During his address Sir Geoffrey told the Squadron just how strong his ties with the Squadron were and in fact it was he who presented the Squadron with its Standard at Abu Sueir in 1955. To the right Bob Partridge our Standard Bearer is seen here with Sergeant Stevens and Sergeant Neville, two of our SNCOs.
Ian Tite is seen here
on the left
with Sir Geoffrey while his Flight is inspected. Ian is one bloke for sure who would rather have been airborne. However, somebody had to be on parade….. Heh, heh, heh!!! Now we are really getting down to the serious part of the evening's work. On the right, my guests, Ken and Margaret Warburton (centre) are chatting to Ken and Mary Kenefick and what splendid friends they have all been to me.
One of the
highlights of the evening was the ceremonial cutting of the Squadron cake, a magnificent creation, by the Mad Major and Sir Geoffrey. Major Draper succeeded
Sir Geoffrey Bromet as Squadron Commander in 1917 and it was he who saw the Squadron through its change from No 8 Naval Squadron to No 208 Squadron Royal Air Force, on the latter's inception in April 1918. He acquired the prefix 'Mad' for his exploit in 1953 of flying under 15 London bridges. Must have been some kind of a nut……!!
And when 
it 
was all over the airmen were happy to chat to Sir Geoffrey and partake of a few ales…. A few….. the rotten 'b's just about drank us dry, not that anyone cared! Well, some of us had to eat and so life slides by gently. Eat, drink and be merry folks! This photo on the right is of another occasion, the Christmas Ball, I think, for Roger Hymans has taken over from Andy Maitland.
208 Squadron 1965-
