th birthday.

“I attribute the relative success of my later working life to lessons learned during my years as a

PJI where, I was fortunate to rub shoulders with a number of outstanding role models who had

a major impact and influence on my personal development. Lessons which were transferrable

to my later working life. My time in military service was also where I found a new interest in

education, having left school age 14, during the days of austerity which followed the end of

WW2.”

Dealing with COVID 19 in New Zealand – Dr Leonard Restall

The devastating COVID

intrusion into the global

scene has been both lethal

and damaging to the

economies of many

countries and it looks as if

it is going to be around for

a long time. Viruses will

flourish in places and

conditions that suit them

so it is up to each of us to

be on our guard and follow

set rules to combat them.

New Zealand has been

coping with this frightful threat with calming confidence and just about has it under control. The

NZ government decided to operate ‘early and hard’ by enforcing ‘lockdown’ very early and this

alleviated much fear quickly. We are now down to level one, and it feels just like it was before

‘lockdown’ no social distancing, no restriction on crowds at sporting activities, face masks only

required on buses, trains and aircraft, restaurants and bars can function as normal. So it does not

severely restrict us in normal life’s activities.

The borders for overseas people wanting to enter NZ such as airports were closed for people

coming to NZ or returning from overseas and vigilant quarantine conditions were set up using

hotels in the main cities and these are enforced by military personnel in major cities, Quarantine

was enforced for all returning people and visitors coming to NZ.

Testing of very large numbers of people was carried out on any group where contact was

identified. Eventually, all contacts with the disease and related clusters were isolated and tested

and retested.

There have been some deaths within a retirement home in NZ, however nowhere near the

quarter of a million in the USA (figures correct when article written) and still climbing, caused

much concern that this virus was not only lethal but was likely to spread.

NZ was one of the first countries to come down to level one control and is now one of the fi rst

countries on the list for total vaccination. It has treated this major health concern with the utmost

importance it deserved and has public support for all measures introduced to control the virus.

Most people seemed to have coped with this emergency without too much distress, and thankful

that the NZ government took the steps they did to control this deadly virus. But it may not be

completely over for there seems to be always another scourge waiting to emerge, so defence is

the best form of attack.

Dr Leonard Restall, New Zealand

Allan Bantick OBE PTI 1957 – 1983

I was brought up in London, I joined the RAF in 1957 and served 26 years as a PTI, the later part

of it in Scotland teaching aircrew survival and outdoor pursuits, mostly at RAF Grantown on Spey,

and serving in the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team.

On leaving the RAF in 1983 I built a recording studio in Grantown on Spey which I operated during

the day while at night I would sing and play in the hotels for the dear old grannies on the bus

tours, earning an Equity Card in the process. Throughout this period I continued to spend a great

deal of time in the outdoors completing the Munros and becoming ever more interested in

Scotland’s wildlife.

My first direct engagement with the local animals came in 1995 through badgers, primarily in

connection with the newly built Strathspey Badger Hide near Boat of Garten but also through

Scottish Badgers which is the national protection body for these animals.

At this point I met my wife Heather and after we married my wildlife work gained new impetus

leading to further work with other environmentalists on other species such as otters, crested tits,

goldeneye, red squirrels and ospreys and that led to a place on the North Committee of the

Scottish Wildlife Trust and from there, in 2006, to a place on the Trust’s Council. Two years later

I was appointed Chairman of the Council of the Trust and I served the maximum permitted term

of 6 years, vacating the Chair in September 2014. This position involved working with royalty,

government officials and Ministers at both Scottish and UK levels as well as managing the

governance of the Trust, sitting on the Scottish Biodiversity Committee and serving on the Council

of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

I was awarded the OBE in 2014 which was is a great honour for me and my family. The award is

intended to reflect my part in the achievements of the several organisations with which it has

been my privilege to work over the last two decades. In particular I salute the Scottish Wildlife

Trust who due to the dedication, professionalism, passion and loyalty of its staff, trustees and

members has secured its place as the most effective wildlife conservation body in Scotland.

For my own part, I could not have begun to deal with the challenges of recent years without the

unstinting support of my wife Heather. From the very first she believed in me, encouraged my

participation at ever more senior levels and provided a solid home base for me to return to after

each episode. Heather deserves to be recognised in her own right.

If I had to choose

my favourite from

the scores of

inspiring projects

with which I have

been associated

over the years I

would choose the

Scottish Beaver

Trial. I was

immensely proud to

be chosen as the

Founding Chairman

for this project

which sought to lay

the foundations for beavers to eventually return to Scotland on a permanent basis. And not just

to Scotland, but through a knock-on effect to the rest of the UK also. An environmentalist could

wish for no finer epitaph than to be recognised as having led on the reintroduction of beavers to

a country.

