• Ref.Number: FB024
• Date: 20.3.07
• Interviewer (I): Liz Rice
• Subject: Life as a child on Calgarth
• Period: 1947-1953

In

I can just remember something about in this area somewhere there was like a where the air training corps was sort of – well it was their headquarters in later years cos I joined the ATC there.

I

So what sort of things did they do?

In

Well we used to go off up to Silloth flying in RAF planes and that – these Olansans (inaudible) and so on and used to have like shooting and there was a little firing range and they moved to the drill hall eventually over in Windermere, but they had an open backed lorry and we used to get in this lorry and we used to go off up to Silloth aerodrome and go flying and that.

I

Wow what sort of age were you then?

In

I was only 10, 11 12. When I think back – these rattly old aeroplanes I used to say this to my mother and she used to say well I can’t remember you going off flying! Obviously didn’t bother.

I

Did you tell her?

In

Yes I would think so!

I

So did quite a few of the – was it mainly boys or did girls go too?

In

Yes I can’t remember any girls being in it no, not at the time, although in later years when they were over here, girls, 1264 squadron I think it was – it’s funny how things stick in your mind don’t they.

I

So was it run by servicemen?

In

Yes well ex servicemen yes, RAF people. There was Angus McKie, Reg Nicholson – he’s still around. I think Angus McKie is to be honest. Who else was there? About 4 of them, but I keep those names. Oh then there was a chap called Dixon and he’s still alive he lives in Morecambe – he was in the ATC. Ron Dixon he was called.

I

And did you meet weekly?

In

Yes I think you went Thursday nights or something like that we used to go.

I

And it was one of those?

In

They used to drill us over by the school if I remember and I think it was there in that little place there they used to do marching.