Cyprus-Forum.com

[EricSeans]

I read the following true story in the online edition of HAVADIS,a TC newspaper...The writer,Bekir Azgin ,says he has obtained conformation of it from Cleridis personally...


During his Presidency,Cleridis and his large entourage,including some cabinet ministers and high ranking RoC officials are on a plane for an official visit to the USA...
People are in high spirits,eating and drinking,telling jokes and generally having a ball...All of a sudden turbulence hits and the plane starts to shake violently...There are now screams of fear,people frozen in their seats,some yellow and vomiting violently...

All this time,Cleridis sits quietly and calmly in his seat,taking sips from his drink when ever he can,with a devilish smile on his face...When the emergency is over,his aids rush to his side,fearing the worse...Only to find him now laughing his head off...Asked whether he is feeling okey,he looks up and calmly declares, "I WAS JUST THINKING,IF THIS PLANE CRUSHES CYPRUS WOULD BE SAVED"...

http://www.havadiskibris.com/Bekir-Azgin/1939/Kibris-nasil-kurtulur.html

the guy was a Mosquito pilot in WW2. It would take a lot more than severe turbulence to unsettle him.

What do you expect? Did you think he would throw his hands in the air and start screaming, "OH FUCK! WE ARE GOING TO DIE" like the rest of the idiots.

I don't think so! Like all pilots, he would have experienced far more scarier things than that. Severe Turbulence happens all the time.

Thunderstorms, Microburst, Wind Shear and even lightning strike.

You're bang-on there. My dad piloted Wellington and Halifax bombers with the RAF in WW2 and said the elements were often feared more than the enemy. Once flying over the Med with an Aussie squadron most of the bolts and rivets were shaken out of his plane with only three crucial ones left in place when they landed. Six years of that and the enemy guns then he went quietly back into accountancy.

[Nikitas]

The what if comments remind me of a line in Hemingway, from El Sord on the Hilltop:

"If thy grandmother had balls she would have been thy grandfather".

[Pyrpolizer]

At the risk of being labelled a pedant: -

"Another A Flight crew flying that night was captained by Sgt Baden Fereday. Sgt Fereday was an experienced pilot with 15 operational flights recorded in his log book. Sgt Kelvin Shoesmith, an Australian, manned his rear turret. His wireless operator, Sgt Glafkos Clerides, was a Greek Cypriot who had been educated at an English Public School"

Clerides flew as wireless operator in a Wellington Bomber.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham/aboutus/memory7.cfm

what english public school?

Just like the rest of us genius's he went to the English School in Nicosia.

Actually he was expelled from high school AND BECAUSE HE WAS RICH he managed to continue at the English school. There he learned how to talk with an accent, and pretend he gets confused when using lengthy Greek words. What an idiot!
During the 60s he was heavily addicted to alcohol, and drunk all the time even at the negotiation table with Denktash.

He later on stopped drinking so much and started the jokes manufacturing bussiness.

Here's the joke he manufactured about his change of Schools:

Klerides as a student talking to his headmaster:

-Sir, do you think that by expelling me from the school for one week will make me a better student?
-Yes my son, that's what I believe.
-Very good Sir, this means that if I expel my self for ever I will become a much much better student.

So klerides continues saying he abandoned his school and enrolled at the English school....

HA-HA-HA....

And all this at a time that high school was for the elitists, Klerides had the luxury to abandon schools and play it clever on top of it..

all the idiots were in my school....clerides, denktash...

At that time there were ONLY 3 schools in Nicosia manufacturing idiots mate.The Turkish Lycee the Pancyprian and the English school. Why you claim all the credit?

[denizaksulu]

At the risk of being labelled a pedant: -

"Another A Flight crew flying that night was captained by Sgt Baden Fereday. Sgt Fereday was an experienced pilot with 15 operational flights recorded in his log book. Sgt Kelvin Shoesmith, an Australian, manned his rear turret. His wireless operator, Sgt Glafkos Clerides, was a Greek Cypriot who had been educated at an English Public School"

Clerides flew as wireless operator in a Wellington Bomber.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham/aboutus/memory7.cfm

what english public school?

