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General
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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;
They ask us why we do
it
Why we still parade
Now that we are
getting older
And just a little
frayed
It's not for the sake
of glory
Or the medals on our
chest
It's simply that we
are comrades
Who stood the final
test
On the 6th June, that
fateful day
A day that we will
never forget
Many a lad lay down
his life
And paid the final
debt
So when you see a
veteran
Give the man your
hand
For the medals on his
chest
Were won in foreign
lands
And when God asks the
question
'"Who are you my
man"
I will proudly answer
"Sir, I am a
veteran"
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Sponsored
by
Yorkshire
(Eastern) Region RAF Association
A
Battle of Britain Service & Parade - Sunday 6th
September 2009
Wow!
What a Day! With around 450 on parade, a full Hangar,
and a visit by the new Chief of the Air Staff Sir
Stephen Dalton and the President of the RAF
Association Air Marshal Philip Sturley amongst many
other dignitaries which included the full Civic Party,
the Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire AirCdre
William Gambold, and AVM Nigel Bairsto the RAFA
Northern Area President.
Planning
for the event began in August 2008, booking aircraft,
a Band, and ensuring that the Air Training Corps were
on board. Establishing contact with people was
problematic, as I personally had not been 'hands on'
with a Battle of Britain event since 2005, and
contacts and people do change over a period of time.
Once thing was certain, I had an ATC Project Officer
on board, who relieved me of everything to do with the
Parade element, all I needed to do was keep up with
the Administration.
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The reception
marquee area where guests congregated prior to
the VIP Buffet Lunch in the Elvington Room.
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The Chief of the Air Staff had arrived by
helicopter at spot on 1100hrs, to be met by the
Museum Director Ian Reed and myself, and once
changed he joined other senior guests at the
RAFA Marquee where Tea and Coffee were being
served.
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By 12
noon, there were so many people inside the Yorkshire
Air Museum, you could hardly move. On parade were 275
Cadets in three flights and their Officers, a group of
RAF Personnel from Leconfield, and a fairly decent
number of Veterans. There over 40 Standards and
Banners on Parade too, what a sight to see.
The
six 'main' Standards that took part were the RAFA
National Standard, carried by Mike Facey, The ROC
Association National Standard, the RAFA Northern Area
Standard, The Yorkshire (Eastern) Region, and the RAF
Police North Yorkshire Area Standards, and the ATC
North Group Banner - all were escorted by Cadets from
various squadrons.
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A
Guard of Honour by Air Training Cadets was formed
whilst the Guests proceeded to the Buffet Lunch in the
Elvington Room. The Museum did very well putting on
such a spread for our guests. A Guard of Honour by ATC
Cadets was formed whilst the Guests proceeded to Lunch
in the Elvington Room, and shortly after Lunch the
first Parade from the rear of the Museum to the T2
Hangar took place, and guests were moved from the
Elvington Room to the Hangar, for the Commemoration
Service. The Parade arrived at the Hangar and
participants proceeded in to the Hangar, quickly
followed by all the Standards. The backdrop of the
Halifax Friday the 13th never ceases to draw, and this
was no exception, to have the aircraft as the backdrop
was magnificent. Once everyone was in place, a short
welcome was made by the Museum Director, followed by
further longer presentation given by myself. The
Presentation of the Yorkshire (Eastern) Region Young
Person of the Year Took place prior to the service,
when the Chief of the Air Staff carried out the
presentations of 3 Certificates and the new Trophy.
The
Service was conducted by the Revd(SqnLdr) David
Norfield, Station Padre RAF Linton on Ouse, music for
the Service was provided by the York Railway Institute
Band.
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The Hurricane and
Spitfire 'strutted their stuff' carrying out
Four passes,
much to the delight of the large crowd that were
present
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After
the Service, there was a short break until the forming
up of the massive parade took place. The salute on
this occasion was taken by the Chief of the Air Staff,
and Air Marshal Sturley. The entire parade then formed
up in a 'hollow square' formation around the Ensign
Mast for the Sunset Ceremony. The York Railway
Institute Band played Sunset, whilst we awaited
aircraft from the Battle of Britain Flight. The Sunset
was extended by a lone Piper (Jim Sharpe) playing from
the top of the Control Tower.
The 60
strong Northern Group ATC Band were marched off,
taking the salute of the Chief of the Air Staff,
before the Parade was dismissed.
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Before
departing the Chief of the Air Staff, and Air
Marshal Sturley spent some time talking to both
Mr Reed, the Civic Party, the YER President, Mr
Maurice Voase and myself, and expressed their
delight at being present at such a well
organised event.
John H Allison
Project Officer |
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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, also for the Eastern
side of the Pennines, John Allison (01904 761077 E Mail johna.rafa@tiscali.co.uk
) The present stock is being reviewed, with the possibility that
the 4 x 3 mtr Marquee will no longer be available from York, and
will be replaced by a 3 x 3 mtr unit, which is easier and more
manageable. The York store will have 2 x 3 x 3 mtr Marquees,
with RAFA livery, 2 x 'Pop Ups', 1 x High Table, 1 x Set of
Marler Hayley Boards, Poster Boards, and there may be more added
in early 2009.
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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. |
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