As Puddy was so well know within RAF circles for so many years, I’m sure that many more stories will come out over time; but maybe now that I have had the day to reflect on the news myself, a little personal insight from me?

I arrived at RAF Brawdy in June 1979 as a fresh-faced new SAC straight off the train from Halton to a place I never even knew existed until about a week before… Although first posted onto the then-new Hawks, I gradually worked my way back in time working on Hunters, and then whilst on VASF at Brawdy, we were also tasked to look after the resident 4x Jet Provosts and 2x Meteors that made up Brawdy’s rather unusual fleet of based aircraft.
Even as a mere youngster, I could not really believe that I was working on something that first flew not long after WW2, but loved every minute of my time on these whistling squealing machines. I was slightly nervous when being shown how to do the groundcrew start-up procedure on one of these, made even more nerve-wracking when aware that Puddy was the pilot. I had been warned about his character already, but nothing prepared me for what was to happen next….

Meteors used the ubiquitous Trolley-Acc to provide ground power of course, (me being more used to Avpin or Carts or other more modern methods), so I had to remember the correct sequence of switching and disconnection of the lead. Nervously strapping Puddy in, I was acutely aware that he seemed the type not to be messed with – although to his credit he did try and put me at ease?

Back on the ground, I eagerly awaited the signal to switch the Trolley-Acc power on, and waited whilst Puddy fiddled around inside to start the first engine….

The whining sounded like someone was hoovering next to me – quite bizarre after becoming used to an ear-splitting scream of a more modern jet engine. There seemed to be absolutely no sense of suction from the intake – another surprise for me; so I stood there spellbound as this machine from another era started to increase in noise-ish.

Puddy then signalled for me to remove the ground power supply once the engine-mounted dynamo (well it was similar) took over. Now was the crucial moment to remember what I had been told….
But no – I was so nervous that I forgot to flick over the aircraft’s Ground/Air power switch, and instead just switched OFF the Trolley-Acc and proceeded to remove and coil up the power lead!

A few seconds later, two things happened:

1) The whine of that hoover started to wind-down – how unusual I thought to myself?

2) Puddy shouted out as only Puddy could: “Buckingham!!!!!! Turn that BLOODY Trolley Acc BACK ON and sort the BLOODY switching out!!!!!

I looked up somewhat surprised to be able to hear Puddy’s shouting, then it dawned on me WHY I could hear him in the first place. Many frantic hand gestures followed, and I switched the power back on again rather sharpish…

The hoover whine started to wind back up again as only the Meteor’s engine could (that would have broken a more modern system of course), and the whining got slightly louder again.

Then Puddy gestured to me to do the whole thing again – though properly this time, which I did of course.

The remaining see-off went without drama, and you can guess who was tasked with seeing him back in again can’t you?

I was dreading the consequences when Puddy climbed down from Winston, but he didn’t really shout at me – it was sufficient for me to have been petrified in the first place!

Years later, I made it a quest to find out his whereabouts and went to see him where he lived not far from Brawdy. As soon as he opened his door, I was recognised and greeted as if it was just another day on VASF again – and he still hadn’t forgotten what happened after all the passing years!

I visited him several times after that, and we were still in touch via letters and more recently via email as we shared a passion for remembering the good old days when the RAF had ‘proper’ aircraft….

Puddy only left the RAF when they took Winston off him in 1982 – he really did not like the decision as he (quite correctly as is known now in Australia) reckoned there was life in that old Meteor yet – and spares aplenty! I kept him informed on how ‘his’ Meteor was fairing down-under – which he did appreciate as this internet technology wasn’t really him at all!

I feel honoured to have worked with him, and regarded him as a true gentleman and friend even now.

His landlord / neighbour is in direct contact with me after finding me out online – and I await news of the funeral arrangements etc.

Blue Skies Sir