Just like the rest of us genius's he went to the English School in Nicosia.

Actually he was expelled from high school AND BECAUSE HE WAS RICH he managed to continue at the English school. There he learned how to talk with an accent, and pretend he gets confused when using lengthy Greek words. What an idiot!
During the 60s he was heavily addicted to alcohol, and drunk all the time even at the negotiation table with Denktash.

He later on stopped drinking so much and started the jokes manufacturing bussiness.

Here's the joke he manufactured about his change of Schools:

Klerides as a student talking to his headmaster:

-Sir, do you think that by expelling me from the school for one week will make me a better student?
-Yes my son, that's what I believe.
-Very good Sir, this means that if I expel my self for ever I will become a much much better student.

So klerides continues saying he abandoned his school and enrolled at the English school....

HA-HA-HA....

And all this at a time that high school was for the elitists, Klerides had the luxury to abandon schools and play it clever on top of it..

all the idiots were in my school....clerides, denktash...

At that time there were ONLY 3 schools in Nicosia manufacturing idiots mate.The Turkish Lycee the Pancyprian and the English school. Why you claim all the credit?

I was just going to say 'welcome back Pyro'.


welcome back, anyway.

[Pyrpolizer]

At the risk of being labelled a pedant: -

"Another A Flight crew flying that night was captained by Sgt Baden Fereday. Sgt Fereday was an experienced pilot with 15 operational flights recorded in his log book. Sgt Kelvin Shoesmith, an Australian, manned his rear turret. His wireless operator, Sgt Glafkos Clerides, was a Greek Cypriot who had been educated at an English Public School"

Clerides flew as wireless operator in a Wellington Bomber.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham/aboutus/memory7.cfm

what english public school?

Just like the rest of us genius's he went to the English School in Nicosia.

Actually he was expelled from high school AND BECAUSE HE WAS RICH he managed to continue at the English school. There he learned how to talk with an accent, and pretend he gets confused when using lengthy Greek words. What an idiot!
During the 60s he was heavily addicted to alcohol, and drunk all the time even at the negotiation table with Denktash.

He later on stopped drinking so much and started the jokes manufacturing bussiness.

Here's the joke he manufactured about his change of Schools:

Klerides as a student talking to his headmaster:

-Sir, do you think that by expelling me from the school for one week will make me a better student?
-Yes my son, that's what I believe.
-Very good Sir, this means that if I expel my self for ever I will become a much much better student.

So klerides continues saying he abandoned his school and enrolled at the English school....

HA-HA-HA....

And all this at a time that high school was for the elitists, Klerides had the luxury to abandon schools and play it clever on top of it..

all the idiots were in my school....clerides, denktash...

At that time there were ONLY 3 schools in Nicosia manufacturing idiots mate.The Turkish Lycee the Pancyprian and the English school. Why you claim all the credit?

I was just going to say 'welcome back Pyro'.


welcome back, anyway.

Thanks Deniz.
I think you missed the sarcastic tune, that's why you got angry.

[denizaksulu]

At the risk of being labelled a pedant: -

"Another A Flight crew flying that night was captained by Sgt Baden Fereday. Sgt Fereday was an experienced pilot with 15 operational flights recorded in his log book. Sgt Kelvin Shoesmith, an Australian, manned his rear turret. His wireless operator, Sgt Glafkos Clerides, was a Greek Cypriot who had been educated at an English Public School"

Clerides flew as wireless operator in a Wellington Bomber.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham/aboutus/memory7.cfm

what english public school?

Just like the rest of us genius's he went to the English School in Nicosia.

