A story to warm yer cockles

[Loz]

In light of all you have done for Briggie & seeing how much of a kind hearted bunch you lot are, I thought I'd share a story with you that you might appreciate...

I posted this on another forum that I've been with for quite a long time now, below is a copy of the key bit's. Sorry it's a bit long I've tried to trim it where I can

...​

My Dad is a helicopter engineer for Bristow Helicopters, he started working for Bristows in 1972 (remember that date) & he's going to retire at the end of March.
A while ago we were on the phone & he mentioned an astonishing photograph of a helicopter towing a large hoverbarge across ice & how much he would of liked a poster of it for his workshop & how he regretted not ordering a print at the time.

I had a cunning plan locate a decent copy of the photo or even better find the poster, frame it and give it to him as part of his retirement pressie.
I found out that the company that operates the helicopters was still running & based in Portland, Oregon. A visit to their website revealed that, for a nominal fee ($6 I think) you could still order a copy of the poster (it's a bit famous, it seems).
So I popped an order in the post with a little letter. In the letter I mentioned that my dad is retiring soon & how long he had served with Bristows, how his job had taken us to Iran & Nigeria & how cool it would be if the pilot or even the phtographer could sign the poster to make it that little bit more 'special'.

Good æ I!

What I received was completely unexpected.

The book marks Columbia Helicopters Fifty year anniversary & it weighs a ton! The two industry magazines feature the photo above, the whole package cost $38 to post! But it's the dedication inside that's got me flummoxed!

I really am incredibly grateful & they've really gone out of their way with this, but you can see the problem! :lol: It's not Dad's 72nd birthday for a while yet (see I think they might have got his joining date mixed up) & the 'fight for freedom' I can only assume would apply to US forces personnel. There were troubles in Iran during the 70's while we were there & my Dad did help dismantle the helicopters & smuggle them out of the country before the Iranian forces could commandeer them & now our family cannot enter Iran, but Columbia Helicopters wouldn't know that.
Now either there has been a slight communication hitch somewhere or there's another Roger who served in the US forces sat there with a poster. The package was addressed to my dad care of me so I think this is unlikley. But, what do I do? Do I tell them my problem & look like an ungrateful wretch or shall I just send them a letter of thanks, give my Dad the book & explain the whole funny tale?

Help!

So a day past & then the story took a twist...​

Well my problem sorted itself out today, I came home to find a poster tube rather carelessly stuffed through the letter box, when I opened it I found this...

1 Poster.
4 Pens.
2 Enamel badges.
2 Metal Key rings.
2 Stickers.​

It also contained a hand written note from the daughter of the founder of C.H.I.

Laurence,
Thanks so much for your poster order. We sure do appreciate & understand your Dad's interest in this poster- we are very proud of it.
I am sorry to say that the photographer passed away 15 years ago (heart attack) & the pilot no longer works for us,

Please wish your Dad a very happy birthday from us, my own Dad passed away on 24th December. He was 83 & enjoyed life immensely. I was lucky to have had 44 years with him- enjoy all you can.

Most sincerely,
Marci Lematta Walsh,
daughter of the founder of C.H.I

...​

You'd have to made of stone not to be touched by that & I'm sure my Dad won't mind the slight mix up, I think he will be over the moon when he receives all the goodies. This really has restored my faith in human kindness & it just goes to show there are some really nice people out there, present company accepted of course .
I was just going to send an email of thanks for the all the stuff, but I think I will now buy a card & possibly a small gift in return.

...​

So there we go. In the end I sent a bunch of flowers & a thank you note, which Marci enjoyed very much

 

[clivvy]

thats a real nice story, makes you feel warm inside, thanks for that.

 

[briggie]

thanks mate , makes ya feel nice and warm inside :thumb2

 

[wildbri]

A very interesting story, showing that some people will take the time and trouble to help others. Incidently I spent some time in Iran with the Royal Air Force in the 1950's regards bri

 

[Loz]

Thanks guys!
Which one's you Wildbri & are those Canberra in the back ground? :thumbs

 

[wildbri]

I am there some where! That was 73 squadron RAF, they are English Electric Canberra's as you noticed and they were parked at Tehran airport when the Shah brought his new bride home to Iran in October 1959.
Your Pa is going to be very surprised and pleased when he sees his gift bri

 

[Loz]

Cheers Bri,
We lived in Tehran as well, between '76 & '78 I was a year old!

 

[briggie]

we lived in aden when i was 4 yrs old , i think its called the yemen now

 

[Loz]

Cor, we're a well travelled bunch aren't we!

 

[briggie]

my father was a army officer , we lived all over the place

 

[wildbri]

Hi Briggie, I was posted to Aden but never got there as I was sent to Cyprus instead, unfortunately it was during the Eoka terrorist era.

As this thread is about aircraft I hope you don't mind me saying that when I was four years old I was trapped in my grand parents cellar when a bomb dropped by a German aircraft destroyed the school across the road from their house, during the Salford blitz.

regards bri

 

[briggie]

the first aircraft i went in was a boac comet , remember those ? ( of course i was very very young :augie )

 

[wildbri]

I flew out to Cyprus in a RAF comet... very luxurious..... that was at the time when they were falling out of the sky with metal fatigue!