RAF Regiment Association
34046724319100506436942203 FORWARD00 FORWARD509729421587300Royal Air Force RegimentAssociationBirmingham Branch Newsletter January 2018The aim of the Association is to maintain and promote esprit de corps and comradeship amongst all RAF Regiment personnel, both past and present, in order to promote the good name, reputation and traditions of the Corps. A Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you all from all the Members of the Branch Committee.2017 has been a very busy year more so due to it being our 75th Anniversary with all the extra events and larger Annual events we have taken part in.75th Anniversary Service at Bury St EdmundsFreedom of Richmond ParadeR.A.F Regiment Chapel Annual Commemoration &Armed Forces Day at the N.M.ATower of London ServiceA Reunion weekend at CambridgeA.G.M in JulyBattle of Britain Service Westminster AbbeyCenotaph Parade London and BirminghamA recce trip to Glos for the train tripI have had three holidays in FranceTwo Meetings at Cranwell with the N.M.CA visit all the way from Washington D.C by my eldest son Tom, his lovely wife Tess and my very handsome Grandson Joshua who was 18 this SeptemberFour Newsletters11 Branch Lunches as well.The Branch Christmas Party LunchOn top of all that we were presented with Megan, our beautiful third Grandchild, her big sister Scarlett her Mummy Justina and her Daddy are thrilled to have a new member of the family. Sue & Me, well we are biased anyway, love you lots.How did I ever find time to go to work !!!!Advanced Party Cliff Sutor. It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the passing of Cliff Sutor.He passed away in Good Hope Hospital with his family by his bed side on the 19th October 2017.Cliff was a founder member of the R.A.F Regiment, joining in 1942 and serving until 1948He joined the Birmingham Branch in July 1991 and was an active member until his sight became too bad for him to drive into Birmingham from Four Oakes. We were able to get him a lift in sometimes which he enjoyed very much. -4871922880300His wife of 71 years, Ida, dutifully read the the Flash magazine and Branch Newsletters, describing any drawings and photographs that they contained, so that he could keep up with events, which he enjoyed to hear about.The picture left shows Cliff and Ida in happier days on holiday in Spain with Daughter Barbara and Her husband Mick.The funeral took place at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium at 11 o-clock on the 13th of November 2017. On entering the Chapel the theme tune to “The Band of Brothers” was played, which was very apt as that is how Cliff thought of the Regiment. The Standard Bearer was Tom Magee, escorted by Branch Vice Chairman Gustaaf Schrauwen, the Ladies Section was represented by Susan Magee, who always thought of Cliff as a gentleman, but very cheeky.The service was led by Rev Daniel Ramble of St James Church, Cliffs daughter Barbara read out a poem by Katie Evans called ‘Gods Garden’, and the Scripture reading St John. 15. 9-17 was read by Tom Magee. The exit music was “ Annies Song” by John Denver.A Poppy wreath was sent from all members of the Branch with the inscription “ We will remember him “.Cliff will be missed by Sue and myself as a personal friend and an example to all, on how we should treat each other in life.Sick paradeTwo of our members have had the same operation within weeks of each other, Bill Thacker was the first then Rob McGowran. Both have had operations on their wrist to help relieve the pain from Carpel Tunnel. Bill is back to full fitness now and Rob is on the mend. Bill is also due to have a knee operation fairly soon. We wish them all the best in their recovery.Branch BirthdaysThe following Birthdays are coming up:-January. Patricia Lobley, Sam Owen, Chris Baxter, Mik Lane, Hazel Bridgwood, Gus Schrauwen, Nicola Lane.February. Ray Harrold, Hughie Cooper. March. Bill Bennett, Colin Taylor, Graham Garvey, Brian Wakefield, Arthur Bryant, Jayne McGowran, Joyce Bennett and Pauline Cole.We wish you all a very Happy Birthdayand very good health for the future.Anniversaries approaching.January. Katie and Michael Beard. ( 11 )February. Sue and Tom Magee. ( 49 ) ( I had better make a note of that !!! )March. Jennifer and Ray Harrold ( 52 ), Patricia and Brian Wakefield ( 62 ), Pauline and Peter Cole ( 51 ).“Congratulations”We all hope that you all have a wonderful day. If I have missed anyone’s birthday / anniversary this year please let me know so that I can put it on the list for next year.Trevor’s anecdotes:- Patients notes - The patient has two teenage children but no other abnormalities !!!!.New members .We welcome to the Branch, Lee and Amy Stringer and their Family. Lee left the Regiment in 2004 and at 40 that makes him the youngest member of the Branch. He lives in Gosport in Hampshire but signed up in Birmingham when he joined the R.A.F in October 1995. Lee served in Northern Ireland at Aldergrove and at the Honnington Depot. They have two daughters aged 12 and 9. We welcome you all to the Branch and invite you to attend our Saturday lunches if you are in the area.REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2017Report from Rob McGowran, Branch Chairman.Saturday 11th November-Westminster Abbey Jayne and I drove down to London and arrived just at the stroke of Big Ben for the 2 minutes silence at 11.00 on Saturday the 11th November 2017.After booking into our hotel we made our way down to Westminster Abbey memorial garden to pay our respects to the men and women who lost their lives in all the campaigns over so many years and to seek out the RAF Regiment Association plot, which we found in a lovely place just outside the entrance to the Abbey, there were a number of crosses in our plot, the main cross in memory of all the fallen of the Royal Air Force Regiment.We took a few snaps of the crosses standing very proud. The weather was very wet and windy, but it didn’t dampen our spirits!Whist we were browsing along all the other Regimental Associations I came across my Dad’s regimental plot which is the Royal Irish Fusiliers, which was a very emotional and proud moment. I bought one of the small crosses available from the British Legion Poppy Stand, wrote a message for my “Pops” and planted it with the many other tributes which were there for everyone to see.Sunday 12th November - Parade at the CenotaphIt was an early start, and in my finery, we mustered at 9.00 on Horseguards Parade. There was a massive turnout of the Rocks this year, 217 men on Parade, great to see for the 75th Anniversary. There was also a large contingent of ladies this year, offering support as always! 