Churchill Remembered
Fifty years ago on 30th January 1965, over one hundred Aircraft Apprentices from 104 Entry RAF Halton, provided route lining and honour guards to the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill as the cortege made its way to St Paul’s Cathedral through the respectfully silent crowds who gathered on the streets of London.
Prior to the bitterly cold day, the apprentices practiced ceremonial and arms drill with their Royal Enfield 303 rifles before twenty apprentices were finally chosen for their drill skills and similar height to march right along side the gun carriage.
Most of these apprentices would be nearly seventy years old and at least one still works at RAF Halton today. The Halton Apprentice Association still has a large membership throughout the world and regards RAF Halton as its spiritual home where their Tribute memorial is situated.