RNAS FORD

 

One evening in 1956 at RNAS Ford, a collection of WW2 prefabricated wooden huts liberally coated with creosote, the tin pipe chimney from the pot-belly stove in our mess,  which was supposed to keep us warm in winter, had a very poor fit with the roofing felt and leaked quite badly. The OOD arrived for evening rounds and I reported the mess 'Ready for inspection sir',  and on this particular evening the duty officer noticed a puddle that had formed at the base of the stove.

As soon as he left the other lads in the mess fell about laughing...  I remember him asking if there was always a puddle there, but it seems I replied "No sir, only when it rains".