PONTEFRACT FLYING CLUB

ADDED 8 FEBRUARY 2006

I have been a postal subscriber to the Pontefract Digest for a number of months now and a former resident of the Borough from 1949 to 1984 and felt it time I contributed to an excellent publication so I am attaching a couple of photos and scans of documents you might find interesting.

The photo in the centre, above, shows members of The Pontefract and Castleford Model Flying Club of which my father Alfred (Bill) Brook was a member in the early 1950's. The club met in the Community Centre, Pontefract and, as I now believe, regularly flew their planes in Pontefract Park. My father is 7th from the left at the back, known to some as Alf and others as Bill. (His real name was Alfred Evans Brook but 'Bill' was a family pet name which he used throughout his life alongside Alf. This often led at times to some confusion as work colleagues may have known him as Bill whilst friends knew him as Alf or Alfred.

The other two scans above show two of his membership cards; one for 1950 and the other for 1954.

My father was also enrolled into the West Riding County Auxiliary Fire Service on the 11th September 1951 and posted to Pontefract Fire Station. He had to report to Assistant Divisional Officer Potts, who was the Officer in Charge at Pontefract at that time, for training and the issue of his uniform and equipment. 

The photograph above in the centre shows my father Alf (Bill) Brook (AFS No. 10151) as a member of the Winning Crew in the Auxiliary Fire Service Trailer Pump Drill on the 29th August 1953 at the Annual Fire Appliance Competitions held at South Elmsall. My father is on the right at the back row.

The image above left, shows the Diploma which he was awarded. Notice the name is wrong being 'William Brook' but I suppose it would be a common mistake to assume that someone who went by the nickname of Bill may well be called William.

He served until the early 1960's by which time he was a Sub-Officer and one of his last major duties was to be invited to attend and act as Usher on the occasion of the visit of HRH The Princess Royal to present the Fire Brigade Long Service and good Conduct Medals at Wakefield on Saturday 24th June 1961. The image above right is a scan of his invitation to this event.

Ted Brook
ted (at) ebrook.wanadoo.co.uk
8 February 2006

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