Actually he was expelled from high school AND BECAUSE HE WAS RICH he managed to continue at the English school. There he learned how to talk with an accent, and pretend he gets confused when using lengthy Greek words. What an idiot!
During the 60s he was heavily addicted to alcohol, and drunk all the time even at the negotiation table with Denktash.

He later on stopped drinking so much and started the jokes manufacturing bussiness.

Here's the joke he manufactured about his change of Schools:

Klerides as a student talking to his headmaster:

-Sir, do you think that by expelling me from the school for one week will make me a better student?
-Yes my son, that's what I believe.
-Very good Sir, this means that if I expel my self for ever I will become a much much better student.

So klerides continues saying he abandoned his school and enrolled at the English school....

HA-HA-HA....

And all this at a time that high school was for the elitists, Klerides had the luxury to abandon schools and play it clever on top of it..

all the idiots were in my school....clerides, denktash...

At that time there were ONLY 3 schools in Nicosia manufacturing idiots mate.The Turkish Lycee the Pancyprian and the English school. Why you claim all the credit?

I was just going to say 'welcome back Pyro'.


welcome back, anyway.

Thanks Deniz.
I think you missed the sarcastic tune, that's why you got angry.

No I did not. I know top people who graduated from the English School. Their matriculation exams were the envy of us all. I dont know if they still have them now.

[Paphitis]

The plot thickens Paphitis, I too will dig a little deeper.

Quite!

So far, apart from your credible source which states that Clerides was a Gunner.

I have discovered other sources which state he was:
1) a radio operator,
2) a Navigator (I even found a photo of him wearing the 1/2 wings),
3) a Bomber pilot (from Wellingtons to Mosquitos), and
4) a Fighter Pilot (Spitfire).

Now it is possible that he could have been upgraded from Gunner, or navigator to pilot. This was common in WW2.

But he couldn't have been a Bomber Pilot and a Fighter Pilot. They are 2 completely different things.

Can anyone add any more information please?

He can't be an Arsenal supporter surely, what would DT think of that? He must support one of the crap football teams in the south.

Cypriot football teams have proven to be far better than Turkish football teams over the last few years, what?

[CopperLine]

Glafcos Clerides


1942/160 115/BJ670 Flak Ditched off Heligoland.


Held at Prison Camp 344 Lamsdorf Stalag VIII
Prisoner of War No. 27163
Clerides G
Service Number 924202 RAF


Source : http://www.rafcommands.com/Air%20Force%20PoWs/RAF%20POWs%20Index.html

On Lamsdorf, see http://lamsdorf.webs.com/history.htm, and http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/pow/stalag8b.html


If you are willing to pay £3.50 you can get Clerides' RAF wartime POW record from here http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/search-results.asp?searchtype=quicksearch&pagenumber=1&querytype=1&catid=2&query=air+20%2f2336

[Bananiot]

Another true story, involving Klerides.

He was negotiating with Denktash, around 2001, and at some point they had a heated argument and then total, penetrating silence. The UN envoy feared for the worse. The negotiations were about to break down.

Suddenly, Klerides asks Denktsh.

-Rauf, do you remember Laura?
-How could I forget her, Denktash replied, but that was before I met my wife.
-Liar, answered Klerides and everybody started laughing.

The meeting was saved and the negotiations continued.

[Paphitis]

Another true story, involving Klerides.

He was negotiating with Denktash, around 2001, and at some point they had a heated argument and then total, penetrating silence. The UN envoy feared for the worse. The negotiations were about to break down.

Suddenly, Klerides asks Denktsh.

-Rauf, do you remember Laura?
-How could I forget her, Denktash replied, but that was before I met my wife.
-Liar, answered Klerides and everybody started laughing.

The meeting was saved and the negotiations continued.

Who cares about this and his time as president of the RoC? Who cares if he was popular or not?

What matters most is to find out his role in WW2. Was he a Pilot or not? Was he one of the boys? Being the presidential pleb is unimportant compared to aviation. There is a pecking order you know!