During the Spring of 1977 I was evacuated off HMS/M Ocelot at the Clyde Submarine base with appendicitis. After the operation at a local hospital the wound became infected and I was confined to the sick bay, within the base, for nearly a month.

During this time I read an article in the Sunday Telegraph. It was one of a series of articles running at that time offering ideas on hobbies. On this particular Sunday it described how to learn to fly and obtain a Private Pilots Licence.

When I was eventually discharged from the sickbay, I phoned up the Shropshire Areo Club and starting booking lessons. From 1977 until 1991 I flew from the airfield at Sleap.

I have to say that this period was full of fun. Apart from flying to other parts of the UK, and on one occasion to France, the social life was like no other.

One of the social highlights was a Snoopy Club evening. A simple meal in the club canteen, followed by a disco in the bar room in the main tower block.

During the meal the Master of Ceremonies used announce that grave offences had been committed under "his" version of the Air Navigation Order.

The innocent were forced to stand on their chair to have the fabricated charges read to them. False witnesses were then brought forward to further condemn the unfortunate wretch. The penalty, as it was always, was to drink non-stop, a half a pint of wine whilst being pelted with pieces of soggy serviettes, pieces of bread, and on one occassion, the contents of a CO2 fire extinguisher.

There were nights when the people got wheeled out of the place, and I am not displaying any further photographs for fear of legal action being taken :D