Royal Air Forces Association
South East & Eastern Area
117 ½ Loughborough Road
Leicester LE4 5ND
Tel: 0116 268 8780 Fax: 0116 261 2819
Email: eastern@rafa.org.uk
www.rafa.org.uk
South East and Eastern Area
Newsletter
January 2014
On behalf of the South East & Eastern Area Council and all staff; I wish all readers
a Prosperous and Happy New Year.
I also wish to thank all of you who kindly sent Christmas cards and good wishes to
the staff at South East and Eastern offices. Your kindness was much appreciated.
Wing Commander David Boak (Deceased)
It is with regret that I start the New Year by informing you of the sad passing of our Area
Vice President David Boak on 7th December. His funeral took place on 19th December.
David was a stalwart of the Association, having been the son of the Association’s first
Secretary General – Gerald Boak. He was an active RAFALO during his service career,
followed by a spell as Deputy Fundraiser for the Association, and then a member of the
Area Council. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Our condolences go to his
widow Val and other family members.
The Queen’s New Year Honours List 2014
The following have been awarded National Honours in the New Year’s Honours List 2013:
State Awards
RAFA Branch
Area
MBE
Mr James D Scott
BEM
Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders Branch
Mr Malcolm G Collie Lossiemouth Branch
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk
Scotland & N Ireland
Scotland & N Ireland
National Presidential Certificates
To coincide with the New Year Honours List, the following have been awarded National
Presidential Certificates:
Mr John Gilmore
Mr Fred Legborne
Mr Lance J A Smale
Dunstable Branch
Headcorn Branch
Falmouth
SE&E
SE&E
W,M,SW
South East & Eastern Area Presidential Certificates
In conjunction with the New Year’s Honours List, I am pleased to announce that these have
been awarded to:
Mr Michael Armiger
Mr Ray Chopping
Mr Jim Gooding
Mrs Hilary Janes
Mr David McLaughlin MBE
Mr Ronald Sawyer
Mr Leslie Terry
Lincoln Branch
Aylesford & Malling Branch
Thurrock Branch
Leicester Branch
High Wycombe Branch
Tunbridge Wells Branch
Brighton & Hove Branch
Message from the Chairman of Central Council:
Jane Easton, Secretary General, is to leave the RAF Association at the end of February
2014, to take up the post of Director General of the English-Speaking Union, an
international educational charity based in London.
Since her appointment to the RAF Association in 2010, Jane has made a major contribution
to a significant period of change for the Association. This has included a successful
restructuring. The Association has also promoted further its welfare capabilities and
developed membership to strengthen the charity for the future.
Chairman of the Trustees, AVM Nigel Bairsto, said "In thanking Jane for her work with the
Association, I am delighted to say that the charity is now well-positioned to address the
increasingly complex needs of our welfare beneficiaries, and to support our members and
volunteers into the future."
President, Air Marshal Sir Dusty Miller, said " Jane Easton has made a real difference at the
Association over the last 3½ years and leaves the charity strengthened to continue the
important work in Friendship, Help and Support for the whole RAF family. We wish her well
for her future and thank her for her time with us."
South East & Eastern Area Conference 2014 – Resolutions
Branches are reminded that resolutions for Area Conference must reach Area Headquarters
by no later than 7th February 2014.
Area Annual Report 2013
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk
Over the past few years we have published a mosaic of photographs of various Branch
members and RAFALO activities in the Annual Area Report and would like to continue this
for the 2013 Report so we are looking for suitable material. We cannot guarantee that all
photos received will be included but they will all be considered. Digital photographs are
preferred but we can also accept good quality colour prints. If your Branch or Unit has one
or more photographs which you think might be suitable for inclusion in the report then why
not forward them, together with a short statement on when and where they were taken, for
consideration. Digital photographs can be sent by e-mail direct to dbarltrop@aol.com and
colour prints can be sent to Area HQ.
