General News

 

Important Information

Flying Officer Michael Lovell from RAF Boulmer is giving up 1 weeks leave to complete a mammoth 190 mile sponsored walk from RAF Boulmer to RAF Scampton to raise funds in support of the RAF Associations ‘Miles more Minutes’ campaign. 

Miles more Minutes aims to fund more telephone talk time for RAF personnel deployed in theatres such as Afghanistan, enabling them to feel closer to home even though they are so far apart. For more information visit the website: www.rafa.org.uk/fundraising-milesmoreminutes.asp

Michael will set off from RAF Boulmer on Friday 25th June and aims to arrive at Scampton on the 30th June. This equates to 6 days of continuous walking for 14 hours a day! 

If you would like to sponsor Michael and support a great cause you can do so online at www.justgiving.com/B2B-boulmertoblackdog or by post to: Chris Naylor, The RAF Association, James Street, York, YO10 3DW

Thank you for your support

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Important Information

Most of you will be aware that Hornsea Branch of the RAF Association closed some years ago, and it was always hoped that the Branch would either reform at some point or become a Social Group. However, neither have happened unfortunately, so the Standard is to be laid up. It should be remembered that there is a Free Standing Welfare Officer living and working in Hornsea.

It has been agreed with Yorkshire Air Museum that the Laying Up will take place at the Chapel within the museum on Sunday 22nd August at 1400hrs. The short service will be conducted by the Rev'd Neil Mackay, one of the clergy at Yorkshire Air Museum. I will carry the Standard on this occasion. Ryedale Branch will provide two escorts. The Standard is with me presently.

I do hope that we can have some support for the laying up of this Standard, and look forward to hearing from you in due course. The Restaurant will be open, so if anyone wishes to have a snack or even Lunch before the Service then please arrive for about 1230hrs. Please enter the date in your diaries, and encourage your members to come along. I need to know in advance of those members names who will be attending.

John Allison
johna.rafa@talktalk.net
john.allison@rafa.org.uk
Stn(Civil)RAFALO
RAF Linton on Ouse

'It is with the grateful thanks to the Station Commander RAF Linton on Ouse, Group Captain Mike Longstaff OBE and his OC SSS (Station Support Services) that Chairman John Allison now has an office at RAF Linton on Ouse for one day a week (Wednesday), where practical. The office is on the top floor of the Station HQ Building, until such time as the Linton IWF (Integrated Welfare Facility) is completed in its refurbishment, then John will move over. It must be borne in mind that John is not carrying out Welfare work on the Station, and any possible cases will be passed back to the NE Area Office in York. His main role is to establish a better relationship twixt the RAF and RAFA, also making efforts to increase the RAFA Membership.

Contact details: John H Allison, Station Civil RAFA Liaison Officer, Station Headquarters, RAF Linton on Ouse, York. YO30 2AJ Tel/Fax/Ans: (B) 01347 848994 E Mail: johna.allison@rafa.org.uk

