Many friendships are made in a lifetime but there is something special about those that were made during those formative years as a Halton Apprentice and none more so than those between the members of our very own 202nd Entry. 
Tom often appeared as a ‘father’ figure to many of us Apprentices, perhaps because of his vastly greater age – he was born in 1947 whereas most of us in Room 4 were mere youngsters from 1948. He fulfilled this role very well and was always supportive member of Room 4 and often a steadying influence amongst volatile teenagers. However, once we found a local pub that would allow us youngsters to ‘indulge’, he lead that charge very well. Well respected by us all, he played hard and worked hard.
We often look back on those Halton years with affection and when Tom and Chris visited us here in Cornwall recently we spent a long evening and a bottle of scotch reminiscing those formative years and decided that it was not that we enjoyed the experience but we agreed  we formed a very special bond and affection for the members of the Entry that shared that experience with us.
So on behalf of those Members of the 202nd Entry Royal Air Force Halton, farewell Tom - we will miss you.