Branch & Branch Club Accounts
In accordance with Branch Regulation (BR) 32, Branch and Branch Club accounts as at 31st
December 2013, including a report from the Auditor or Independent Examiner, are to be
received at Area offices by 31st March 2014.
Your attention is also drawn to Byelaw 24(1) b, which states that a Branch shall be entitled
to be represented at a conference of the Association, providing that its audited Accounts for
the preceding year have been submitted to Area Headquarters, not less than 10 days
before the first day of Conference.
Branch Newsletter – National Competition
Entries for this Competition must be received at CHQ no later than 31st January 2014;
therefore, they must reach us at Area HQ by Friday 24th January. We have seen some
excellent Newsletters from across the whole Area, so I hope that all Branches decide to
enter the Competition.
To enter please send at least two examples of the Newsletter, together with details of how
many issues there are per year and the average distribution per issue. These conditions
must be met prior to consideration by the Judges.
Please submit all entries to Area Headquarters making clear that it is for entry to the
National Competition.
Branch Newsletter – Area Competition
For the Area Newsletter Competition please apply as above but state on the Envelope that it
is for the Area Competition, rather than the National Competition. The entries must reach
your respective Area Office by 10th January 2014 to be read and entered into the
competition in time for the winning Branch Newsletter to be included in the Area Annual
Report.
Annual Conference Blackpool – 16 - 18 May 2014
The letter giving details of Conference will be despatched to Branch Secretaries during early
December, by E-mail or hard copy (where required). It is important that the pro forma is
returned direct to the Conference Organiser (Seb Hargreaves) at CHQ, 117.5
Loughborough Road, Leicester, LE4 5ND (seb.hargreaves@rafa.org.uk ) and not via Area
offices. It is also imperative that it is returned by the due date (Friday 11 April 2014). In
recent years many Branches have not made contact until as late as the week prior to
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk
Conference. It is necessary to complete and return the form even if accommodation has
been booked, either direct, or through Area HQ - again in recent years many Delegates
have assumed that as they had booked their accommodation there was no need to return
the pro forma.
Form 1056 & 1056A
Branches are reminded that in accordance with Branch Regulation (BR) 23, Annual General
Meetings should take place between 1st January and 31st March 2014.
It is important that the 1056 & 1056A forms are returned to us as soon as possible with
correct details entered as requested.
Annual Service St Clement Danes – Sunday 6th April 2014
The Annual Service to commemorate formation of the Royal Air Force will be held at St
Clement Danes Church the Strand London on Sunday 6th April 2014.
Royal Air Forces Association Standard Bearers have been invited to attend the Service.
The format is the same as last year with Standard Bearers marching from Lincoln's Inn Field
to St Clement Danes Church headed by the RAF Halton Pipe Band.
Any Standard Bearers wishing to attend should contact Naz Angha in the South East
Office, Tel: 020 8286 6667 or by e-mail to naz.angha@rafa.org.uk no later than Friday 21st
February 2014.
Ticket allocation for the Service as in previous years is on a first come first served basis but
unfortunately, only invited guests will be allowed to attend the reception after the Service.
Any members wishing to obtain tickets for the Service should contact Naz no later than
Friday 21st February 2014.
The Service will commence at 11.00 hrs.
Flying Scholarship Scheme 2014
The scheme is open to members of the ATC, CCF(RAF) and GVCAC. The five
Scholarships provide the overall winning cadet with a course of 35 hours flying training, plus
12 hours each for four runners-up. They are provided as a thank you to the cadets for their
tremendous support each year, especially fundraising for the Wings Appeal and to
encourage their continued interest in aviation.
Many Branches have links with Air Cadet Squadrons/Units and it would be appreciated if
Branch members could make as many Cadets and ACO staff as possible aware of the
Flying Scholarships. Applicants can, of course, also be nominated by a RAF Association
Branch.