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John H Allison. Station RAFA Liaison Officer, Station Headquarters, Royal Air Force Linton on Ouse. York YO30 2AJ Tel/Ans: (H) 01904 761077. (M) 07762 333843 E Mail: johna.rafa@talktalk.net Squadron Leader Lorraine Reynolds. OC PMS, Station Headquarters, Royal Air Force Linton on Ouse. York. YO30 2AJ Tel/Ans: 01347 847304 E Mail: LIN-SptOCPMS@lintononouse.raf.mod.uk Joint Project Officers The 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Parade & Service. York. Sunday 19th September 2010. The highlight of this year, the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, in the second most important City in the United Kingdom - York, is being led by the Royal Air Force Linton on Ouse, and will take place on Sunday 19th September. The station are to exercise the Freedom of the City, and it is expected that along with flights of personnel from Linton on Ouse, there will also be a large contingent of Air Training Corps Cadets, their Squadron Banners, and a large flight of Veterans along with their Standard Bearers After the recent success of the Battle of Britain Service & Parade, in September 2009, a civilian has joined forces with the RAF to assist in the organisation of what will be the best ever parade in the centre of this great City. The Station Commander from RAF Linton on Ouse, Group Captain Mike Longstaff OBE, will be one of many senior officers from the Royal Air Force, the Royal Air Forces Association, the British Army and Royal Navy who will be in York to witness the event. The Lord Mayor of York, his Deputy, also the Sheriff of York and Consort will take pride of place for this special occasion. The Parade, which will include many Veterans, not only from World War 2, but also from recent conflicts, will form up in Duncombe Place at 1030hrs. Flypasts by a Spitfire, and a diamond Nine of Tucano aircraft from RAF Linton on Ouse will take place, just prior to the parade marching off, taking a route through the centre of the City, and back to Duncombe Place for the salute, before dismissing to enter York Minster by the West Entrance Standards from 72 and 207 Squadrons based at RAF Linton on Ouse, along with the York Branch RAF Association Standard, the Northern Area Standard of the RAF Association, accompanied by the Air Crew Association (White Rose Branch (York), the National Standard of the Royal Observer Corps, and the Banner of 110 (City of York) Air Training Corps Cadets, will be presented to the Altar, after the Air Training Corps Cadets Banners and Veterans Standards are paraded along the nave, and take up their posts on the outer edges of the congregation During the Service, the Book of Remembrance will be ceremoniously marched along the nave by four RAF Officers, escorted by the Parade Commander, Station Warrant Officer Fred Dawson, and come to rest below the altar in preparation for the Turning of the Page Ceremony. The Book, containing over 18000 names of personnel from various parts of the world who flew with the Royal Air Force and were killed during the Second World War whilst flying from bases in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland, will be the centre of attention. In this special year, there will be three separate pages 'turned' in the Book of Remembrance, one by Veteran of World War Two and a member of York Branch RAF Association, Terry Clark BEM Ae, a second by an Officer of the Royal Air Force, and a third by a Senior Air Training Corps Cadet The Battle of Britain is always a very important occasion, when we remember all those who gave their lives that we could live in peace. This Parade and Service is extra special, and is a 'one off' when everyone is encouraged to support what will be a fantastic day. Ex Servicemen from all the three Services are asked to come and join in the parade and Service. Many civilian associations such as the Fire Brigade and Police, plus the Ambulance Services are also welcome Interested parties who wish to be involved with this special event and who would like further information should contact the Station RAFA Liaison Officer, details of which are shown at the heading of this information package.

A Pilots Prayer (Author Unknown)

My presence shall go with thee
Heavenly Father, as I ascend the clouds
Into the purer air of Thy Heavens.
Surround me with they presence.
uphold me with thy strength.

Protect me from the fiery darts
of those who would destroy me
and if it be thy will, give me a safe landing.
Should I fall as a bird from the blue,
grant that I may fall into the ever loving arms of thy love.

The original script belonged to 207 Squadron Navigator Jack Briggs, who's aircraft crashed near Holmpton, but he survived, and passed away on 12th September 2008. A memorial has been erected to the Crew of the Halifax at St Nicholas Church, Holmpton. I attended the Service of Remembrance and dedication at Holmpton on Saturday 7th November, with Officer's of 207 Squadron, RAF Linton on Ouse. It was a very moving ceremony, and in particular when meeting Jack Briggs son Russell, who has given permission to use the words in this way.

John Allison
Chairman York Branch RAF Association.

For those who do not receive the RAFA Air Mail, the following poem is taken from the October-December 2009 edition, and shown on a wreath laid at Bayeux British Cemetary during the D Day anniversary celebrations;

 

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SOMEONE ELSE

For any club it is not uncommon to have a shortage of members to see events through and the following might be of interest/use:

"We were saddened to learn of the death of one of the committee's most valuable members - Someone Else. His passing creates a vacancy that will be hard to fill since Someone Else had been with the Committee from the beginning and did far more than the normal share of the work.

Whenever there was a job to do, a helping hand needed or just an ear required the words on everybody's lips were "Someone Else will do it". Whenever there was need for volunteers everybody assumed that "Someone Else will volunteer".

Someone Else was a wonderful person, indeed sometimes appearing super-human. But a person can only do so much. And, were the truth known, everyone expected too much of Someone Else."

THINK ABOUT IT !!

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.

Branch Websites 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. RAFA York have negotiated a favourable rate to enable Branches to set up their own Websites with Sprocket Internet Services. Once the site is up and running, keeping it up to date couldn't be easier, simply send an email and the alterations will be carried out for you. If you would like to know more please contact John Allison or directly to Ian at Sprocket Internet Services.