As to the future, I shall use the award of the OBE in every way I can to continue to work for the

benefit of Scotland’s amazing wildlife. Increasingly environmentalists and the more enlightened

politicians and economists are discussing rewilding, stimulating talk of extensive forest expansion,

peatland restoration and the return of large predators to Scotland such as the lynx. I shall make

it my business to remain a part of that conversation.

Allan Bantick OBE

@AllanBoat www.cairngormwildlife.co.uk www.highlandbadgers.net

John Pritchard BEM RAF Cyclist - Mrs Pat Pritchard

John graduated from RAF Basic PTI Course No 55 in 1972. As a racing cyclist he was delighted

when he was posted to Deci (Decimomannu air base, Sardinia) in 1976, this was his ideal posting

for cycling. He joined a local cycling club and was very successful. However, one day in work, the

2nd highest general of the Italian Airforce arrived to inspect the camp, it turned out he was also

a cyclist and had read about John, so requested that John train with him every evening. At the

end of the two weeks of his stay he told John that he thought he could beat the military world

record for the 1hr on a track, “I will arrange it” he said.

Prior to the world record attempt, John rode in the Italian Military Championship in Rome and

during the race the rest of the cyclists in the competition were told “ either you let the General

(Bertolaso) win this competition or Pritchard will

win”.

After the race a lunch for all the competitors was

held and John was seated next to one of the

General’s good friends, however John did not

realise until after the lunch that he had been sitting

next to and conversing with Gino Bartali, an

absolute “Italian legend” and most renowned

Italian cyclist before the 2nd World War, he said to

John “You have the legs of a champion”.

Two weeks later John was on his way to Rome for a

two week stay in the Olympic village and an

attempt on The world record which he

subsequently broke.

The General flew John back in his private aircraft

(the General actually piloted the plane), to Deci and

they held a presentation of a gold medal to John.

Photographed :-Pat Pritchard, Wg Cdr Munday , General

Bertolaso, John Pritchard, Italian Officer I/C

Decimommanu

John also rode in a selection race in Sardinia for the Italian team for the 1976 Olympics, I was in one of the following

cars with the rest of the team members. The local officials of the race asked me to shout to John not to work with

the riders as there was a local Sardinian rider in a break ahead of the main peleton.

There are so many things John achieved in his cycling career all done while he served in the RAF,

these are documented in the following article.

Pat Pritchard BEM

Group Captain Church ( Military Air Attaché to Rome),

John and General Bertolaso ( Officer Commanding

2nd AIR region Italian Air Force), prior to the record

attempt.

John following the world record breaking ride.

John Pritchard BEM - RAF Cyclist

I joined the RAF in 1971, however prior to that I was a Painter & Decorator by trade, but as a

cyclist I was already a Welsh cycling champion at different disciplines and had represented Wales

in the 1970 Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh. Cycling was my life, I had been brought up with

it, it was a family tradition.

In 1970, my wife and I were the organisers for a local time trial in South Wales for the Port Talbot

Wheelers, on the last night for accepting entries a knock came on our door and there stood two

RAF guys with their last minute entries. We invited them in and spent the best part of the evening

talking about the RAF. One of them Reg Bromley, became a lifelong friend and it was Reg who

arranged for me to speak with a PTI at St Athan, his name - Jim Gill. Jim was my inspiration to join

up as a PTI and another lifelong friendship began.

During my trade training at St Athan I was still trying to juggle the course with my cycling training

and racing until I was politely told by one of my course instructors Jim Aldred to put my cycling

on hold until the course finished, I did it, but it killed me! My first posting was to High Wycombe

and my life as a PTI and a cyclist began. I continued to improve in both aspects of my life and

stayed at High Wycombe for just under two years until I was posted to RAF ThorneyIsland.

By now I had made more of a name for myself in the cycling world and was accepted into the

local Portsmouth cycling community with open arms. I was still at Thorney when I was chosen for

my second Commonwealth Games at Christchurch, New Zealand in 1974. Another two years and

then a posting to RAFSU Decimommanu in Sardinia; for a cyclist this posting was the posting of a

lifetime and I loved it. I had a lot of success even though the style of racing was not what I was

used to, but whilst there, I broke the ‘World Military Hour’ record on a cycle track in Rome

(documented in a following article). To the Sardinians I was a novelty with my broken Italian, but

an honorary Italian all the same even riding in the Sardinian cycling championships and Italian

Military championship .

My posting was cut short and then I was off to RAF Gutesloh, cycling was very different in

Germany, mostly circuit type racing around and in the towns, as well as a few trips down to the

clutch stations where I won the Inter Services Championships. Two years later, I was on my way

back to St Athan only this time as a posting. I went there as a Cpl and left as a Sgt five years later

- I managed to ‘wangle’ to stay at Saints when I was promoted - for cycling!

