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The life of a 282 Cadet through various newspaper cuttings. Terence Henry Bollens was born on 4 January 1934. To Train to Fly
Bollans aged 17 is employed as a claims clerk by Messrs. Morton Ltd., Minories. He attended East Ham Grammar School. He holds his ATC proficiency and class A gliding certificates and has experienced about 12 hours flying in service aircraft. Flying High News of the headway made by 19 year old Terence Henry
Bollans in the RAF will give great pleasure to his friends in East Ham,
particularly in view of the credit that he has brought to the local ATC unit.
Picture taken after his Passing-out-Parade. Terry Bollans is second from the right. In Asia
It was a little over 12 years ago that 30 year Flight Lieutenant Terence Bollens, whose parents live at Dore Avenue Manor Park, left 282 Squadron to join the Royal Air Force. He had already gained a flying license through an RAF scholarship granted while he was serving. His mother Mrs Anne Bollans told me this week "Terence decided he was going to be a pilot when he was five - he never considered doing anything else. He built model aircraft and had them hanging all round his bedroom and when he was 14 joined the ATC. " A former East Ham Grammar School boy, he joined the RAF in 1952. At his training unit he passed out as the best cadet of the intake and won the shield of honour. He is now serving with No.28 Kai Tak Hong Kong.
Terrence Bollens died aged 59 year on Friday 12 November 1993 From the age of 4, Terry Bollans wanted nothing more out of life but to fly aeroplanes. He always considered himself extremely fortunate to have the opportunity and support of his family to realise his ambition, gaining his first pilots license at the age of 17 years with 282 Squadron ATC. He joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 18 years, and after tours in Egypt and Hong Kong served served a total of 20 years. Terry left the Royal Air Force with the rank of Squadron Leader, together with the Queens Commendation for valuable service in the air. His fond memories of times in the service were legion. In 1972 Terry joined Cyprus Airways as a civil pilot, but was forced to return to England for a brief period when the 1974 Cyprus war started. During this time he was on a retainer with the company and was subsequently chosen as one of the pilots to rebuild Cyprus Airways after the war. His contribution to the company was greatly appreciated by the management and was much missed when he left after 15 years to join Emirates Airlines in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Terry joined Emirates as Fleet Captain on the Airbus fleet. He rapidly rose to reach the position of Senior General Manager of flight operations some six years later. He was a modest man but took great pride in the fact that, in some way, he had been influential in helping to build a successful airline through the professionalism and loyalty of some 200 pilots, for whom he was responsible. When he unfortunately became ill, it was with great regret and disappointment that he had to leave the company, but took great comfort from the constant briefings reaching him in Honiton from the lads back at the base. On arriving in Honiton Terry was welcomed into the community, where he found comfort and friendship which constantly helped him through his illness. Along with this, the way he dealt with his condition was an inspiration to everyone.
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Cadet
Sergeant Terence Henry Bollans of Third Avenue Manor Park, a member of 282
(East Ham) Squadron ATC is one of 45 cadets of the Air Training Corps and Royal
Air Force section of the Combined Cadet Force, who qualified at the sixth
selection board for free £150 flying scholarships at headquarters RAF Home
Command near Maidenhead recently.
Terence
became an ATC cadet when he was 14, and two years ago his ability and
perseverance gained for him a flying scholarship. After six months with the
RAFVR he joined the RAF signing on for eight years. applying himself with zeal
to his duties he has been presented with the "Shield of Honour" as the best all
round cadet on No. 2 course at the RAF Flying Training School, Moreton-in-the-Marsh.
The presentation was made by the Under Secretary of State for Air. Bollans is
now a fully-fledged pilot with the rank of Pilot Officer.
FLYING his Hunter fighter high over Hong Kong this week
is a former East Ham Air Training Corps cadet.