The End Is In Sight
The End Is In Sight
We were now in our last week and my pharyngitis had come back but I was determined that I wasn’t reporting sick so I struggled on through the last week. We would finish on the Friday with a P.T test in the gym before the inspecting officers and for which a trophy was awarded. I had never been very good at gym work but was relieved that there were a few others like me. We couldn’t do some of the vaulting, etc. but the P.T.I. arranged for us to do easier exercises so that we didn’t look stupid. We were very surprised to win the trophy, much to the delight of the P.T.I.

Then it was the Passing Out Parade. Along with all the other flights who were passing out that day, we marched for the first time behind a military band. This is what we had been practising for over the past eight weeks and again we won the trophy. The D.I.s were nearly in tears, we had given them a lot of “brownie points” that day.We were on first name terms with them after that.

We were given our travel passes for the journey home and told when to report to our next RAF station. I was surprised to learn I had three weeks leave before reporting to Kirkham. We boarded the buses which would take us to the railway station and caught the train homewards. My pharyngitis was pretty bad and I think I slept all the way to Glasgow. I struggled up Buchanan Street with all my kit on and carrying my kitbag. I got on the bus home but had to walk the last two miles. My folks were surprised when I got home about 11pm.

I stayed in over the next two days and my throat got a bit better. I met my old gaffer on the street and when I told him I was home for three weeks, he asked me if I would like to come back to the patternshop as they were very busy. I declined his offer but two days later I got a bit bored and agreed to come back for two  weeks. I worked as many hours as I could as I knew I could reclaim all my income tax and bought an electric iron with some of my wages. Then my travel voucher arrived and I left to catch the train for Preston and then Kirkham for the next part of my training.
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