Beverley Westwood Probus Club member, Ian Hamilton, was the speaker at their lunch held at the Beverley Arms Hotel on Wednesday 7th March.
Ian, who is a retired RAF Wing Commander, gave members a fascinating talk about his career with particular reference to a 6 month tour of duty which he undertook in the Falkland Islands.
He arrived at Stanley some 9 months after the invading Argentineans had surrendered but found the Islands still in a state of high alert, with fears that the enemy might return at any time.
To combat this, RAF aircraft and Royal Navy warships were kept in a state of perpetual readiness with round the clock surveillance operations.
Ian, as senior engineering officer to no.23 (F) Squadron was responsible for keeping 12 Phantom jet fighters available to fly sorties 24 hours per day 7 days a week.
He illustrated his talk with photographs of the aircraft, his engineering crew, the squadron base and the local scenery, mainly barren with very few trees.
A question and answer session followed after which the Beverley Westwood Probus Club President, Les McLaughlin, proposed a vote of thanks to Ian and this was enthusiastically received.
