N.Z. Apprentices Win All Prizes At R.A.F. School

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 12

N.Z. Apprentices Win All Prizes At R.A.F. School

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 26. All the 1957 prizes at Halton College, the Royal Air Force trade training school, were won by New Zealanders. One New Zealander, D. W. Bridson, aged 20, of Auckland, won six of the 10 prizes. Senior Royal Air Force officers said at the recent prize-giving ceremony at the college that Bridson was the most outstanding apprentice to attend the training school for many years. They said there was no doubt that he was the best apprentice to graduate from the college since World War 11. Bridson won the Monsignor

Beauchamp memorial prize for the best all-round apprentice; the Pioneer Trophy for the highest marks in all technical subjects; the Elliott Memorial prize for the highest mairks in English and general studies; and the Air Ministry prizes for the highest in order of merit in all subjects, the highest in order of merit in all educational subjects, and the best engine fitter. He graduated top of the college of 180 apprentices. G. A. Francis, aged 19, of Christchurch, ‘was placed second, and D. A. Smith, 19, of Outram, was fourth. D. L. Fynn, aged 19. of Taihape, was sixth. Fynn was awarded the Air Ministry prizes for the highest in order of merit in general service and the best fitter. Francis won the Air Ministry awards for the best electrical tradesman. Smith won the Air Ministry prize for the best tradesman in instruments.

In another R.A.F. trade'training school, Lockihg College, New Zealanders graduated in third, seventh and ninth places.