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John Riches
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John Riches
| Nickname: |
Rags |
| House: |
Grigg |
| Years: |
1960-1963 |
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My immediate memories of PoW were Freddy Hill DFC and the very attractive and seemingly very young dancing teacher.
The former influenced my decision to become a career navigator in the RAAF (as opposed to a pilot much to the
disappointment of my late father, a wartime Lancaster pilot, and my son a Navy/Army and now civilian aero medical/rescue
helicopter pilot). The latter also had a profound and lasting influence on skills as a dancer, ie never being able to
master much more than a shuffle!
Academically I was average and my sporting prowess was restricted to trailing Lamont around the cross country course,
always being in the Schools’ second XI or XV but still managing to get my House colours.
After 34 years in the RAAF (highlights included chasing Soviet submarines in the southern ocean, a tour of Vietnam
and finally command, as a navigator, of a fighter base) my wife, Elizabeth, and I moved onto her family farm in Central
Victoria to raise fat lambs and become immersed in volunteer jobs.
Over the years I have met a number of Old Cambrians (and still keep in touch with some) including Ian McIver,
Mike Lawrence–Brown (eminent Perth doctor), Mike Quinn (first as a survey assistant on the Dampier to Mount Tom Price
railway line and then, much later, as an air traffic controller), Peter Willers (also ex-RAAF and now living in
Caloundra, Queensland), Jim Caird (farming near Warwick, Queensland and a former major in the CMF) and, more recently,
Keith Trowell in nearby Gisborne, Victoria.
(Registered - 24th July 2007)
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If anyone wishes to contact John, please e-mail webmaster@oldcambrians.com
to obtain his contact details
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