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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-06-01, Page 19Return to Clinton memorable for first RAF radio instructor By Peggy Gibb Thirty-seven years ago this summer, he alighted from a special train at Clinton along with 120 other RAF personnel who had come from Britain to form the nucleus of the first radar communications school on this con- tinent. So No 31 Radio School, RAF, was born - later to become RCAF Station, Clinton. Last week, Sgt. E.W. "Ernie" Cooke, BEM, FIDP, MBCS and his wife, May, came back to Clinton to relive, in one day, the memories of three years spent here from 1941 to 1944. Ernie Cooke, familiarly known as "Cooky", was a radar instructor in one of the biggest "hush-hush" operations of the second world war. So secret was the whole undertaking that even the members of the first contingent did not know until they arrived that Clinton was the destination. Furthermore, a visit to the Radio School by the famed inventor of radar himself, Sir Robert Watson -Watt was made with only the knowledge of the men of the school. Early Wednesday morning May 24, May and Ernie started their day of nostalgia. A picture had to be taken at Clinton Hospital, as it was there in 1944 that their first child, a daughter, Lynda, was born. The house where they Personnel of No. 31 Radio School pictured in 1941 outside Hut No. 22 which still stands at Vanastra today. Back Row from left: Gerry Hoskin, Bob Wilton, Carl Bollick. Front row from left: unidentified, E. W. Cooke, Frank Curzon. had lived when in Clinton was the old Epps home on King Street - but they found that it had been demolished for the erection of the King Street Villa. However, the Cookes received a very gracious welcome from Mrs. Marg Lawson who remembered the English couples who had resided next door to her. A visit to Vanastra, even in its present state, brough back a flood of memories for the one time sergeant instructor. He was able to point out the exact location where the compound existed, complete with radio towers and electrified fence. A picture was taken outside hut No. 22 in the same pose as when he was snapped there 35 years ago with five of his fellow RAF. Of great interest was the present Radio and Communications School erected since the war and now standing forlorn and empty with the paint peeling off walls and ceilings. Another stop at the original Sergeants' Mess building stirred memories of their three service years and the friends with whom they enjoyed many happy evenings. Across the highway from the base in those days was the Hanly farm. Ma and. Pa Hanly, as they were affectionately known to the RAF often welcomed and fed these boys so far away from home. A call at Mrs. Kay Hanly's on Town- send Street found her out or else that would have been another pleasant reunion. Turn to page 3A • What's your opinion of your hometown paper? Reviewing the content of The Clinton News -Record is an ongoing process, one which is necessary if you are to receive the best possible community newspaper in this area. It is absolutely essen- tial that the News -Record staff knows your opinion. At the present time, an intensive readership survey is underway in the community conducted in a professional manner by telephone. You may already have been contacted, or you may be called soon. Whether you have been called or not, the staff of News -Record would be appreciative if you would complete this mini -survey and return it to: Jim Fitzgerald, Editor Clinton News -Record Box 39, Clinton, Ont. NOM 1L0 Thanks for your help. In General: 1. How often do you read The Clinton News -Record? every week every other week once a month 2. What do you turn to first? 3. Can you always find it easily? Yes No Sometimes 4. Do you believe what you read in The News -Record? Yes No Sometimes The News: 1. How would you rate coverage of local news events? very good good fair poor 2. Would you like to see more coverage given to: Yes Clinton Town Council, municipal news Hullett Township Goderich Township Stanley Township Tuckersmith Township Bayfield, Auburn Londesboro, Vanastra Hensall Kippen Varna, County government School board and education Police work Court news Politics Hospitals and Health Farm No The Editorial Page 1. Do you read? Editorials Odds 'n' ends Bill Smiley Dear Editor From the early files Regularly Sometimes Never 2. Have you utilized the Letters to the Editor space to express your opinion on matters of concern to you in the last year? Yes No 3. Do you like the editorial page cartoon? Always Sometimes Never More than 35 years later, Ernie Cooke rolled back into Clinton to be photographed in the same position in front of the same building, Hut 22, at Vanastra, the former CFB Clinton. He instructed at the former base from 1941 to 44 while the No. 31 Radio School of the RAF was here. (News -Record photo) The Sports: 1. How would you rate coverage of the district sports events? very good - good fair poor 2. Keeping in mind that the News -Record is a Community newspaper, what else would you like to read about in the sports sec- tion? Church and Features: 1. Do you read? Obituaries Church news Club news Theatre news 2. What feature stories you have read recently in the News -Record did you enjoy most? Regularly Sometimes Never 3. Does anyone in your family enjoy the Children's Corner? Yes No How many? What ages are they? 3. Name your favorite participation sport 4. Name your favorite spectator sport What is Missing? 1. Would you enjoy? The. Columns: 1. Do you read the columns written by the following? Regularly Sometimes Never Peggy Gibb Jim Fitzgerald Shelley McPhee Lois Gibbings Steve Cooke 2. Do you read? Yes No a horoscope column a crossword puzzle a cooking column More on cultural activities (Music, Art, Theatre, Books etc.)? a do-it-yourself corner a garden column 2. Would you like to see more features on? (check no more than three) sports people fashion farm foods artists theatre education Health kids municipal figures churches community affairs 3. If you could add anything to the News -Record, what would it be? 4. If you could take anything out of the News -Record, what would it be? One of,the two 240' towers erected in 1941 at the then No. 31 Radio S fol, RAF Clinton, later to become RCAF Station, Clinton and now Vanastra. tese two towers, along with two 120' towers were the forerunners of the radar screens in use later. Regularly Sometimes Never CHSS Chronicle Weather Through the other weeklies Jack's Jottings This week at the Legion Business and Industry 1. How do you rate the coverage of Clinton and area businesses? very good good fair poor Why? 2. What business oriented columns would be of interest to you? THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS REQUESTED ONLY FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES: NAME ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER AGE L. .1,