The first photo is from the Imperial War Museum Photograph archive taken by RAF photographer Mr P H F Tovey and shows “Students learning how to use theodolites while training to be meteorological assistants at the RAF Meteorological School at Barnwood near Gloucester”(IWM Ref 2084, There is a series 12 photographs in the IWM collection from CH2076 to CH2087 with varying descriptions but all showing the same group of students, probably at Barnwood, 3 additional examples have been included.
According to an official history of the Meteorological Office, the Training School was established at Berkley Square House in London to teach meteorology to all forecasters and officers of the new Meteorological Section of the RAF Volunteer Reserve and Training began on 15 September 1939. The Training school moved to Barnwood on the outskirts of Gloucester in autumn 1940.
It is not known where the training school was located and if anyone has any information please contact Chas Townley.
Information on the life of Mr P.H.F. Tovey appears in a IWM volunteer Blog about a photograph of a Wellington Bomber credited to him.
