[BODD701] Maurice George Boddy (born 1932, son of Henry George & Grace Beatrice, see HENRY GEORGE BODDY), was born at Belle Vue Street, Leeds, but his earliest recollections are at Malmesbury Terrace, which was his next home.

The family was only here for about a year, before moving to Penrith Grove. He first went to school at Upper Wortley Infants at the age of 5. A year later the family moved to Wesley Road and later Southfield Mount, and he then attended Armley National School until 1941.

There was a short break at the beginning of the 1939-45 War whilst "evacuated" to Spring Avenue, Gildersome, to stay with his mother's sister Florence Ada. He then attended Gildersome Church School for a few weeks.

He started at West Leeds High School for Boys on 10th November 1941, in the Junior department, and progressed to the Sixth Form, which he left on 23rd March 1948.
The sequence of classes at WLHS was: 11/1941 J2; 9/1942 J3; 9/1943 2A; 9/1944 3A; 9/1945 4A; 9/1946 SC1; 9/1947 6B.
His School Certificate (undated, but would be mid-1947) records Passes in English Language, French and Chemistry; Credit in Art;
Very Good (usually referred to as Distinction) in Mathematics and Physics.

He started work with British Railways on 30th March 1948 as a junior clerk in their Leeds Aire Street offices, where he remained until called up for National Service.

Maurice joined the Royal Air Force on 13th July 1950, service No. 2480513, for eighteen months though this was extended to two years within a few weeks of his joining. He spent one week at Padgate (Lancs) where he was kitted out. Then sent on by train (with the doors locked to prevent desertion!) to West Kirby (Wirral) for eight weeks basic training.

He chose to be trained as a radar mechanic, and so spent seven months at Yatesbury (Wilts) learning his trade. This period included four weeks laid up with scarlet fever at the R.A.F. hospital at nearby Wroughton and four weeks convalescence. After passing out as a qualified Air Radar Mechanic he was posted to Kinloss (Morayshire), where he was stationed from May 1951 until his discharge on 11th July 1952, working on Lancaster aircraft then Shackletons. See RAF for service details.