Summer Camp 1953 - RAF Thorney Island

This picture kindly donated by Ron Drapper, whose describes it in his own words below...

296 Squadron Summer Camp RAF Thorney Island 1953/4 ?

Top row (8) none identified

Row 1 (10) last on right Cdt Norman Sewell

Row 2 (13) left to right No 2 Cdt John Calvert who became a CO of the Sqn, Cdt Gottesman the younger of the two brothers Gottesman, No (13) last in row Cdt Chris Sewell

Row 3 (14) l-r No 4 Cpl Derek Jacoby (bass drummer) No 9 Cdt Harry Golder (tenor drummer) No 10 Cdt Teddy Eades.

Row 4 sitting (14) l-r No 6 W/O Ron Broome No 7 Flt/Lt Bert Frances No 8 Flt/Lt Doug Hunter No 9 W/O Reg Vass No 10 Sgt Gottesman No 11 Cpl George Allaway (he became the bandmaster at RAF Hednesford, a basic training camp for national servicemen) No 12 Cpl John Dalton.

Front row (12) l-r No1 Cdt John Drapper No4 Cdt Phil Shaw No7 Cdt Gascoigne No 11 Cdt Mick Williams (one of the very best Drum Majors)