RAF veteran Roy finally recieves medal recognition

RAF veteran Roy Adair, of Nutter Road in Cleveleys, has received a medal for his service in Cyprus

Roy Adair from Cleveleys, joined the RAF as a layman in the a 5333-MU squadron in 1953 when he was just 17 years old.

The now 80-year-old dodged bullets in Egypt during the fight against the Egyptian Revolution, before being flown to Cyprus to stand as a guard outside British camps against rebels in 1954 and ’55.

On Saturday at the RAF Association annual conference in Blackpool, Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller issued the General Service Medal to Roy, calling it “definately one of the high points” of the weekend.

Due to ill health, Roy was unable to attend, and the medal was collected by Bob Norton, who nominated him.

The pair struck up a friendship three years ago after bumping into one another while out walking.

Bob, a retired aerospace engineer, said: “We’ve got a shared interest in aircraft and we struck up a friendship.

“He’s a grand old chap and good company. He told me about his days in the RAF and I enjoyed chatting to him about his recollections of serving King and country.

“I noticed that he always answered the phone “LAC Adair 4132044”, which was his service number, so one day I wrote the number down and decided to look up his service record online.

“He never mentioned about a medal and when I asked him about it, he said he didn’t realise he was entitled to one.”

Bob then got in touch with the RAF to apply for the General Service Medal, which is awarded to members of the Army and RAF who served in one of 17 campaigns and operations between 1918 and 1968 that fell short of full-scale war.

Bob added: “He’s worthy of his medal - he was there with bullets flying, stopping a camp from being slaughtered by terrorists.

“He’s said he accepts the medal on behalf of all the lads he was there with who died before they were able to get a medal.

“I thank God I bumped into him that day. It’s a pleasure and honour to know an old fella like Roy.

“How many other people are there like him who haven’t bumped into someone and don’t talk about what they’ve done?”

Grandad-of-five Roy, who later worked as a paper manufacturer, said: “The medal means a lot to me. After all this time it’s great to receive it.

“It’s very special.”