Presentation

On Thursday the 22nd. April two friends of Branch 1355 became Associate Members of the Branch.

The Rev. Catriona Ogilvie M.A., B.D. Of Cumbernauld Old Parish Kirk;Chaplain to the Branch became an Associate Member. The presentation of the Membership Certificate was made by the Branch President, who noted that the Rev . Ogilvie was a well kent and kenspeckle figure within the wider community of Cumbernauld. Known to the Branch for the dedication of the new Branch Colours and other Branch functions she is also known within the Brownies of Cumbernauld, the Primary Schools and the Royal British Legion.

Also “on parade” as it were was Mike Hughes - author. Mike has written a definitive book on the activities of the R.A.F. Over the north Atlantic; most especially, the early years of W.W.II operating from bases in the Western Isles and Oban.

Mike is of a younger generation than most of the members of the Branch. A quiet speaker he came to the Branch to talk about his book and showed a remarkable ability to get inside the mindset of population of the Western Isles and Oban as well as the miscellaneous collection of people whom the Royal Air Force had posted to what was a second front line.

Rather marvelous pictures of four of these young men doing their personal washing in a bucket of cold water in front of a “black house” was interspersed with landing in Oban Bay on a dark February day. Of course their were the characters like the R.A.F. Doctor who spent his free time looking over the shoulders of the radar and wireless technicians. His career was to take him back to the University of Glasgow and his newly acquired interests and skills were to give us the “Ultra Scan” systems in common use today.

Both of these people were warmly welcomed as members of the Branch by the President on behalf of all assembled.