Royal Air Forces Association Yorkshire (Eastern) Region

'Wear Your Poppy with Pride Campaign'

Dear Janine,

I hope you don't mind me sending you this message but I would like your help & support. Can you please pass this message on to all members who might help with my campaign?

My name is Harriet and I'm 18 years old. I am standing just to the right of the poster in the photograph.

Back in November 2010, I changed the Employment Policy of an American clothing company because I was told I couldn't wear my poppy whilst at work. Iam now on a mission to lobby the Government to look into this matter and put it up as a subject for debate in Parliament:

'Should employees be allowed to wear a poppy,
our National Symbol of Remembrance, at work or not?'

Please take a moment to look at my website and my Petition:

http://hppoppycampaign.moonfruit.com

www.gopetition.com/petition/43263/signatures.html

I do hope I can rely on your help and support as I need 100,000 signatures or more to help make this Petition work and be eligible for a debate in Parliament.

My campaign / petition and website are now in full swing. The count of those who have signed the Petition is currently 8,592, a long way to go yet but I intend to hand deliver my Petition to NO.10 personally.

Please help me by spreading the word as this is such an important and most sensitive issue to be addressed.

BBC Midlands Today covered my story on Monday 7th March. A clip of that broadcast can be watched on my website.

Thank you for your assistance

Best Wishes.

Harriet Phipps
01789299109

On Tuesday 12th October 2010, Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant, C in C Air Command, with the Secretary General of the RAF Association, Jane Easton, were at RAF Linton on Ouse, York, to officially open the new Welfare Facility and Community Centre, which is partly funded by a £65,000 donation from the RAF Association Charity funds.

The newly refurbished Maple Leaf Café, named primarily because of the two Canadian Squadrons that were based at Linton on Ouse during the second world war period, is a perfect example of a modern, airy facility that is available for all ranks use, and the Community Centre houses all the Welfare and Support Team, which includes a shared office for the RAF Association.

Accompanying the Commander in Chief were the Station Commander Group Captain Mike Longstaff MBE (Since which he has handed over to Group Captain Terry Jones MA RAF), and Squadron Leader Angela Unsworth OC Station Support Services, who was

responsible for the setting up of funding and planning of the facility. Other senior personnel from the base were at the opening, including senior officers from Daubney's, Carillion, in conjunction with Defence Estates. Also in attendance was Northern Area Director of RAFA, Darrell Slater-Smith, himself only fairly recently retired from the RAF, the Director of Membership and Areas Bob Hounslow, the Director of Welfare Tricia Freer, and the Communications and Marketing Manager Nicola Short, all from RAFA Central headquarters in Leicester. Also on hand to witness proceedings were all the Support Team, including John Allison from RAFA with his wife Kath. John had a long conversation with the C in C, who praised him for his work on the base, and hoped that the future involvement of RAFA would bring even closer relations between the RAF Association and the RAF. John was later highly praised by the Secretary General for his support and total commitment to the Support Team at RAF Linton on Ouse, and for what he had achieved, and hoped he would go from strength to strength in his ambitions.

The Air Chief Marshal is quoted as saying 'I would like to find a way of bottling the ethos and relationship that Defence Estates, Carillion enterprises and the station have at RAF Linton on Ouse so that I may expand it across other areas'

Also, on the same day, the RAFALO Team put on their annual 'Brew for a Few, which raised money for the RAFA 2010 Wings Appeal. It is reported that a total of £150 was raised by the team.

At present, there is no National memorial to honour the men and women of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) who served in the United Kingdom during World War Two.

RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Leeming are determined to remedy this important omission. Both stations were at the heart of 6 (Canadian) Group RAF during the war, and it is the intention of both Station Commanders to erect a lasting and fitting memorial to all Canadians who served, and are still serving in the RCAF / CAF.

The plan is to construct a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Alrewas, Staffordshire, by July 2011. The memorial will be in the form of a stone monolith, topped by a Canadian Maple Leaf. The Maple Leaf will cast a shadow over one of 13 stone slabs representing the provinces and territories of Canada on the 11th of November each year, on Armistice Day.

