Six generations of RAF NDT instructors
19/05/2015
Gathered at the recent 60th birthday party of Malcolm Spicer were an unbroken chain of instructors from the Royal Air Force School of NDT, formerly based at RAF Swanton Morley, Norfolk, and now at RAF St Athan, South Wales. Each of the instructors taught the art of NDT to their successor, beginning with Dave George, who was taught by Taff Thomas and Jim Sayers on course number 44 in June 1971. Dave then taught Ivan Owen, who was on course number 56 in March 1974. Ivan handed over to Paul Edwards, who was on course number 68 in March 1977, and Paul then taught Mal Spicer in November 1985 on course number 93. Neil Harrap was then taught by Mal on course number 111 in November 1991. Neil taught Doug Wylie in November 1997 on course number 125 and finally Doug became an instructor at the school in December 2004. Incidentally, this picture was taken by the David Bailey of the RAF NDT world, Jack Mitchell, who was also an instructor on Neil Harrap’s course alongside Mal.
