We had to keep up appearances and that, of course, meant haircuts. Most of us used to go into Leicester on the bus on a Saturday afternoon to do some shopping (we could afford that now) and to pop into Prentice's barbers' shop in Belvoir Street. The place stank of some foulsmelling chemicals used in the ladies' salon upstairs. We even smelt of it when we got back to camp. Our batwomen could smell it on our clothes and always knew when we'd been for a haircut.
One Saturday, two of us who had done some riding decided to go to the local riding school. After some questioning by the owner, we paid our dues and were given our mounts. Mine was a frisky beast and during the accompanied ride decided it wanted its own head and galloped off down a bridle way. I hung on like grim death, not wishing to be thrown. Eventually, after having had my face brushed with the branches of low bushes, I was able to rein the animal in. The riding school owner was not best pleased and accused me of all sorts. We returned to the stables at a sedate walk. After that episode I have never ridden again, neither am I particularly keen to do so!
We were encouraged to build model aircraft, the better to understand aerodynamics and control. I built a 3 foot wing span glider from a kit. Very good it looked, too. There was a snag. No matter what adjustments I made it would, after release from a tow-line, flip onto its back and glide merrily on - upside down. This caused some chin-scratching among our instructors who had been teaching us aerofoil shapes and efficiency, and the reason for aircraft staying in the air, yet here was my model literally inverting everything they said. Eventually it crashed and broke up. I think some people were quite relieved!
Mentioning inverted flying: we were taught inverted gliding as part of the aerobatics aspect of our training. During one solo flight I inadvertently took this to extreme and the engine stopped! The propellor was a dead piece of wood, doing nothing, while I continued to glide on upside down. Stick back (to dive), quickly gain speed, push forward and roll out, dive again, and the engine started - with plenty of height to spare. My sweat took a while to dry! Aerobatics were great fun. I particularly enjoyed stall turns and loops. The thrill of pulling the nose up, losing speed, kicking over the rudder to bring the nose facing downwards, and accelerating whilst diving away, is something I shall never forget.

Performing a barrel roll.

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