It's fair to say RNAS Culdrose has played a significant role in the life of Mandy Watts, who leaves today, Friday September 18, after 17 years working in the station's busy mail room.

Not only was her husband in the navy, but both her parents also have strong links, going right back to the early days of the Helston air station.

Her father Ronald Goodchild served in the Second World War as a gunner-telegraphist in the back of iconic Royal Navy Fairey Swordfish bombers and later worked as an instructor at RNAS Culdrose.

Her mum Pam worked in the station sickbay as what was known as a 'ward-maiden' – effectively a cleaner, but she also made Cornish pasties too.

The couple stayed in the Helston and Lizard area and Mrs Watts herself met her husband Fred Watts who served for 22 years in the navy. He continues to work as a civilian with 824 Naval Air Squadron in the Merlin Training Facility, the centre which trains the next generation of helicopter air and ground crews.

But today is the last day for 63-year-old Mrs Watts, who lives in Helston. She leaves her job as one of four civil servants in the mail room, sorting all the official post and the many parcels for those who live onboard.

She said her first job was at the station's newly-opened cinema and then as a squadron cook with the navy's Gazelle helicopter display team known as The Sharks.

"I shall look back on my time here with a lot of fondness," she said. "I've made a lot of friends here and I shall miss them all.

"I am thinking of volunteering for a charity or something. I know people always say that but I really want to give something back. It's about helping people, which is why I've always enjoyed this job."

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