CCF

C.C.F. R.A.F. SECTION VISIT TO GERMANY

The newly formed C.C.F. R.A.F. Section, under F/Lt. Williams and F/0 Scott, was invited to send four boys on a week visit to R.A.F. Laarbruck, Germany. Cadets chosen were D. Wrenn, D. Barnes, S. Grant and P. Docherty with F/Lt. Williams. Below follows short descriptions of some of the more memorable aspects of the visit.
Overloon War Museum
In the afternoon of the second day we were taken to the Netherlands National War Museum at Overloon. The museum is set out on a group of small hills which had been a key German defensive position during the battle for Overloon in the autumn of 1944. Most of the Museums display pieces are captured or U.S. Army equipment from the battle. The museum is well laid out and visitors can either wander around or follow the suggested route in the guide book which gives a detailed account of each piece of equipment and how it came to be in the museum.
Diisseldorf
Saturday was the day we went on a "shopping" expedition to Diisseldorf. We set off from Laarbruck at 9 a.m. and there was a long ride to Dusseldorf in an overheated R.A.F. bus which also had slippery seats. Stopping by a Cathedral in Dusseldorf we had our "delicious" packed lunches and afterwards set off fro the city centre. We had three hours to explore for it.
After half an hour and 2 miles further on we finally found the shopping centre. The first large shop I noticed was F. W. Woolworths (Ltd.) a German version of the British "Woolies". We came across an elderly German who spoke of his pre-1st World War experiences at Sandhurst where he was trained. He was full of praise for the great British Soldier.
We spent another two hours window shopping and getting presents for those back home before spending another hour looking for the bus. We left Dusseldorf at 3.30 p.m.
Eindhoven
On the sixth day of our stay in Laarbruck all cadets were taken to Eindhoven in Holland to an exhibition of the evolution of man through the ages. The exhibition was appropriately named "Evolun". The exhibition was sponsored by "Phillips" all of the electrical equipment being produced by Phillips.
On entering the vast flying saucer shaped building one was confronted by a large hexagonal lift which lifted you to the top floor and the beginning of the exhibition. For a guided tour round the exhibition you were given a "Phillips Cassettophone" explaining the exhibits in several different languages. Some of the sections were medicine through the ages, T.V. and radio, space travel and many others.

Although we were only allowed a limited time to go round the exhibition many hours could have been spent examining the exhibits in detail.

Amsterdam
On Easter Sunday a bus trip to Amsterdam was arranged. A luxury coach .complete with driver, was hired and we arrived in Amsterdam around mid-day. Stepping off the bus we were greeted with a barrage of invitations to buy postcards, tulips and a trip along the canals. The latter seemed most reasonable, for as the posters were careful to point out it cost only 1 guilder. Leaping precariously onto the "rondvaart" we were instructed to smile while a young girl, poised awkwardly between the glass-topped canal boat and the quayside, took our photograph.
Safely seated we began our tour of the famous Amsterdam canals. An attractive guide exuding professionalism and boredom, explained that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice. During the trip various points of interest were indicated such as the smallest house in Amsterdam and the fine engravings and carvings at the eaves of the houses. So much for the "shop window" I determined to see for myself.
Trying not to appear "stingy" I calmly ignored the photographers' appeal to buy his "good quality" photograph and selected the dirtiest, sleaziest street I could find. Even at this early hour there were many people of various descriptions crowding the narrow street. Immoral women were openly soliciting and a man of dubious character offered me 3 drink in his flat and a conducted tour of Amsterdam. Politely declining the offer I carried on down the street.
Unfortunately we left at 6 o' clock having to draw our conclusions from a Sunday afternoon's visit. I would have liked to have spent more time in the city to get a fuller picture of life as it is on a normal day and night in Amsterdam.

SKI-ING AT AVIEMORE, EASTER, 1969
During the last week of the Easter Holidays a party of cadets from the school went ski-ing for a week at Aviemore. We were eleven in number and were accomapnied by Major Reid, 2nd Lieutenant Wright and two cooks, Mr Walker and Mr Shaw.
The expedition started on Wednesday the 9th April when we set out from Q.V.S. with two land-rovers and trailers. We arrived after a 4j hour journey at the Rothiemurchus Ski Hut, which is about 7 miles from Aviemore and 2 miles from the nearest main road. The first evening was spent arranging our food and sleeping accommodation.
The next morning (Thursday) was devoted to exploring our new surroundings, talking to our