I'M ALWAYS hearing complaints about the quality of York's water supply. Such moans are justified, for during recent years we seem to have had water, water everywhere, but none fit to drink!

That is, unless it is well filtered before use. Something I discovered when our York-based daughter gave me a drink from a water filter she keeps in her fridge. It looked pure, and didn't contain any black grit, slime, or other visible alien matter. It tasted as water did before we came to York; since when, the only water I've drunk has been from bottles, or diluted with a large measure of whisky.

There was a time in my experience when children were only allowed fizzy drinks on special occasions, such as Christmas, weddings, and birthday parties, when adults were drinking halves of mild and bitter and Babychams. At other times when you asked for a drink it was "tapoline", or "corporation pop", and no arguments.

During the long hot summers we used to get before "global warming", we drank gallons of water straight from the tap - a practice not to be recommended these days, especially in the Vale of York.

Water companies assure us that everything is being done to provide us with pure water. I'm sure it is, but until it looks fit to drink, rather than something only suitable for washing cars and watering the garden, I shall filter it before making the tea.

MYSTERIES intrigue me and I cannot resist the challenge of what to some might seem a hopeless search. So when I read in the RAF News that Dennis Barton, of Woodthorpe, York, was seeking information about a Jack Barton (no relation), an RAF sergeant who was serving in Germany in 1945, I offered to help find him and suggested how we might set about our search. But despite our best efforts we haven't found him, yet; so Jack Barton remains on the 'missing' roster. Does anyone out there know where he is?

However, my contact with Dennis Barton has not been entirely fruitless, for we both served in the RAF, are the same age, and members of the RAF Association, although I have made only three or four visits to the York branch in 30 years. With this in common we struck up a friendship and started making fortnightly visits.

Although I was not known by any of the members, and Dennis knew only a few who, like him, were volunteer workers at the RAF Museum at Elvington, we were made very welcome, and after only a few visits we felt as though we had been attending regularly for years.

What surprised us was the advanced age of most of the members we met; some were even older than us and had seen service in the Second World War, but are still enjoying retirement and the camaraderie they share with their ex-RAF fellows and a sprinkling of serving RAF personnel, including the CO of RAF Linton.

It seems a great pity that so many former and serving RAF men and women living in and around York are, perhaps, unaware of the York Branch of RAFA, or of how much they and their partners might enjoy making new friends of people who have had similar experiences in life; possibly renew old friendships thought forever lost, and join in the variety of activities and trips abroad, organised by the branch's dedicated committee members.

Late as it is for Dennis and me, we're glad we made it back to 'base'. So, all you RAF types, why not join us at Aldwark for some 'light-swinging' reminiscing and cheery chat over a glass or more of your favourite tipple.

The branch is open, and the membership secretary is available, every Thursday and Saturday evening; the 'hangar' doors open at 2000 hours local time. Happy landings!