Just after arriving at St Athan I was selected for my third Commonwealth Games in Edmonton,

Canada and also picked as the Captain of the Wales Cycling team. My cycling continued to

dominate my off duty life and in 1982 I was chosen for my fourth Commonwealth Games in

Brisbane, Australia but this time I was chosen as the overall captain of Team Wales, what an

honour that was! The following year I was awarded the BEM for services to cycling and sport.

In November 1983 I was posted to RAF Uxbridge and for my cycling career this posting was

probably one of the best things to happen. Here I was training and racing amongst the best in the

country and the improvement in my cycling was immense, from then I never looked back. In order

to have a chance of winning or getting a top ten place in British National Championships I asked

permission to join a civilian cycling club and joined one of the best clubs in the UK, the Polytechnic

Cycling Club which was also sponsored by Air Canada Cargo. Internationally, a veteran is anyone

over 35 years old so in 1985 I flew to Toronto courtesy of Air Canada and a grant from the RAF

Sports Board ( I was the secretary of the RAF Cycling Association at the time), to compete in the

inaugural World Masters Games, I won two gold medals in these Games and also courtesy of Air

Canada was upgraded to first class for the flight home. I even managed to give most of the grant

back to the Sports Board! In the years between 1993 - 2005 I competed in two further World

Masters Games and was rewarded with a gold, silver and bronze medals.

For a time triallist , which was my main discipline, the ultimate goal to was to win the British

National 25 mile time trial, I had wanted it for years, always beating my opponents both prior to

and after the Championship but becoming the eternal 6th place, my head just couldn’t hack it

and nerves took over. Unbeknown to me my wife arranged appointments for a course of

hypnotherapy to try and combat my nerves. The following year I came second but unfortunately

my age was now against me, I was 40 years old, classed as a veteran for cycling time trials

competition in the UK, but I was still hungry to try and win it. In June 1988 I became the first ever

veteran to win the 25 mile British National time trial Championship and the following year at the

age of 41 the first veteran to win the British National 50 mile Championship; I had achieved it at

last but I wasn’t finished yet. In my cycling career I won in excess of 600 open races and in 1991

became the first rider to beat 49 minutes for 25 miles, my time was 48minutes 28 seconds, my

age was 43!

My life as an RAF PTI helped me to achieve almost everything I did in my life as a racing cyclist, I

know I would never have achieved the level of success I did in cycling if it hadn’t been for the RAF,

grateful is an understatement! I am 73 years old now, still riding my bike every day weather

permitting and this year even had a little dabble at a few races after a ten year gap, my love for

cycling is still very strong and I am now looking forward to next season.

This is just the cycling side of my time in the RAF but my time as a PTI - I have many stories to tell,

my time in the RAF was always a balance between cycling and my career but I am grateful for

both but I would also like to mention the people I came into contact with and the friends made,

there was never a morning when I got up and didn’t want to go into work, how many people can

say that!

John Pritchard

15 STEPS TO COOKING THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY

1. BUY A TURKEY

2. HAVE A GLASS OF WINE

3. STUFF TURKEY

4. HAVE A GLASS OF WINE

5. PUT TURKEY IN OVEN

6. RELAX AND HAVE A GLASS OF WINE

7. TURK THE BASTEY

8. WINE A GLASS ANOTHER OF

9. HUNT FOR MEAT THERMOMETER

10. GLASS YOURSELF ANOTHER POUR OF WINE

11. BAKE THE WINE FOR 4 HOURS

12. TAKE THE OVEN OUT OF THE TURKEY

13. TET THE SABLE

14. GRAB ANOTHER WOTTLE OF BINE

15. TURK THE CARVEY

Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup! Hiccup!

Ab a fabbbbbbulous Chrissssssssssie

PTI Association Area Reps

Scotland Vacant Volunteer required

Wales Ron Houghton Ronhoughton1@aol.com

London&SE Ian Swindale Swin.theclub@gmail.com

North West John Gallagher Gallagher227@gmail.com

North East Mal Broom malcolmbroom@talktalk.net

West Midlands John Weedon mrjohnweedon@aol.co.uk

East Midlands Dominic O’Sullivan Sully6189@googlemail.com

South West Graham Hughes Hughesy56@sky.com

East Anglia Paul Bryant paulbryantart@virginmedia.com

Overseas Sue Zwart Woodward aa.zwart@quicknet.nl

Is there anyone out there willing to step up and fill the vacant roll of Area Rep for Scotland? If

so, please email the secretary ptisec@outlook.com