Where has 44 years gone? It only seems like yesterday that I joined 1358 Squadron at the old, black wood hut they called the headquarters in Tawe Street, yet though the time has flown by, I have been lucky enough to share some fantastic experiences through all of that time and I have been proud to have been part of this fantastic organisation, which at the age of retiring at 55, means that I have spent 76% of my life in the Air Cadets.

My time as a cadet has without doubt set me up for what my adult life became and helped mould me into the person I am today and my adult service helped me in my career development and has given me the skills to be successful in my business life.

There has been a down side to all this excitement, travel, fantastic experiences and honours and that has been that my long-suffering family have been left on their own too long. This started when I first got married at the age of 20, deciding we could not have a honeymoon, as I was leaving five days later to play rugby for the Corps and I returned three days later. Unfortunately this selfishness on my part continued throughout my career, sometimes seeing me away from my family for up to six weeks a year and I have a great deal to thank my wife Jackie and my children Gareth & Jodie for their patience and support, which has allowed me to continue.

There are so many people I want to thank for helping me during the last 44 years that include WO Bill Thomas (deceased), my mentor when I joined as a young cadet, Wing Commander Dave Edmunds (ex OC 3WW), for showing me how to be OC 3WW and Group Captain Pat Kiggell (ex Regional Commandant) for his support and guidance over 9 years (as a Region Staff Officer) and for the ultimate honour the Corps can award to any officer, the promotion to command a wing.

There have been countless others who have influenced and supported me in one way or another and this list could be endless but I will include some of those who have made the greatest contribution to my service, including all past Wing Staff officers, especially Sqn Ldr Aeron Kirczey (who was my right arm for most of my service as OC 3WW), all of the current WSO that include Sqn Ldr Lynn Jeremiah, Sqn Ldr Chris Ford, Sqn Ldr Len Protheroe, Sqn Ldr Mike Stones, Sqn Ldr Stuart Anderson for their dedication to the cadets of the Wing. Canon Flt Lt Islwyn Davies, who as Wing Chaplain has transformed the chaplaincy in 3WW into a dynamic force and WO Phil Morgan (who is also retiring from the ACO after 25 years service), whose skills as a Wing Warrant Officer has been exemplarity, especially in setting up our two major parades in Pembroke (2007) and Swansea (2011).

There are many more I could have mentioned like John Williams, John Joseph and Roy Behenna and I apologise if have left someone out but my memory, like my health, is poor.

RJ Wilson
Wg Cdr
OC 3WW