Dorothy Left the UK in 1965 and settled in Adelaide, Australia
Dorothy lived in the Stretford area of Manchester. Enlisting in the WRAF in 1950, she was posted to 107MU Raf Kasfareet and sailed from Southampton on 24th March 1953 on board the MV Empire Windrush disembarking at Port Said on 5th April 1953.
On arrival at Kasfareet Dorothy was allocated to work in `P` Group, No 1 Equipment Wing. She was very active in cricket and hockey whilst at Kasfareet and represented the WRAF Egypt teams in both of these sports.
Jack Garry, who coincidentally was on the same Empire Windrush sailing but did not know Dorothy until making contact with her via the Canal Zoners Association in 2009, has maintained contact since then via `snail mail` until recently when email contact was established between the two via Dorothy`s grandaughter Lisa.
A further coincidence occurred when John, the son of Flt Sgt M.W.Payne contacted Alwyn York seeking information about his father`s time at Kasfareet 1953-54 for his family history. The Flt Sgt moved from Kasfareet to Aden in 1954 and his wife and John joined him there until returning to the UK in October 1956.His father passed away in 1955 Jack Garry recognised Dorothy on the picture sent in by John of his father with members of his Kasfareet `P` Group staff and then discovered that John now lived in Adelaide, not far removed from Dorothy. The two have since met up.
Dorothy is a member of the local Canal Zoners Association in Adelaide which although currently comprising some 9 members, they regularly meet every three months to re-live their times spent in Egypt over 50 years ago.
On arrival at Kasfareet Dorothy was allocated to work in `P` Group, No 1 Equipment Wing. She was very active in cricket and hockey whilst at Kasfareet and represented the WRAF Egypt teams in both of these sports.
Jack Garry, who coincidentally was on the same Empire Windrush sailing but did not know Dorothy until making contact with her via the Canal Zoners Association in 2009, has maintained contact since then via `snail mail` until recently when email contact was established between the two via Dorothy`s grandaughter Lisa.
A further coincidence occurred when John, the son of Flt Sgt M.W.Payne contacted Alwyn York seeking information about his father`s time at Kasfareet 1953-54 for his family history. The Flt Sgt moved from Kasfareet to Aden in 1954 and his wife and John joined him there until returning to the UK in October 1956.His father passed away in 1955 Jack Garry recognised Dorothy on the picture sent in by John of his father with members of his Kasfareet `P` Group staff and then discovered that John now lived in Adelaide, not far removed from Dorothy. The two have since met up.
Dorothy is a member of the local Canal Zoners Association in Adelaide which although currently comprising some 9 members, they regularly meet every three months to re-live their times spent in Egypt over 50 years ago.
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"P" Group friends |
The one between F/S Payne and Dorothy is Sgt Boobyer (who she was going out with at the time). The blonde haired one was Charlie Day, known to all and sundry as " Doris ". Which one is that ?
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Dorothy`s friend Doris coming out of the compound with their "guardroom" in the background. Dorothy lost contact with her many years ago. |
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Dorothy`s permit to ride an official bike !!!
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An interesting account of the Windrush sinking
The cruise ship that Dorothy sailed in during February to Tasmania. Along with several friends who worked with Dorothy for 10 years at College, their first port of call was the Penal Colony at Port Arthur. This was also the scene of the massacre some years ago when a man shot lots of people for which crime he is still in gaol. After that, the cruise continued on to Hobart, capital of Tasmania. Following the cruise, Dorothy spent a busy spell visiting family at Brisbane followed by a crossing of Australia to Perth on the West Coast. A friend describes Dorothy as a " social butterfly" !
Well done Dorothy !!!
