In September 1960, at the age of 17, I embarked on a Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship with the War Office. This was at the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) on Chobham Common near Chertsey. As my home was in Exeter, I was provided with accommodation at the YMCA apprentice hostel, attached to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. There were 250 apprentices in the hostel, which was basic to say the least. The worst aspect was the food and, in protest, some of the lads got hold of the cook's Lambretta scooter and somehow spirited it onto the flat roof some three stories up. It was reluctantly returned to mother earth, some days later, following dire threats from the Warden.
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