Claude Correia

Another early newcomer was Claude Correia, from Guyana. He also joined the RAF, arriving in Greenock in Scotland in the spring of 1945.

After basic training in Melksham, Wiltshire, and a brief posting to Credenhill in Herefordshire, he was stationed at Gloucester, moving between both RAF Innsworth and the RAF Records Office, Eastern Avenue.

Like Stan Boreland, Claude married a local girl, Brenda and lived in Gloucester. Claude recalls there being many other people of Caribbean origin at the bases, but they eventually moved away or returned home when they were demobbed.

He and Stan Boreland were therefore probably the first African-Caribbean men to settle in Gloucester.