Alan Wall
I attended City Grammar School
from September 1967 to November 1972. Whilst there I played Trumpet
in the School Orchestra and recall some of the other members; Tina
Affeck (Clarinet), Steve Topham (Trumpet), David Turner (Trumpet), Chris
Beal (Trombone), Neil Benson (Trombone), Katie Walton (Cello), Helen Bellamy
(she played piano and Oboe or Flute (I think)). I was also a member
of the Phoenix Boys Choir run by Mr Peter Harrison, who I remember was
a terrific organist. Other members of the Choir that I remember were:
Mark Woodhead (Maggot), Paul Copley and Chris Beel. Fellow school
friends included Peter Hemmingfield, Dougie Topham, John Heathcote, Trevor
Trueman, Trev Wilson, Trev Sears, Keith Webster, David Mills, Hazel Carter,
Jeanette Burns, Janet Bickerstaffe and Lucia Scalisi.
I used to travel from Wincobank
to Stradbroke every day on 2 Busses - the Circular from Brightside to Beaumont
Road and the No 93 from Beaumont Road to Stradbroke. It was hellish
in Winter.
After leaving School I joined
the Royal Navy in March 1973. I visited places all round the world
in several submarines and went to war in the Falklands in 1982. I
left the Navy in 1996 (pensioned off) having served my last 3 years living
in Gibraltar. This was, probably, the best three years of my entire
Service - lots of sun and golf.
6 Months later I joined the RAF
for 6 years working at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall (about 7 miles from Newquay),
bought a house nearby and have settled here in the sunny South West.
When I left the RAF I managed to get a job working at RAF St Mawgan as
a Civil Servant. It seems like I can't get away from working with
the Armed Forces.
I got married in 1981 to Eddy (Edna) who had 2 sons from a previous marriage. We moved to Plymouth, Devon and lived there for 17 years (with the exception of 3 years in Gibraltar). I now have 4 Grandchildren (two boys who live in North Yorkshire and two girls who live in Plymouth) of which I am very proud.