Hi  I hope my name (Alfie Bass) will ring a bell with some of you; I was in post at the School of Fighter Control from 1972 to 1982. In the first years at RAF Bawdsey, I painted a cartoon called Bawdsey Hare Hops, which was immediately purloined by Group Captain Rhodes to hang above his desk; he had curtains installed to cover it so that when he was taking charges the accused would not be distracted from his words of admonishment. When Gp Capt Rhodes left Bawdsey, he wrote to me to say that he would be taking the cartoon with him; shortly after that, I heard that he had died in an accident in the Far East. The cartoon disappeared without trace. I have no record of it, but I know that a black and white print was used in a publication called the C&R Information Bulletin in the 70’s; if any one out there by chance has a copy, I would be very grateful to hear from you.

“Interesting” that’s one more that has disappeared, I painted several of these and left them at the units I served at, the problem is I never kept a copy of any of them, I did some smaller ones for individuals and friends one I remember was for Pat Gallanders and the last one I left at RAF Buchan, the others where at West Drayton and 280SU they measured about 3.5 x 2.5 feet or more and were framed, it would be nice to know if any of them have survived the years the only picture I have is of some of the individual characters.

Thanks Nigel,
I have been planning to visit there, so I may find out then.

Alfie keep in touch:

I am the Webmaster at:

www.servedinforces.co.uk

Hello Old Friend
I had heard this story before but with out with out any characterisation, I am glad you resoled the situation and it is nice to hear the truth. If you remember we flue out to Cyprus together in Oct 1969, I hear you stayed in the RAF to the end(55), knowing you then I wouldn’t have put money on it. Have you still got the print? I unfortunately haven’t got a copy of any of the Hare Cartoons. Yes I am quite well thanks hope that you’re the same.
Alf.

Alfie please contact me at cpentith@banff-buchan.ac.uk, some thing to your advantage, may be gained from anon I can act as a go between.
Chris

Well not as mysterious has it first appeared but the upshot of it was partly successful with the kindness of Chrises contact I have acquired copies of the two original cartoons they are the very first ones I did, the story behind them was that when Fighter command merged in to No.11gp Strike Command they refurbished the Officers Coffee Room and requested that Units should send cartoons etc., to fill the walls, I was at Patrington (1968) at the time and came up with the Hares one day whilst travelling to Hull with Les McIver I said to him look at all those ‘Aires’ over there in the fields Les being very correct with is grammar corrected me with they are ‘HARES’ with an ‘H’ and so the Royal Hare Force was born, and I began my long misemployed career in the Air Force. I hope that the Cartoons are still out there some place and are enjoyed by people.
But if there are any more prints or copies out there please let me know.

I remember  seeing a large coloured cartoon similar to the one you describe when I was OC 3Flt. Ops at West Drayton 1978-1982. However, I also remember that you were there at the same time sitting in your windowless box in the L1, so I suspect that you are seeking a different cartoon, but you never know.
Give my regards to your brother (Howard) when you next see him [he was a Corporal on my Flight]

Alfie
There certainly was a copy of your cartoon at HQ11Gp in the mid eighties.  Probably the one you sent from Buchan - it was hung in the ADGE corridor but then moved - not sure how funny the AOC (AVM Hayr) found it!

Hi Terry nice to hear from you, I must have painted some 300, or more over my time in the RAF I would be very pleased if you gave it to Bawdsey.I have very few photos of the pictures I painted , so if you could get a digital photo and send it to me  at kjbass47 [AT] hotmail [dot] com I would be very grateful.
All the best to you, and thanks for getting in touch.

Hi Alfie,

Just received the CD and the “Hare Hops” laminated pics in the post.  Many thanks for that!  They are brilliant and I have filed the CD.  Hope all is well.

Regards,

Chris

Manager& Curator, RAF ADRM

Hi Jon. I’m pleased to hear that there is still a copy of that cartoon out there and that some one still enjoys it, I have heard that there where copies made but I did not know that they where sold perhaps I should have got royalties (joke). Anyway I would settle for a Photograph of a copy being has I haven’t got any record of the cartoon, if it is possible for you to get one and send it to me at kjbass47 [AT] hotmail [DOT] com I would be grateful.