POTTED HISTORY - 586597 VICTOR LUDLOW

My name is Vic Ludlow; I am ex-68/4M5 Entry, of Cranwell and Locking. My Entry joined up in 1951 and we passed out from RAF Locking in 1954 - I was trained as an Air Radio Fitter and then did an NBS Radar Course in 1955. I subsequently worked at the Bomber Command Bombing School at Lindholme until 1963, with the V-Bomber-NBS Ground Simulators and Hastings Flying Classrooms. In 1964 I spent a year at a Teacher Training College at Bolton and was then commissioned as a Technical 'Educator'. My subsequent exotic tours took in Locking, Topcliffe and Locking again, where I finished my time in 1976, as a Sqn Ldr. (I later did another 7 years in uniform, as an RAFVR(T) officer with 10(F) Luton Squadron of the ATC, finishing in 1989). During parts of 1971 and '72, I took a Communications Degree course at Southampton University, also courtesy of the RAF.

In 1977 I worked for a year with EMI (Weston) Limited, on Weston-super-Mare airfield, doing Radar Range measurements on models and real objects, before hearing of a possible job in Iran with BAe. I only made 2 short trips to Iran; the first time, parts of Tehran were set on fire, the second time there was the Revolution (I spent an 'interesting' month 'under fire' as a result of that!)

From 1978 until 1992 I worked for BAe at Stevenage and Filton, in a variety of guises, quite a lot of it to do with training on the Rapier Weapon System. I also spent 3 years of the time on the Polaris Missile update program, Chevaline, and got to go to America 7 times, once for a Polaris submarine firing trial. In the late 80s I went to Indonesia 5 or 6 times, in connection with Rapier training. I finally got 'Special Early Release' from BAe in 1991, after 3 years of pleading. (8-))

From 1993 until 1999 I was registered as Self-Employed - I got involved in quite a number of jobs because of my 'multi-skilling' - plumbing, picture hanging, electrical installations, portable appliance testing, lawn mower and power tool repair being among them!

I was the Admin Secretary of the RAF Cranwell Apprentice Association (RAFCAA) from 1992 to 1998 and I was involved with a scheme called Young Enterprise for 10 years or so, as well, where I was a Business Adviser for 2 years. I was also a member of the North Herts Area Board of YE, and did spells as Secretary and Treasurer before being elevated to the position of Chairman, shortly before I resigned! I am also, currently, Secretary of an Investment Group, involving 12 friends other than myself.

I have been a licensed Amateur Radio operator since December 1953 (as G3JLZ) but am not very active. I'm a lot more active with Appsnet; I like to put my 'penn'orth' in on most topics. Some Members of Appsnet don't 'transmit' too often.

I have until recently been involved in writing batches of MCOQs for City & Guilds Amateur Radio Exams, but that has stopped for now while Amateur Radio Licensing in the UK is re-hashed.

I play dominoes at my 'local', once or twice a week and, more recently, have become a Helper at a Signals Museum that has been set up at RAF Henlow. That occupies 3 evenings a month, in the main.

Each Saturday evening, I conduct a Tutorial session with a young Asian lad, whose parents are keen for him to make his way in the World. Subjects covered to date include English; German; French; Mathematics; Chemistry and Physics! I have to do quite a bit of Lesson Preparation, so I'm back into 'Educator' mode each week.

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