When my mother Lorraine died in 2014, I discovered that the tree she planted in memory of my father, Tommy, in Caversham crematorium had been cut down. I thought about putting up a statue or a joint gravestone or even a plaque on their house but when I started to sort out all the family photos I realised that these images are the best way of remembering their lives. Here are their stories. 
Lorraine as a WAAF

A tribute to my parents Lorraine and Tommy Balmforth 

Tommy as a Spitfire pilot (courtesy IWM)

1st April, 2018 marked 100 years of the RAF. Rather neatly, 20th April 2018 was the centenary of my father's birth. Tommy was a World War 2 pilot who retired as a Group Captain, with DSO, DFC, AFC behind his name. I've always wondered what exactly he did during the war as he would never talk about it and he died far too young, aged 63, before we could prise it out of him. My mother, Lorraine, died at the remarkable age of 97 and luckily she had plenty of time to tell me about her wartime career in the WAAF. 

What I do know about Tommy is this. He was an incredibly brave man who served his country with pride and was committed enough to the RAF to remain a career officer until he retired at the age of 50. His main claim to fame was defending Malta in the Gladiators, Faith, Hope and Charity. After being injured he was invalided back to the UK for treatment and after a short stay in hospital he was posted to Biggin Hill where he joined the illustrious ranks of Spitfire pilots and commanded 124 Squadron. The fighter pilots were the pin-up boys of their day and many would not look out of place in a boy band today. Although romance was frowned upon, it didn't take long for Tommy to notice Lorraine Tydeman, who was working as a driver in the WAAF and often had to drive the pilots to their dispersal units.  After a short courtship, they were given permission to marry. Life was precarious and there was always the fear that each mission could be his last. 
Lorraine already knew how to drive before she joined up for the war effort. Although her family didn't have much money, she'd had an interesting early life and was what you might call 'aspirational'. The Tydemans lived in Barnes which wasn't as smart as it is today, but she was able to go riding on Barnes Common with her friend Alan Edwards (brother of Jimmy, the comedian), she was passionate about the ballet and used to walk to Covent Garden to see performances, and also played tennis. She had three elder brothers, one of whom may have taught her to drive. But her adventures really began when she joined the WAAF in 1941, and she really learnt to rough it, which didn't come naturally. When she wrote down her experiences, it became clear that she was severely traumatised by many of the things that happened to her, and although she was married to Tommy, they were separated for much of the war and she had to grin and bear it on her own. 
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