This is a picture of the POD Father on holiday in St Tropez in 1976. (He’s still waiting for his first Lamborghini. Can you spot Hector Riva of Euromillions fame?) The POD Father’s Dad, or Gagam as POD has dubbed him, was stationed in RAF Germany three times during his long career in the Royal Air Force.
The first of these three year tours was at RAF Rheindalen a non-flying Royal Air Force military base. Part of the Rheindahlen Military Complex (J.H.Q.) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and of British Forces Germany it was a key station in Northern Europe at the height of the Cold War.
Although this wasn’t a flying tour for Gagam the perks of an overseas posting helped make up for it. Not least of these was the accessibility of fantastic holiday destinations like St Tropez, now hours away by car. St Tropez was, as now the playground of the rich and famous, so an unlikely holiday destination for a young RAF officer and his family coming from the UK.
However from RAF Rheindalen it simply meant packing the Austin Maxi until it was fit to burst and taking to the AutoBahn. With two children,all the necessary camping equipment and a large inflatable dingy there wasn’t much room to spare. The journey was over 5 hours long but with the help of Abba and John Denver cassette tapes the hours flew by – Grandma’s Feather Bed was a particular favourite.
What an exciting childhood and wow that car is still looking good today
I often think how nice it would have been to be an officer years ago ! My granddad was an officer and live a very good life overseas ha ha #whatsthestory
What a great time in his childhood, I bet that was fantastic to see at his age there. Every boy’s dream or man’s too. hahaha Lovely post. Great memories and a great car still today! #whatsthestory
Fabulous car and what an exciting childhood the POD father had x
I still have no idea how my Dad managed to pack all our stuff in his car x
What an adventure-they must have made up for the moving around! Love his face in that picture too 🙂
That’s a gorgeous car!
Super memories!
I love this photo. So cute! I bet POD will have such a laugh and will love it too when she’s probably in her teens or even older! 🙂
What an awesome picture! I just love looking at pictures from the past, and it’s always fascinating to hear the stories behind them x
That’s an amazing story to be able to tell 🙂
Love it, although a Ferrari would obviously have been a better choice!
My hubby just looked over at that car, he said very nice, beautiful car! Great story too.
This is such a beautiful car, and story behind it is even more interesting! Thanks for sharing this precious photo 🙂
Oooh – the summer of ’76 – long, hot and full of some great songs! I bet there are a few of us who would like to flip back and relive that summer, POD father included!
What an awesome photo and a great story to go with it. Love your posts so much 🙂 #whatsthestory
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5 hours of Abba & John Denver is too much for me. Awesome story behind a photo! #WhatsTheStory
What a great story – and ah cassettes! I hope he doesn’t have to wait too much longer for his Lamborghini 😉
Stunning car and what an exciting backstory. We luckily always holidayed in the South of France with my folks throughout childhood so many fun and glamourous memories of St Tropez, Cannes, Grasse and other places in the South of France, still return now and one day would love to live there or at least spend 6 months of the year there! Lovely post x
Haa haa – great pic – we saw one of this at Bournemouth Wheels a few weeks back, shame the weather wasn’t as good!
Brilliant….. look at him behind that shiny car. And LOVING your new blog look. Is this a Helen Braid job per chance. I can spot her signature styling. It’s looking great! X
Love the picture and the car