Old Haltonians

The Old Haltonian Association, which was founded by Lieutenant Colonel AFS Cardwell in 1925, was an important feature of the earliest years of the Royal Air Force’s Apprentice training at the No. 1 School of Technical Training. The objects of the Old Haltonian Association were to stimulate interest and comradeship between all ex-Halton Apprentices, to provide information on the progress and activities of ex-Apprentices for those still under training and to give each Aircraft Apprentice at Halton an insight into the functions of Service units. It was a flourishing activity with representatives on every RAF unit and in the aircraft industry who all submitted reports to the Association’s Halton Magazine on the doings of ex-Apprentices worldwide.

The RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme was initiated by Lord Trenchard at the No. 1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton in 1922. Initially started in 1920 at Halton camp, the site was not ready to accept apprentices until 1922 so the first 4 Entries were trained at 'RAF Cranwell'. Between 1922 and 1993, when the scheme ended with 155th Entry, over 40,000 young men known, more or less affectionately as Halton 'Brats' had graduated. Richie Waylens (155th) is officially the last apprentice to graduate from the apprentice scheme.

The modern era of ex-Apprentice activity built up again during the 1970s having rather fallen away in the previous decade. A Golden Jubilee Reunion was held at Halton on 1 August 1970, organised by the station under the then Commandant, Air Commodore Bob Weighill, and it is famous for the first appearance of what became the Golden Oldies when ex-band members "borrowed" the existing Halton band’s instruments and put on a dazzling display. Then, in 1977, Charles Kimber (18th Entry) brought out his book, "Son of Halton" which undoubtedly aroused the interest of ex-Apprentices and Kimber became part of a group led by Douglas Henning (37th Entry) who organised a Reunion at Halton, including a Dinner for nearly 180 people, on 7 October 1978, but which was limited to members of Entries up to the 51st.

The following year, Douglas Henning and his team organised a Diamond Jubilee Reunion which took place on 27 September 1980. It was strongly supported by the Station under the leadership of Group Captain Owen Truelove and was a huge success with an estimated 3,500 attending and it set the pattern for all future Reunions. During that day, the RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association was formed at an inaugural meeting under the Chairmanship of Douglas Henning. A Constitution was adopted and Group Captain Truelove became the first ex-officio President of the Association, a position that all succeeding Station Commanders have accepted to this day.

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