About 91st Entry RAF Locking Apprentices

On 21st January 1959, 136 bright-faced young men 'signed on' at the start of their 3-year apprenticeship. They came from all backgrounds and all regions of Great Britain, Northern Ireland along with young boys from Southern Rhodesia and Malaysia. All embarked on an intensive technical training course that turned them into qualified 'fitters'.

Inevitably there were some losses and on 19th December 1961 the remaining 110 boys graduated on a cold and frosty morning. To celebrate, the newly qualified technicians held a Graduation Dinner Dance at the Winter Gardens in Weston Super Mare.

Since then, all have now finished their RAF careers, many leaving at the end of 22 year's service but some staying on until age 55 and several were commissioned. Sadly, some have died on the way, but they are not forgotten.

Although RAF Locking no longer exists, members of the 91st continues to maintain its bonds of friendship and over the years have met at the RAF Locking Apprentices AGM, which is held annually in April.

In July 2018 a monument to RAF Locking Apprentices was unveiled by our very own Martin Palmer. Rick Atkinson was heavily involved for nearly 4 years in the design, planning and dedication etc of the Monument and seeing it through to fruition and future proitection.

The Locking Apprentices Monument is installed on the site of the Gate Guardian of the former Locking RAF Camp. It is located across the road from the Radio Wing. The Radio Wing is now a Community Centre and we knew it as the Chapel. To see additional information on the Monument vist the RAF Locking Apprentices Association ( http://www.raflaa.org.uk/ ) and clicking the MONUMENT tab will show a drop down menu giving access to a brief overview of the dedication ceremony. The second selection takes you to a photo slide show of the ceremony and attendees. There is also a press release from the 'Weston and Somerset Mercury'.
A short video shot by Rick Atkinsons wife on her phone of the march at the end of the Dedication of the Monument is available to view via the Gallery page (select Photostream).


The 91st web site site is also available at http://www.91stentryraflocking.co.uk