The project will cost in the region of £33,000 (C$53,000). We believe this represents excellent value for money, and is a small price to pay to honour the brave Canadians who volunteered to fight for the freedom that we all enjoy today.

Any donation, large or small will be welcomed. If you can donate, please send a cheque payable to "Service Funds RAF Leeming" to the above address. For overseas donations, the cheques will need to be in UK pounds sterling.

In 1941 Beningbrough Hall was requisitioned as a billet for use by RAF Linton on Ouse. SNCO Aircrew of No 35 Sqn RAF and then No 76 Sqn RAF were accommodated at Beningbrough from 1941-1943. From 1943 until 1945, No 408 (Goose) Sqn RCAF were 'guests' at the Hall.

In Spring 2011, the National Trust is mounting an exhibit dedicated to the aircrew who were billeted at Beningbrough Hall during WW2. Provided any stories can be obtained, then the project will also cover the airmen and airwomen who worked at Beningbrough Hall.

Much work has been undertaken thus far to compile "This is your life" style composite displays that include reminisces, photos, memorabilia, flying log books and medals. At this time the project is short of memorabilia, flying books and medals. We are also looking for further reminisces with photographs to bolster the exhibit's resource pool.

THIS IS AN OPEN LETTER APPEAL TO RAFA MEMBERS FOR YOU TO AID
THE PROJECT BY RELATING ANY RELEVANT REMINISCES TO THE NT
BENINGBROUGH HALL AT WAR RESEARCHER.
LOANS OF MEMORABILIA, MEDALS, LOG BOOKS OR PHOTOGRAPHS WILL
BE PROTECTED FOR DISPLAY BY LOCKED & ALARMED DISPLAY CASES
WITH OVERSIGHT DURING THE PROPERTY'S OPENING HOURS BY NT
GUIDES/SECURITY STAFF.

So, please help keep alive the spirit of Bomber Command crews by permitting the public and school parties the opportunity to try and understand the life and experiences of those who fought selflessly, and indeed the ultimate sacrifice paid by some, to keep our Nation free from tyranny.

Please address correspondence to: Ted Sumner, Beningbrough Hall at War Researcher, National Trust Beningbrough Hall & Gardens, York YO30 1DD.
Telephone: 01937 834172. Email: TSumner37@aol.com

Due to the massive support of the Station Commander RAF Linton on Ouse, along with the OC Support, and OC Station Support Services, RAFA member and Area Councillor John Allison now had a shared office with SSAFA in the newly refurbished Maple Leaf Club (Now Maple Leaf Cafe and Community Centre) at Linton on Ouse. It should however, be borne in mind that John is not carrying out Welfare work in the station, with any enquiries being passed back to the North East Area Office in York. John's main role is to foster a better relationship between the RAF and RAFA, and making efforts to increase RAFA Membership.

John H Allison, Stn (Civil) RAFA Liaison Officer, The Community Centre, RAF Linton on Ouse, York. YO30 2AJ

RAFA House Flags are available from the Area HQ on loan for use at funerals when requested by the family. They must be returned to the Area Office as soon as possible after the funeral. There are one or two Branches who have their own Coffin Drape, again, it is up to the family of the deceased whether they wish to give permission for use of a drape.

Display Equipment - Please be advised that display equipment is available from both the Northern Area HQ at Leyland, Lancashire, or for the Eastern side of the Pennines from John Allison (Tel: 01904 761077 E Mail johna.rafa@talktalk.net ). The present stock is under review, but the old 4 x 3mtr Marquee has been written off, as totally unsuitable for display purposes. A full list of equipment is available from either the Area HQ or John.

Having your own Branch Website can be a powerful tool, available 24/7, it serves to keep members up to date with forth coming events, news, contact details, reports on past events and much more.

The cost may not be as much as you think and could possibly be offset by advertising local businesses on your site.