Royal Air Force Greatworth

Back in the old days I was called`Tom', my middle name, it has a story to it. Back in July '59 as I signed on at RAF Cardington, one other signatory, who's name I forget now, asked if I'd like to go to the naafi for a pint. His invitation went " You fancy a pint up 't naafi Jack?", overheard by several other new signatories, we were quickly joined for a pint or three and the name `stuck', indelibly! Untill several years later I remustered from "armament mech guided weapons*"(grease monkey!) to "Ground Radio Tx's" and ended up at RAF Locking, in a completely different crew/environment. Taking the oportunity to introduce myself as `Martin', my real name, but it was immedietly `shortened' to `Mart'! As this rymed rather too easily to `fart', I wasn't impressed and I strongly objected, aided by the fact of being the eldest (being the only remuster on the course) and senior man! I quickly understood that Martin didn't roll from the tongue easily enough, so  I suggested that as my middle name was Thomas, to call me Tom, it caught on, so `Tom' I became and it's a name with which my older friends still refer to me. So, now you know! When we met back then, thats how you would have known me.

Martin

* Bristol Bloodhound (Mk1) then Blue Steel.