Memories of Greenham switchboard
I RECENTLY received a newspaper article from a former RAF
Greenham Common colleague (Carole Mason Gallagher) which was a reminiscence written by a Frederick Hamilton.
Like Mr Hamilton, I too was a switchboard operator.
However, by the time I arrived in October of 1984 the base had changed considerably in function with a perimeter fence; ground Cruise launch missiles (GCLMs) and the infamous peace women.
I never had the opportunity to meet Frederick Hamilton but I did have the pleasure of working with Audrey Roberts.
Audrey represented the epitome of an American’s impression of a British lady and she was often looked upon as a surrogate mother for many a young airman away from home for the very first time.
In fact, bringing freshly baked biscuits and eggnog to a young airman working Christmas Day is so very typical of Audrey’s kindness, so much so, that her generosity was remembered 42 years later. If Frederick Hamilton does not know this already, I would like to mention that I have remained in contact with Audrey Roberts these past 38 years and I am very pleased to mention that Audrey Roberts is alive and well and still living in Newbury. We last meet in 2005 in Durban,
South Africa, for her 80th birthday celebration but continue to correspond up to this very day. In fact, Audrey Roberts would enjoy hearing from Frederick Hamilton as she does recall that Christmas Day visit all those many years ago.
I can supply both her address and her son’s email if he should ever care to contact Audrey to reminisce. I always believed that I would have had the opportunity to return to Great Britain permanently but that never happened but I look upon those early years with much happiness.
We were all like a family with Audrey Roberts, Margaret Pizzey, Carole Mason, Elsie Walker and our colleague from RAF Upper Heyford, Helen Pacey.
Thank you for bring back some very fond memories.
MARK WILLIAMS
Olcott Beach, New York