Application Forms and Terms & Conditions are available for downloading from the
Association’s website www.rafa.org.uk following the Air Cadet link, or by post from Stuart
Haigh (Membership Support Officer) at the RAF Association, CHQ, 1171/2 Loughborough
Road, Leicester, LE4 5ND, by calling 0116 268 8762, or by email to stuart.haigh@rafa.org
The closing date for applications is no later than 31st January, 2014.
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk
Royal International Air Tattoo RAF Fairford 11th-13th July 2014
Next year is the 50th Anniversary of the Red Arrows and an additional day (Friday 11 th July)
the ‘Reds’ Pit Day’ is being added to celebrate this. People planning to attend next
summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, who purchase their tickets before
31st January 2014, will enjoy a saving of £10 on the price of admission.
Special Super Earlybird tickets are available until 31st January and are priced at £24 for a
Friday ticket, £34 for a Saturday ticket and £34 for a Sunday ticket.
Between 1st February and 31st May, Earlybird tickets will be available priced at £29 for the
Friday ticket, £39 for a Saturday ticket and £39 for the Sunday ticket.
After 3rd April, the standard advance ticket will go on sale, priced at £34 for the Friday ticket
£44 for the Saturday ticket and £44 for Sunday ticket and will be subject to a £2.50 admin
fee per order.
For full admission ticket details and to see the wide range of optional upgrades designed to
enhance your enjoyment of the Royal International Air Tattoo 2014, visit www.airtattoo.com.
Welfare Courses 2014
The following welfare courses will take place in 2014. Applications from HWOs and
Assistant HWOs and HWOs and Assistant HWOs designate to attend these courses are
welcome. In the first instance, applications should be made through the Area Welfare
Officer.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Course
Dates
Learners
Location
AIM Awards
Level 1
AIM Quality Mark
Update Training
AIM Awards
Level 1
15th – 17th January
(Weds-Fri)
12th February
(Weds)
17th–19th March
(Mon-Weds)
20
Kegworth
2 x Nights)
YORK
(1 x Night )
Kegworth
(2 x Nights)
AIM Quality Mark
Update Training
AIM Awards
Level 1
AIM Quality Mark
Update Training
AIM Awards
Level 1
AIM Awards
Level 1
AIM Awards
Level 2
9th April
(Weds)
9th -11th May
(Fri - Sun)
25th June
(Weds)
30th Jul -1st August
(Weds –Fri)
8th -10th September
(Mon-Weds)
14th–16th
October
(Tues-Thurs)
21st-23rd November
(Fri-Sun)
AIM Awards
Level 1
Approx. 25
20
Approx. 25
20
Approx. 25
20
20
20
20
BUCKINGHAM
(1 x Night)
Kegworth
(2 x Nights)
GLOUCS
(1 x Night)
Kegworth
(2 x Nights
Kegworth
(2 x Nights )
Kegworth
(2 x Nights)
Kegworth
(2 x Nights)
CS Healthcare, our health expert on indigestion over Christmas
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk
If there's ever a time to overindulge, it's Christmas. When you eat too much, the end result
can be indigestion. It's caused by acid in the stomach breaking down the protective lining of
the digestive system, and symptoms include feeling full or bloated, heartburn, feeling sick,
and belching. To avoid the worst, sit down to eat, don't rush your meals, chew your food
properly and don't get up for around 20 minutes after eating.
This information is intended as general advice only. If you have any medical concerns,
please contact your GP.
RAFA members receive your first 2 months’ cover FREE. T’s & C’s apply full details
available at http://www.cshpartner.co.uk/rafa.aspx.
CS Healthcare is a registered friendly society, authorised by the Prudential Regulation
Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation
Authority– reg no. 205346. The maximum joining age is 74 years and 11 months unless you
are switching from a previous insurer in which case the maximum joining age is 69 years
and 11 months.
Donations For January 2014
South Eastern Respite Care Fund
Morden Branch
TOTAL
£1394.26
£1394.26
GRAND TOTAL £1394.26
Ken Clarke
South East & Eastern Area Director
Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
Registered Charity 226686 in England & Wales. SCO37673 in Scotland
www.rafa.org.uk