Biographical Note

The author, now aged 70, served in the Royal Air Force from 1953 to 1966 spending time in school, bomber and coastal commands, and the British Antarctic Survey. Whilst so employed traveled extensively, i.e., North to South Poles, and visited most countries to the east and west of Greenwich.

All the stories in the proposed series are loosely based on the authors own experiences whilst in uniform giving authenticity both to background and characters. Highlights of the 13 years service are as follows:

1953 to 1955 – Attendance at No 1 Radio School, R.A.F.

To be used as the backdrop to the first book in the series,

QUEEN'S AIRMAN – The Schooldays.

1956 to 1960 – Employed in Bomber Command Development Unit on what were then top secret projects.

To be used as the background to the second book in the

Series, QUEEN'S AIRMAN – The Bomber Days.

1960 to 1963 – Stationed at R.A.F. Gibraltar served on 224 Squadron a unit employed on colonial policing duties among other even more dubious activities. As Britain made the final withdrawal from empire several dirty and nasty situations required solutions which together with having to face up to the rush by the Russians to fill the vacuum left by the British gave the Author a unique Insight into what was behind Macmillan’s Wind of change speech.

Experienced gained will form the basis of the third book in

The series – QUEEN'S AIRMAN – The Colonial Days.

1963 to 1964 - Served on 210 Squadron stationed at Ballykelly in N. Ireland.

So the politicians would have us believe that the troubles started in 1969? Face to face with the Russians again but this time over an angry N Atlantic Ocean and Barents Sea.

This book QUEEN'S AIRMAN – The Maritime Days, is set in an era when the `Cold War` was at its height and an undercurrent of bad feelings were being directed against the British serviceman in Londonderry. Walking abroad in uniform was not to be recommended.

The author spent an interesting time as an observer on a Japanese whaling station and experienced some frightening weather and ice conditions.

The first hole in the ozone was positively identified from Halley Bay whilst the author was on duty in 1965.

QUEEN'S AIRMAN – The Antarctic Days, the is based on the author’s time with BAS.

The author, Hugh Strafford, left the R.A.F. in May 1966 and joined The Environmental Systems Division of The Plessey Co. Significant posts held being Chief Engineer, Sales Manager and Product Planning Manager. Main fields of interest being oceanography and meteorology. Became the industries member of The National Data Buoy Programme in 1972.

Joined Decca Survey Co. In 1973 as Underwater Survey Manager providing underwater services to the offshore oil and gas industry.

Formed own company in 1977 together with Chief Engineer of Decca Co. to provide underwater positioning services. This company O.R.E. plc became the second company listed on the USM of the London stock market being bought out by Ferranti in 1982.

1982 to 1985 Marketing Director Resource Tech. Plc.