March 2006 Issue

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Christmas Cards

I have been having a clear out of late and came across a lot of old Christmas cards. Before throwing them away, I had a look at them all and found several from old members who have sadly passed away.

One card is of interest to me, it was from an old member who left the club many years ago because he had moved away from the area. The member was Denis McAllister who some members will remember. Denis was a school lecturer before he retired, he was into computers from the start and was extremely knowledgeable. Denis could spend all evening talking about a 5 1/4" disc, which was in general use when the club was first formed. An amazingly knowledgeable man. Denis was always ready to help and I will write to him to see if he is still about and hopefully well.

My Moments Of Fame

I was not going to mention this but Bryan Coleman thinks that members would be interested (nothing about computing I am afraid).

During the war (1939-1945 in case you think that I was about during the first world war) I served an apprenticeship as an Aircraft Engineer with the Supermarine division of Vickers Armstrong. Supermarine, as members will know were the makers of the famous Spitfire and last Sunday was the 70^th anniversary of the first flight of this famous aeroplane.

I was presented with a certificate to mark the event I honestly don't know how I get involved in all of these things but I was contacted by a lady last year who is writing a book about the company and wished to interview me. Subsequently she wrote several pages about me and came down to see if what she had written was accurate.

I don't know if this had anything to do with subsequent events but I was recently telephoned by three television companies who wished me to appear in programs that were being made about the Spitfire. The ITV program was not too bad an experience as I was interviewed at the Solent Sky museum in Southampton. The BBC program was not such a good experience.

I was asked to go to Southampton Airport where the interview would take place, close to a runway when a Spitfire was coming in to land. I waited with the camera crew for over two hours in the freezing cold before the plane came in!

I was told what experience they wanted me to relate and naturally I had memorised what I wanted to say. I was given a brief rehearsal which they said was fine but they wanted me to cut the time by half. When the Spitfire came in I was called to do my bit which having been cut had already lost some of it's impact.

I told my story against the clock which was running down rapidly and I panicked a bit although I was told that it was quite satisfactory. It is quite a fright to see one's self on television and in my case see how I have aged over the years.

Sky interviewed me at home for two hours and they said that they will send me a DVD. I don't know as yet when the program is to be broadcast.