History Talk

Mr Smart, Head of History, reports: ‘On Wednesday night, SHS was very honoured to welcome Squadron Leader Bob Tuxford AFC TP RAF (retd) to our school for his talk about his career in the RAF and his role in the Falklands War.  Bob had joined the RAF when he was 18 years old and rose to become a Test Pilot and a Squadron Leader, but it is his role in the war for which he is most remembered.

Bob spoke of his long career and about Operation ‘Black Buck One’ where he flew a Victor K2 tanker alongside the Vulcan bomber during its raid on the Argentine-held Stanley Airfield. He confirmed the challenges and dangers of this raid as they flew 6000 miles through the night over the South Atlantic in to a warzone and how, at any moment, they may have had refuelling problems as two other aircraft had experienced this.  I think many of us were struck by the reminder about how technology that we rely upon now, was not present then. This included how the RAF aircrews were briefed in a dark tent on Ascension Island without the benefit of a single computer and only one calculator amongst them. Afterwards, he took a number of interesting questions from the boys and the audience.

The talk attracted a large crowd with our boys, parents, staff members, SHOBS and friends from the local community, including members from the Royal Star and Garter, joining us for the talk.  Bob was very pleased and spoke very warmly about the boys adding that they ‘were a credit to the School, and asked some very pertinent questions; confirmation indeed that they showed a genuine interest in the subject.’