Come Fly with Me - Tony Jenkinson

Tony Jenkinson – Part 1 of 7 – Come Fly with Me

Tony started by going back to the early days with Bridlington Sea Scouts (with some very fetching photos), this led to time in the Combined Cadet Force (Army then Naval Section). Next was the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough (1956-1959) as a scientific assistant. Due to studies Tony was deferred from National Service but only up until the point that in 1959 he failed an exam by 3 marks.  So with Army and Navy boxes ticked it was time for the Airforce.

At this time during a brief holiday in Bridlington Tony met Pat.  Forces life being what it is, Tony received notice of a posting only five weeks away and just before travelling overseas on 2nd June 1960 Pat and Tony were married.

So the year-long posting/honeymoon to Sylt in the Fresian Islands began. At this time Tony was working as a statistical analysist of the pilots achievements, with Pat just down the corridor working at the Wing Commanders PA.

With the year complete it was back to the UK and back to the Royal Aircraft Establishment working in the parachute department, training as an air observer. Many trials of drag parameters and brake chutes followed including flying in various aircraft such as Shackletons, Victors and Beverleys, and on one run, a close fly-by of the Beatles who were trying to film ‘Help’.

So with 93 sorties under his belt it was time for something new and so time was now spent working with/selling Language Laboratories and Multimedia Education Systems.  This involved much traveling and exhibitions, one of the biggest being Moscow in 1973 (during which the Best in Show was won).  With time that company began to fade and Tony joined Tandberg.  At this point Tony was quick to mention he met the likes of Princess Anne, The Queen and then some bloke called Tony Blair.

Finally Tony asked………..’Is it time for me to stop?’

Nick Bishop