RODNEY BROWN, otherwise known as "Buster".
Married Joan on 12 September 1953 at Holy Trinity Church, Sliema, Malta.
Children: David Martin & Shirley Anne.
Now living in West Malling, Kent.                                          

At CONDOR from 10/01/49 to December 1952.
LEFT RN 11/11/72

RN CAREER
January 1953 - passage to HMS FALCON, Malta, in HMS EAGLE (809 Sqdn Sea Hornet NF21s).
Hal Far, HMS FALCON, (728 Sqdn Sturgeon TT2s and Sea Fury Mk11s) ARS 3/53 to 01/54.
Jan 1954 - RNAS Culdrose (766 Sqdn, Firefly T1 & T2 Training Squadron). Promoted AA4.
Drafted to station workshops and ARS when 766 disbanded. Re-mustered to form 756 Sqdn (Firefly Mk T7 and Airspeed Oxford, pilot piston conversion squadron).
1956 - RNAS Abbotsinch, Blackburn Hangar (Attackers Mk1 airframe course and Sea Hawks)
1957 - HMS CONDOR (Sea Hawk Mk 6 modifications and test flight section). Passed AA3 exam.
1958 - HMS DAEDALUS (NAMDU as the Senior Artificer of Schedule Production)
1960 - RNAS Culdrose (831 ECM Sqdn - Sea Venom Mk22s & Gannet Mk 4s) in charge of Sea Venoms until 1962. (Boyd Trophy winners.)
1962 - A-AAE Boscombe Down for Buccaneer Mk1 course then "C" Sqdn (Test squadron for Buccaneer Mk1 prototype) - test flying and development of weapon system and sea trials in HMS HERMES, VICTORIOUS & ARK ROYAL.
12/66 - RNAS Brawdy (Sea Vixen FAW2 Production & Modification Unit). Internal draft to 738 Training Sqdn - Hunter Mk 11 (naval version of RAF Hunter Mk 8), then to 849D AEW3 Gannet Flight (HMS EAGLE). Watch Chief of starboard watch.
12/69 - HMS Thunderer (RNEC Manadon) in charge of aircraft instructional hangar.
11/72 - HMS Drake for discharge.

POST-RN CAREER 
12/72 - Joined Short & Harland Bros Aircraft Test Flight & Mobile Unit at West Malling - airframe & engines workshop supervisor for RAF Training Command Chipmunks.
Left in February 1974 to train as a an Industrial Design Model Maker then worked for the Zambian Engineering Services (renamed Zambian Engineering Unit) on the design redevelopment of the Zambian copper belt areas. (Self-employed during model-making career.)
Worked in Lewisham as piping designer/modeller in the petrochemical industry (Fawley Oil Refinery) and on the Interferon drug plant for the Welcome Pharmaceutical Company in Kent.
In 1979 I worked as a design modeller for Davy Power Gas PLC in London and on a Siberian methanol plant for a Russian company, plus the upgrading of the Grangemouth petroleum site. I also worked as a design modeller for Humphrey & Glasgow Ltd in London, on the BP Trent North Sea Oil Drilling & Accommodation rigs, and in the Mathew Hall design and model office on the Marathon oil drilling platform design.
I left model-making in 1986 and returned to West Malling airfield, working for Metair Services as a bench fitter and composite material technician on aircraft interior design and production (SAAB 340, Boeing 747, Concorde, and many other aircraft types). The company was taken over by Fields Aviation then by Hunting Industries, Aviation Division, and moved to Biggin Hill. I was then the section leader of the Aircraft Galley Manufacturing section, then advanced to become a member of the Quality Assurance Division. Promoted to Senior Inspector for the De Havilland Dash 8 project (customer was Bombardier of Canada).

Finally retired in April 1997.

HOBBIES & INTERESTS
National Trust - Associate Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society - Honorary Secretary of the West Malling branch of the Royal Naval Association - member of the local church Parochial Council.
    "I also play short mat bowls, RBL, Aylesford Village, and swim regularly at the local leisure centre.
Joan is actively involved with the Romanian Voluntary Trust, helping in their shop at Allington, and she does a lot of work for our local church."