When you look at this b/w photograph: this is really a *historical* picture (taken 1962).
The reason I wanted to post it: well, when back in the day you knew someone quite well and you, yourself are still alive!!!…. you realize: WOW….. we are all mortals.
On the b/w photo:
I stand 2nd left, and *the boss* Martin last one right.
Martin’s girlfriend (1962) Tineke Nipshagen, in the middle of the 7 young women. NOW: 88, after a marriage with *the boss* of 62 years!!!
At the time: Martin’s Air Charter, founded in 1958, was doing 10 minute aerial round flights over Amsterdam.
In 1958: a novelty, certainly a daring adventure for every Dutch person, going up in the air, in a tiny plane (a De Havilland Dove).
In 1960: the DC3 (a Dakota), the PH-MAA arrived, and Martin needed pilots, with licences to fly it.
And also airline stewardesses!
I was 20, had a nice job at SCHIPHOL (the old Amsterdam Airport), mastered 3 foreign languages: English, German, French, and my own mother tongue Dutch (without a colloquial accent, which was a must).
One evening, 8 pm: on my nightshift at Aero Groundservices during my coffee break I walked over to the Martin’s Air Charter building (2 floors, constructed of wood).
The guys sitting there looked up, ?? (how can we help you).
Oh, I said, I was wondering whether the M.A.C. had any jobs available.
Ah, they replied: the chief hostess, Miss Nipshagen is not here at the moment, but if you leave your name, tel.#, she shall get in touch.
Okay: I did that. And indeed she phoned, asking whether 8 pm the next day was agreeable (again in my coffeebreak).
So…in my Aero Ground Services uniform I stepped inside, and was interviewed.
2 days later: the phone at home rang: *Miss Nipshagen* said my mother.
Miss Spoelder, you have been hired! Oh, I said, thank you.
When do I start, I wanted to know, it was mid February 1962, I was still a minor, under 21.
FIRST OF MARCH, she said, adding that for the next 3 months I would be a trainee. Okay: I’ll be there: 09.00!
Miss Spoelder, she said: don’t you want to know HOW MUCH you shall earn, per month??
Omg, I thought: totally forgot to ask such an important issue, but said: yes, yes, of course I want to know that.
Well: you shall earn Ngl. 350 pm!!
Aha, oh, nice, thank you! (I was getting Ngl. 250 p.m. at the time working as a ground-hostess, so a huge improvement eh, 33%).
Back in the day: 1962, I was still 20, nearly 21 (on 7th May, 1962), just a happy young woman, starting a new job.
In such small, now museum relics, airplanes: Dakota’s. (32 pax). Later M.A.C. bought a DC-4 (70 pax), than some DC7’s (120 pax)
Note: I married in 1963, stopped flying at some stage awaiting the birth my first child (22.2.1965)
I look back, on great, good, interesting, eventful years during those early days of Dutch aviation, for Dutch people daring to FLY, going abroad on holiday.
That MARTIN Schröder is no longer alive: made me SAD.
An ERA, mine too, that current day travellers never knew about.
Last but not least: I want to HONOUR, pay my respects 🙏 too to TINEKE SCHRODER.
Being married for 62 years is an amazingly long time. So from my home 🏡 in Southern Turkey:
TINEKE: lots of ❤️ 😍.
Take good care of yourself!!
👋 Willy Holmes-Spoelder 💢
Leave a Reply