Farm Horses to Jet Fighters

Raised in the 1950s in rural Northern Ireland, John recalls his childhood in a workman's cottage. He provides an insight into family life before electricity, running water and electronic communications. His playground is the local farms at the time of change from horses to tractors. The demise of the Linen factories and Shipyards in the early sixties meant unemployment was rife, so he left home at 16 years to join the Royal Air force as an Apprentice. Here he thrives and is one of 22 apprentices picked to be the escort for the cortege at Churchill’s funeral. His horizons broaden as he serves his country in the Middle East, Singapore, and Malta before being commissioned as an engineering officer in the 1970s. During the Cold War he is on the front line with the Vulcan bombers. Subsequently, he is engaged in maintenance facilities for Jaguar and Tornado aircraft and is based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia when the First Gulf War kicks off. He spends seven and half years in Saudi Arabia working for the Royal Saudi Airforce. Here he shares his interests in motorcycling and offshore sailing and takes you with him on a summer sail around Britain with his wife Ann.