My time in Aden

Stepping off the plane into that wonderful sunshine and heat was the start of, possibly, the best time of my life. We lived in Crater for a short period, occupying two flats at the top of a block overlooking the police barracks. Walking around the shopping area in Crater seemed so exotic, with all the local people in their lhongies and purdah, the shops crammed with interesting goods from what must have been Africa and the far east. 

We travelled to school on buses with a soldier to guard us. The school was no better or worse than any other I'd been to. In fact, the secretarial course they ran enabled me to always find work. I remember the name of the deputy headmaster, TD, but I can't remember his face. The science teacher I can remember clearly but not his name, I think he was quite horrible. The English teacher was lovely but, again, I can't remember her name. Our shorthand and typing teacher was Irish and had a thick Irish accent, when we had to read out our shorthand, Chris Flear would mimic her accent (the teacher would say 't' instead of 'th' - so would Chris, we all thought it hilarious). 

One trip we went on was to a wadhi out in the desert, we stopped at a banana grove/garden on the way. We went in army lorries, they had canvas tops and wooden slatted benches inside - I still remember the bruises on my backbone from all the bouncing around driving over the desert. The soldiers had radios to keep in contact with base, there was a bit of a panic when we got out of contact and had to speed back to where the signal could be picked up. We also went to an open day at a camp further out from Khormaksar, wish I could remember the name of the camp, I did for years but age must be dimming my memories. 

After a short time living in Crater, we moved to married quarters in Khormaksar, sorry, can't remember the name of the road. I thought the house was beautiful and enjoyed living there. We had help in the house from local people, the first woman we had seemed quite scary to me and she didn't stay long, I don't know why. The second woman was very nice but apparently she was in Aden illegally and couldn't get a permit, so she had to leave. Then we had a man called Kiahed , he was lovely and cooked wonderful curries. I was sad having to leave him behind when we went home. 

We were issued with tins of 'jungle juice', bottles of squash and salt tablets, I didn't take those very often, I still remember the effort of trying to swallow them!!! All vegetables had to be washed in Milton. We bought chocolate that had been kept in a freezer, it had a white coating from it melting then being frozen. Crisps came in a plain, white, greaseproof packets and were very greasy, I loved them. We all drank gallons of Stim, Fanta and Coke. A boy called Squeak showed me and my friend Lesley Muirison how to smoke. 

There was a youth club inside the camp at Khormaksar, I thought it was great, it's where I learned to jive. It was a small hut, more like a foyer, and the club was an open area outside, the floor was just sand. There always seemed to be parties going on and we seemed to have a fantastic social life. Remember going to the open air cinema? Horst Bucholtz, Natalie Wood etc? Remember the Shalimar or the Shanaz? Remember the forces radio programmes? 

To get to Steamer Point I would catch the local bus that ran through Maalla. I had my first perm in Maalla, then went swimming, so had to put up with frizzy hair for what seemed like years until it grew out. Steamer Point was a posher shopping centre than Crater, I would spend hours browsing around. Occasionally we'd go to the Rock Hotel for a meal. There was a cafe overlooking what, I imagine now, was a memorial garden, we would sit on the terrace having cold drinks. Do you remember the way coffee was served? I still wear a gold and sapphire ring bought in Steamer Point. 

From Steamer Point the bus went on to the Mermaid Club, our family's favourite beach. That was the first place I was ever 'chatted up', by a soldier, I was only 14 but women were in short supply!!! From the rocks just outside the area enclosed by the shark net, I can remember looking down and seeing a sting ray in the water - it was magical. 

Coming back to Blighty was a real wrench for me, I think it took me years to get over it, I'm glad I had the 'Aden Experience'. 

 

~ Ann Finch (nee Jackson)