Edward Christopher ALSTON [2606]

  General Notes:

Christopher, a resident of Framingham Earl was a small holding farmer having a piggery and a berry farm. To supplement his income he also worked as a representative for various animal health and feed companies, he was especially successful as the Rep for Vitamealo for Norfolk.

During WWII he served with the R.A.F., he signed up in 1939 and was called up in June 1940 for training as a pilot. First to Paignton in Devon for basic training and an exam which he passed then to Desford Leicestershire., for flight training in Tiger Moth's. Unfortunately, or fortunately considering the death rates for pilots at the start of the war, Christopher crashed his Tiger Moth on landing and after he recovered in hospital was reassigned because of his boating experience to Air Sea Rescue a marine section of the R.A.F.

This involved manning high speed vessels which went to the assistance of pilots and seamen in the water, he was posted first to Ramsgate, Kent where one of the hazards were huge shells landing from big guns on the French coast, one of which fell within inches of killing him ! Ramsgate & Dover we named "Hell Fire Corner" at that time with constant bombing by the Luftwaffe.
From one extreme to another after some time he and his squad were moved to Greenock Clyde Scotland a godforsaken place at that time, that had occasional heavy bombing aimed at the shipyards.

Next he was drafted overseas to Gibraltar, a huge contrast where living was good, rescue work was more from crashing Allied aircraft than enemy action, and danger from exploding Allied ordinance.
By Jan 1943 they were "Time Expired" in Gibraltar and was posted to Oban Scotland, a very pleasant seaside town on the edge of the Highlands where it was so far from hostilities that black-out was deemed unnecessary.
His last move was to Invergordon North of Inverness where there was very little to do and in his own words "I never did find our what we were meant to accomplish".
He was demobbed in Dec 1945, returning to celebrate Xmas with his family in Framington Earl.

Members of the RAF in WWII, particularly aircrew, were refered to as the "Glamour Boys", this often refered to the manner in which young women of the time sought their company.
Christopher in his memoir makes it clear he enjoyed the company of women and as a good-looking man he had many stories to tell, along with the names. This might seem rather a breach of trust in these woke days (2021) but Christopher tells of his experiences with an obvious respect and fondness for his partners, rejoicing in the warmth of the memories.
In his own words "In retrospect I seemed to have an awful lot of different girlfriends, but I was no Adonis.
I think that it was probably necessary to have someone to be attached to, rather like being married. Moving station to new station this was bound to occur as no way would life in the RAF be acceptable without the solace of a female. It made life bearable and although affections were probably taken lightly they must have meant something for the congeniality was mutual in every case. Also it was wartime and happiness had to be grabbed while it was possible for who you when this might not be so."

Christopher was active in Local Government retiring in 1998 after serving for 52 years on his Parish Council, he saw many changes over the years as the work became more complex, including the permitting and control of building work in the Parish.
As Christopher grew older he turned his hand to writing becoming a published novelist of light literature.
A life long interest was sailing on the nearby Norfolk Broads, he sailed a Norfolk Punt Class named "Goldeneye" built in 1926 which he bought in 1937. A substantial small sail boat class up to 22 ft in length and half decked.

Christopher was active on his property, Alston Meadows, up to his death. As he aged he reduced the size of the property and the farm on it. His mother had built the house after his father died and when he and Julia married she moved out for them, to a smaller house she built for herself on the property.

1939 Register
Alston Meadows,Framington , Forehoe and Henstead R.D., Norfolk, England.
Edward C Alston 29 May 1917 SingleFruit Farming

  Other Records

1. Chris Alston: Framingham Earl NFK.
Chris in his early life, in his Norfolk Punt "Goldeneye" on the Norfolk Broads.

Edward married Julia Mary Bland STIMPSON [2607] [MRIN: 854], daughter of Stanley Arthur STIMPSON [34147] and Constance Mary BLAND [34154]. (Julia Mary Bland STIMPSON [2607] was born on 6 Sep 1921 in Bixley NFK and died on 23 Nov 2002 in Framingham Earl.)