Page 11 - Robert Joseph Harding

Conversion to these types completed, Robert was posted back to RAF Aldergrove
on July 30 1954 as a pilot with 120 Squadron flying the Avro Shackleton on
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Maritime Reconnaissance duties. Roberts stay with 120 Squadron lasted
nearly two years.

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On June 25 1954 Robert was posted to RAF Wymswold in Leicestershire as Station
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Senior Admin Officer. By July 1 1956 Robert was promoted to the rank of Squadron
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Leader. Then on October 15 1957 Robert was promoted to Officer Commanding
RAF Wymswold and oversaw the closure of the airfield to military flying, the airfield
reverting to a care and maintenance state.

Robert had decided to resign his commission as Squadron Leader and retire from
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the RAF and so on April 28 1958 he was posted back to RAF Syreston,
Nottinghamshire pending release from the service in June 1958.

Mary, gave birth to fourth son Patrick in 1959 and then at the age of 39 to son
Dominic in 1961, both born in Loughbourgh.

Robert continued in civilian life as a flying instructor with the Leicestershire Aero
Club at Staughton, now Leicester Airport. Eventually Robert became Chief Flying
Instructor with the club.

Squadron Leader Robert Joseph Harding sadly died of cancer at the young age of
46 on October 23 1965 at his home in Chaveney Road, Quorn, Leicestershire with
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Mary by his side.

His children were all still very young when Bob departed:

Robert (23), Miceal (21), Derek (19), Patrick (6) and Domonic (4). Unfortunately Bob
and Mary’s daughter Ann Mary lost her life at the age of 26 in 1972.

An extremely loyal, talented and determined individual, Robert dedicated his life to
flying for his Country with the love and support of his devoted wife Mary, daughter
Ann and sons Robert, Miceal, Derek, Patrick and Domonic.

Mary died some years later and son Miceal remembers his mother’s last words just
before she passed away: ̏Somebody needs me more son˝.

Lasting memories of his father, second son Miceal recalls:

A scar on the bottom of his chin from falling off a motorbike in his youth!

He only had half a thumb – caught in some kind of farm machinery!

He was returning from the flix with Mary in his Austin 7, in which, was a `Bob’s DIY
changeover switchˊ; petrol to start it / TVO to run it ….. He stalled and got a passing
policeman to push him to start on TVO oil!! After succeeding, Bob looked in his rear
view mirror at the policeman standing in a cloud of smoke!!.... With petrol rationed –
where there’s a will, there’s a way, hey Bob – and getting a local Bobby to help you
in this ˊsomewhat illegal` act was tempting providence!!