A FEW weeks ago Wirral News featured a photo showing Second World War ace, Group Captain Douglas Bader inspecting Wirral air cadets in the 1960s.

We have since been inundated with memories and photos, and will be featuring as many as possible in the paper and on the blog.

Peter Mather e-mailed to share his memories of the occasion and a photograph of him meeting Group Captain Bader.

He said: "The occasion was the opening of a new building for 472 (Hoylake) Squadron, Air Training Corps at Carr Lane Hoylake in 1968.

"I remember it well. I was the cadet flight sergeant of the squadron at the time and had earlier been asked by the commanding officer who I would like to ‘open’ the new building.

"Douglas Bader had for many years been my ‘hero’ and I told the commanding officer that the only person to do it was Douglas Bader.

"Little did I know at the time that the Commanding Officer, Flt. Lt. Alan Houston (far left of your photograph) worked for Shell as did Group Captain Bader, and through that contact, he was able to arrange the attendance of Douglas Bader

"If I remember correctly the day might have been inclement and some of the ceremony may have taken place inside a hanger. This might have explained the mud.

"The occasion was a momentous one for me and the squadron, and I have a very treasured photograph of me presenting our guest with a plaque to mark the occasion.

"I can remember him asking me at the time whether ‘the boys had made it’ and I felt somewhat ashamed given what he had achieved, to say that they hadn’t.

"This photograph shows (from left to right) Flt. Lt Alan Houston, I think Mr. Grenville, the then chairman of the squadron’s civilian committee, myself and of course, Gp Captain Bader."

IF you have any photos to share with our readers, e-mail lornahughes@wirralnews.co.uk or send them to Memories, Wirral News Group, 76 Hamilton Street, Birkenhead CH41 5AN, including a return address.

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