OLD CEYLON COMRADES  

 

by John King

 The Old Ceylon Comrades was founded in 1996 by Jeff "Robbie" Robinson, an ex dog handler who was stationed in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the early 1950's. The group was formed in the mid 1990's, when a few of the members he had already found attended a Royal Air Force Police Association re-union in London. During the evening the few who had been posted to Ceylon got together. During the evening of memories, photographs were brought out which helped to make the memories stronger.

Robbie had begun to try and locate all RAF Police who had served on the Island from the 1940's to when the RAF left the island at the beginning of 1960. After many letters, radio interviews and phone calls he managed to find some 300 names, who he then tried to make contact with. He managed to contact about half of them and invite them to our first re-union in 1966 at Melton Mowbray. Around twenty people turned up at that first main get together, and it was agreed that an annual re-union be organised. The format was to meet at a chosen hotel, located close to a RAF Establishment, swap stories and photographs and then enjoy a dinner in the evening. The following day a visit would be made to that station in the area. Once Robbie has organised a station visit, Ken Needham (also an ex dog handler on the island in the late 1950's) takes over and arrange the reunion as we know today.  

Cpl John King on the 14.00hrs to 22.00 hrs Guardroom shift 

Although I did not attend the early re-unions I know that a very warm welcome was given to all who attended by stations visited. Each visit would start with a brief history of the station followed by a grand tour, which was of interest to us old "Snowdrops" The guided tour is given by a member of the Security Flight. The visit normally ended up with a visit to the Dog Section. (If the station has a dog section) Most of the comrades are ex dog handlers so the improvements were compared with those of their time. Generally this resulted in tales of what they got up to, like using the dog as an alarm clock, (only kidding). Although the re-union is mainly for the Old Ceylon Comrades, wives and friends also come along, who enjoy it as much as the Old Comrades do. Since the conception of the Old Ceylon Comrades, visits have been made to Netheravon (Old Police School) Conningsby, Scampton, Waddington, Digby, Melton Mowbray (Army Vet Corps), Cosford, Coltishall, Cranwell and East Kirkby a private aircraft museum. A quarterly newsletter is produced and is issued to all Old Ceylon Comrades plus a few interested "friends"

Last year we celebrated our 10th anniversary and some 43 members and their wives ( our largest get together so far) gathered at the Admiral Rodney Hotel in Horncastle. Again many memories were retold and photographs viewed. Later in the evening we sat down to a three course meal followed by speeches from some of the members. We are lucky to have an Old Ceylon Comrades Keith (Geordie) Wardle who entertains us each re-union cameo stories and jokes normally about himself and his much better half Yvonne. The following day we drove to RAF Cranwell for a tour of the station. This year we were invited to return to Cranwell a follow up from last September. We were given a tour of Cranwell College followed by lunch in the Sergeants Mess and drinks in the Pig and Pongo Police club. There a presentation was made of a Ceylon Plaque from the O/C Police and Security Flight to Ken Needham who in turn gave a framed group photograph of members standing outside the College, during the visit the previous September.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        Cpl King  - almost 22.00hrs