SURVIVOR of Three Fighter Jet Air Crashes.

Kelling Probus Club - Monthly Luncheon Meeting- Thursday 21st August '08. Twenty six members and two guests namely Ian Wylie and Peter Smith, enjoyed a meal of Salmon with a prawn Sauce with New potatoes and Fresh Vegetables followed by Jam Roly Poly on a very wet lunchtime. Rohan Fennell took the chair in the absence of Dr John Bryden.  Our very excellent speaker was Forbes Pearson and his subject ''Three Days to Remember'' His talk commenced with information about Ejector Seats. Designed by Martin Blake, he made 75,000, each cost £130, 000, saving 7255 lives including six ladies and 36 lives so far this year. Forbes is a member of the Ejector Club and wore the tie. In 1964 as a Navigation Officer flying Javelin aircraft in Cyprus, whilst taking off at 6.30 am one morning both engines exploded, the aircraft speed was too slow to eject so he and the pilot unstrapped and leapt out of the burning aircraft and ran to safety. What an escape. Talk about lightning striking in the same place twice, exactly the same thing happened six months later, still in Cyprus. On the third crash he was in a Phantom Jet Fighter coming in to land at RAF Coninsgby in Lincoln. Major warning lights on the panel 7 miles out showed both hydraulic systems had failed and the pilot lost control, The pilot and Forbes both ejected. Forbes had pulled the ejector handle between his legs and this came away in his hand because the cable broke, but he ejected.

Photograph: Left Terry Penrose, Left Centre Forbes Pearson, Right Centre Rohan Fennell, Right Norman Barnes

During ejection he was knocked unconscious and came to flying through the air, he received another serious knock when the parachute opened and further K O's when he hit the ground at great speed, On the way down he saw his pilot floating down safely but also saw that the aircraft had looped around and was coming straight for him but luckily it passed just below. RAF control at Coningsby, just saw the aircraft vanish off the radar screen and was then aware of a very large plume of smoke. In the last crash our speaker lost a small brief case and claimed a modest "£10 from insurance. This was refused saying'' No, this was normal wear and tear'' How unlucky or lucky do you have to be.   The rest of his talk about what happened thereafter was equally enthralling. Sam Knowles gave a vote of thanks recalling that he was involved with the development of the Javelin when he was based at Boscome Down. Members gave Forbes a rousing applause for his talk and we were lucky to have him in more than one way. 26 members and wives enjoyed an Historical Stroll through Holt with tea in Baconsthorpe on the Middle Sunday in August with Mr Steve Benson our guide, a cheque for just over £100 was sent to the Quidenham Hospice for Children. Members thoughts went to David Hines and Peter Kail who are not well On Thursday 18th September at The Pheasant Hotel in Kelling our speaker will be Member Glynn Burland talking about ''Wanderings Through the NHS''
BEST WISHES, PHILIP HUTCHINSON