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Colin Jones

Evidence Co-ordinator

I was born many years ago in South Wales, up in the valleys in a small mining village near Merthyr Tydfil (and I still proudly retain my accent). My father was a miner and so was my grandfather and 2 of my brothers. I broke the mould. I took up an apprenticeship as a carpenter with a local builder, and soon discovered I wasn’t a very good at it. One day whilst sitting on top of a roof and being frozen to a solid mass, with the wind and rain coming at me from all directions and the carpenter shouting at me from inside the building, I then thought that enough was enough, there had to be something more exciting, rewarding and warmer than this. Having discussed the armed forces with my father (who was in the Navy for many years) I decided with the help of my sister to join the Royal Air Force, which I did in 1971, and because I came from a mining village, the Sergeant at the CIO Cardiff decided that I would be at home underground in the dark, and so I became an “Air Defence Operator”.

From there I gained, experience, promotion, sporting injuries (mostly from rugby players) and mostly very enjoyable times at different postings in the UK and around the world. Some of the highlights were, a posting to Cyprus, 1 month before Turkey invaded and the Island split up. I also served in Berlin, when Rudolf Hess was still alive and imprisoned in Spandau prison. The Berlin wall was still a wall at that stage; it came down a few years after we left (I had nothing to do with that).

I served at all the mainstream Radar stations around the UK with the exception of RAF Buchan in northern Scotland; however I had an unaccompanied tour of Benbecula, working and living alongside the Royal Artillery. I had 3 wonderful separate tours at Boulmer in Northumberland, one of the most beautiful, and unspoilt parts of the world. I had a tour at Waddington helping to reform 23 Squadron, and on board the AWACS whilst also holding the post of Squadron Warrant Officer. From there I returned to Boulmer and retirement.

I left the RAF in 2000, and had to learn how to become a civilian again. I went to university to study Training and Development, and became involved with local companies around Northumberland, trying to gain employment for those people who are classed as “long term unemployed”. I retained my contact with the RAF, returning to Boulmer to provide in depth discussions and lectures on attitudes and qualifications required by civilian companies for those who were considering their future in the civilian world.

After that, the sun beckoned and we decided to give Spain the pleasure of our company. We bought a small casita (villa) in the countryside and started a restoration project, culminating in building a pool, and erecting a wall so as to maintain security and privacy. Once that was completed, what else? Golf then golf and golf. Boredom set in so we had to do something else. Here I am ready to go!!!!

I am married to Lynne, who is a Library assistant at Anglia Ruskin University in Peterborough. We have two wonderful sons, Barry and Martin. Barry is a marine engineer in the oil industry. Martin is a photographer at Winterbourne Gunner. I am a grandfather to Emily, Kieran and Felix.

I was always outspoken when it came to supporting my subordinates, colleagues and seniors in the RAF, and I look forward to providing support to them once again. After meeting the team it feels like I have been reintroduced to the family.

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