The aircraft apprenticeship involved three years full-time training in academic and technical subjects at the No.1 Radio School RAF Locking in Somerset. The School, which was demolished in 1999, received three apprentice intakes, known as Entries, per year so that there were 9 entries going through the "system" at any time. We were the 100th Entry totalling 155 boys who would train to become radar or radio fitters to maintain ground and airborne electronics systems for the RAF. In January 1962 we were the junior entry "sprogs" and subject to taunts and mockery from the senior entries. Our time would come.
The first year involved detailed studies of basic electrical and electronic theory, ranging from valves and transistors to magnetrons and waveguides. Regular exams ensured that we paid attention and before long we were becoming little "egg heads". But it was not all classroom theory. There were very modern (for those days) laboratories and workshops where theory could be put into practice and the subject of electronics and electricity was becoming less of a mystery.
Being the RAF, there was plenty of "square bashing", "bull" and discipline to contend with. In the early days we were not allowed off the camp and therefore our limited leisure time was confined to the billet or the NAAFI. Most evenings were taken up with "bull", cleaning kit and the billet, with regular kit inspections.
Sports and exercise were encouraged and some excelled more than others. Exercise and service training were often combined in route marches and other outdoor torture in places such as Cheddar Gorge and Dartmoor. We were eventually allowed to go off site to the local towns and villages, but only in uniform. We were closely monitored for appearance and behaviour.
In the second year, our studies began to focus on specific areas of RAF electronics and the entry began to split up into areas of expertise such as ground wireless/radar installations or airborne radar systems. Our pay began to improve and we were able to go off camp wearing a form of civilian clothing called "mufti". This involved a blazer matching a specified design and colour (with an approved blazer
badge). Trousers also had strict specifications on colour, material and leg width. And the same with shoes, shirt and tie. Needless to say, like schoolboys, some of these items were substituted once off site, although there were serious repercussions if you were caught! Weston-Super-Mare was a popular destination where we had our favourite pubs and hang-outs. The Sixties were famous for feuds between mods and rockers and Somerset had no shortage of action in that area. Some of the local lads also took exception to the RAF, who were seen as an intrusion on their "patch", so time off camp could be quite lively!
The third year saw us in our final trade groups. These were Ground Wireless, Ground Radar and Air Radar (which was further split into Fighter, Bomber and General). Final exams were theoretical, practical and academic. As "senior" apprentices we were allowed to go out in approved civilian clothes such as lounge suits. Eventually we became the Senior Entry and did our turn of "bashing" the junior (and other) entries.
We finally graduated on 15th December 1964 and were allocated our first postings in adult service.
