JUST who were John ‘Prof’ Edward and Donald Roy ‘Bluey’ Richards?
Prof joined the navy at 18 in 1947 and was a founding member of the Australian Fleet Air Arm in 1948.
In a 13-year career (retiring in 1960), he experienced post-war Europe with all its deprivations, an atomic test in the Montebellos and the pageantry of the Queen’s coronation tour.
A mechanic, his real calling was art.
He became known for his cartoons in the naval magazine Slipstream and as the only signwriter in the fledgling Fleet Air Arm.
Following life in the navy he taught art and ticket writing at TAFE at Nowra and Ulladulla for 32 years.
His prints and paintings can be found in galleries and collections all over the world, including 78 works on paper at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre.
A keen writer he also loved to debate current affairs.
Hundreds of cartoons, drawings, watercolours and photographs of his career have been donated to the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
He passed away in 2008.
Bluey Richards was born in Kingston, Surrey in England in 1931.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1949 and at the age of 21 transferred to the Royal Australian Navy when he came to Australia on HMAS Vengeance.
A Leading Airman aircraft handler, he was promoted to Petty Officer aircraft handler in 1958 and Chief Petty Officer aircraft handler in 1966.
He transferred to the Work Study Branch in 1971 and in 1972 was the only member of the branch to be promoted to warrant officer.
He retired from the navy in 1976 and worked at Westmead Hospital as the manager of cleaning services, but never published any of his cartoons.
He died in 2011.