Bexhill and District Branch Aircrew Association - July 25

He introduced his talk with an absorbing outline of the Household Cavalry's development from its roots in the Civil War through to the present day in which the Brigade's current commitments are high profile ceremonial duties and front line armoured reconnaissance.

The ability to switch so effectively between two demanding but highly dissimilar roles, one in the glare of London's public spotlight and the other under hostile fire in the unforgiving heart of Afghanistan, clearly call for a strong sense of duty, motivation and, as our speaker amply demonstrated, a keen sense of humour.

Our July speaker, Bob Billaney, regaled us with a forthrightly entertaining account of his 40-year career as a Thames Waterman.

Starting his apprenticeship in 1948 as deck boy on a steam tug he went on to master a wide range of skills, including the operating of rowing and sailing barges, and the challenges of negotiating Thames tides and bridges while towing a string of six barges, each carrying 250 tons of aviation fuel. It was a hard physical calling involving long hours, harsh conditions and an ability to live by one's wits. However, sustained by a strong sense of camaraderie and a genuine affection for the job, Bob's enthusiasm for his vocation has clearly never waned.

Our next meeting on Monday, August 11 will feature a talk by Brian Randall on Low Technology Flight Testing.