I was living,briefly, at Loyang ( down the Calshot Road from RAF Changi ) in 1967/68. I was disembarked from HMS EAGLE ,to the Naval Aircraft Support Unit at Changi, where I had responsibility for looking after the French "SAFT " batteries used in the Buccaneer mk 2 aircraft of 800 NAS. I tried to devote as little time as possible to this activity, preferring instead to conserve my energy for playing the banjo with "The Guinness Grenadiers " -----It has been suggested to me that we were,actually,quite good,if a bit 'wild' !! Well, I certainly was !! ---Apart from the music, all I cared about was Tiger & bonking ---or was it bonking & Tiger ?? I have many happy memories of playing at the "Attic " club ( and Millie"s Bar !! ) at Changi. Then there were many performances at BMH ( The Anophel Inn ), the Nissen-hut at Seletar ( near the ASR launch slipway ) , the club at Tengah (just inside the main gate,on the right ) and I remember too that we did gigs at the residence of the C-in C- Far East Fleet, and in a bar called the "Duke of Wellington " or something, in Sembawang or Nee Soon.
I have not seen anyone from those heady days for a long time, although I very recently traced ,( in the last month !! ) one of the original "Guinness Grenadiers ", Bill Graham , who now lives near Inverness. Oddly enough, for many years,up until 2 years ago, I lived in Dorset, where I met, and became friends with, very good musician ( Bouzouki,Bhodran,Hammered Dulcimer ) called CLIVE JENNINGS,who was a schoolboy in those days at .....RAF Changi !!!!
Do I still play ?? Well, yes !! And tonight I'll be at the famous Irish session at the Herschel Arms in Slough !! I"d love to hear from anyone who remembers those days in Singapore---my name is Roger,by the way !!