Tribute to R.A.F. Halton

Following the cessation of The R.A.F. Apprenticeship Scheme in 1993, several of our members suggested that some form of memorial should be erected at R.A.F Hatton to remind future generations that some forty thousand boys had been trained there.

From over twenty designs submitted, it was the proposal of the 'BLOCK AND CUBE' test job which came from a member of The 29th Entry which was unanimously accepted by the 1996 A.G.M. of the Hatton Aircraft Apprentices Association. Not only did David Howells design the tribute, he was present at all phases of the project and, being a master calligrapher, made all the full size lettering templates for the engraver.

At[ donations for 'THE TRIBUTE' have been recorded in the 'ALAN SMALL TRIBUTE BOOK' (42nd) entry) which is housed in St Georges Church at R.A.F. Halton. Originally the 'BLOCK' was to have been Welsh slate but after the third piece was found to have a hairline crack, the material had to be changed to Scottish Granite. 'THE TRIBUTE' was ready to be unveiled.

At the 1997 A.G.M. Gp. Capt. David Walker, the Station Commander and President of the R.A.F Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association, announced that Her Majesty The Queen would visit R.A.F. Halton to present her Colour to the Station on 31st October 1997, and that she had graciously agreed to unveil 'THE TRIBUTE' during her visit.

Today 'THE TRIBUTE' proudly stands on a mound in front of Kermode Hall, better known to Brats as 'Schools', a fitting tribute to all Ex-Brats and to their Founder, Marshal of The Royal Air Force, Lord Trenchard.

Apprentices have marched to bands since the formation of No. 1 School of Technical Training in 1922. The Bands have ranged from a Corps of Drums with trumpet support through to a full military band known affectionately as 'The Tin Band'. Over the years the bands have varied in both size and musical ability. Fifes were very popular at one time but are no longer played. The bagpipes, once adopted, stayed and grew in strength and popularity. The essential task of the bands had remained remarkably constant, to provide rhythm for the daily working parades marching between the Apprentice Wings and the schools and workshops areas. So many voluntary musicians have thus been produced that it is difficult to imagine any R.A.F. station band without its share of Ex-Brats, particularly if it is a pipe band.

With the termination of the apprentice training scheme there was great concern that the tradition of bagpipe playing at Halton would fade out. The R.A.F. Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association could not let that happen and so the 'Golden Oldies' now play at each apprentice function and had the honour of performing before Her Majesty The Queen at the occasion of the unveiling of 'THE TRIBUTE' in the grounds of Kermode Hall, 'Schools'.

The Corps of Trumpeters were best known for their attendance at The Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Day each year, whilst The Military Band played for The Lord Mayor's Show, a festival attended from time to time by the full Station Pipe Band. Halton has provided bands for numerous fetes and carnivals, the World Aerobatics Championships and The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.