02540000We were formed up at around 0930 in two very large flights in column C by Veteran drills men Alan Parkes and Ron Barnbrook, and very smart they were with the Blue Sashes, Rob is behind Mr Parkes on the front row of the Column. The Ladies and the wheelchair lads to the rear, we were given the command “RAF Regiment by the right quick march” and as we marched off Horseguards, through the arches, escorted by serving members of the Queens Colour Squadron, we had the theme tune to the Dam Busters, courtesy of an army unit in column B. Service banter never goes away, I am very glad to say .left5187950The QCS Snco’s were keeping us all in step, well most of the time anyway. We were stood at ease when we were on Whitehall, whilst the cenotaph ceremony went ahead, then on the first stroke of Big Ben we observed the 2 minute silence, very poignant, then the Last Post was played by the band of the Royal Marines, wreathes were laid by all parties including our own Regiment, there were a couple of hymns and a couple of prayers including the Lords Prayer then God Save The Queen. After the Rouse, we were ready for the march up along Whitehall and around back to Horseguards, prior to that giving a smart eyes left as we marched past the cenotaph war memorial, then just prior to turning back into Horseguards the royal salute was given by Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex), and then as we marched on to Horseguards, the Band played, probably by coincidence, the RAF Regiments march past tune, Holyrood, which was fantastic to hear on our 75th Anniversary.We all met up at the Horse and Stables pub, just over Westminster Bridge which was a new venue for our Association , the Association Chairman Peter Lawrence turned up to give and a short speech prior to presenting the pub staff with a RAF Regiment plaque, which was quickly mounted on the wall over the bar and displayed for all to see, whilst a number of Rocks were singing their heads off, a very large Union Flag was hoisted along over all the heads of everyone in the pub which was a sight which every Rockape would have been proud of.Rob McGowran – Branch Chairman. PER ARDUA. Thank you for the Report Rob, it sounds as if everyone had a great time in London, it will be interesting to see how many we can get for the 100th Anniversary of Royal Air Force in 2018.I couldn’t make it this year, but I laid a wreath on behalf of the R.A.F Regiment Association in Birmingham, I even managed to get onto the VIP stand so that I would not miss laying the wreath with the other Organisations. left166200 Also on parade in London was Wing Commander Frank Xavier ( National Secretary ), Frank attends every year but this year he was able march with his son Squadron Leader Anthony Xavier, himself a Regiment Officer. It was a shared ambition of both to experience the Cenotaph Parade and to feel the thrill of marching down Whitehall side by side, I am sure you will agree, it was a great moment for them both in this our 75th Year, and an especially proud moment for Frank.We will be giving out information on next years Parade, as soon as we have been given the security protacols etc. It would be great to see 300 Rockapes on Parade. I have seen 600 serving Rocks on parade at R.A.F Honington for the Presentation of our new Colour, but it would be fantastic to see 300 ex Gunners in their Medals, Blazers and Ties, all marching with pride for our Corps, what a sight.Trevors anecdotes:- Patients notes – On the second day the knee was better, on the third day it had completely disappeared !!!.National Management Committee Meeting at R.A.F.C Cranwell 14541554102000On the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of December the NMC/NCC met for the last time in 2017 to follow through on the decisions made at the AGM in July and to start the planning process for the coming year. It has been a busy year for the Committee Members, as we only meet as a committee twice year, most of our work is done by written reports, phone, texts and emails and attending events, so we can now relax over Christmas and start again in the New year. We have again a full calender for 2018 with the 100TH Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. I have put some dates in the Newsletter for your information. If you can join us, the Committee would love to meet you.From left to right in the photo you will see, Tich Taylor NCC, Linda Taylor Membership Secretary, Tam Gillen NCC, Peter Lawrence National Chairman NMC, Harry Foxall NCC, Tom Magee National Treasurer NMC, Steven Beresford- Martin Chairman NCC.On behalf of all the members of the committee may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Per Ardua BRANCH CHRISTMAS LUNCHOn Saturday 9th December, despite snow and freezing conditions, we held / attended our Annual Branch Christmas Lunch at the Duck on Hagley Road Edgbaston. We had a great time and the food was delicious. We had been saving up our loyalty points from our monthly meetings and they came to a total of ?45, that meant we could take ?3 off the cost of the meals and they gave us 4 bottles of Prosseco as well. We had expected Bill Thacker his wife Janet and their Daughter Sarah Jane, but Bill has just had an operation on his knee and was unable to attend because of the pain after Physiotherapy. We hope you get better soon Bill and can join us at the next lunch in January.In the photo are from left to right:-Val Brown, Ralph Dean, Jan Carpenter, Gus Schrauwen, Chris Yelverton, Hilda Schrauwen, Trevor Round, Joan Round, Bill Bennett, Sue Magee, Jayne McGowran, Joyce Bennett, Rob McGowran Branch Chairman and Tom Magee Branch Secretary. left1670050We also took the opportunity to present Chris Yelverton with his Vice Presidency Badge for service to the Branch over the last Twenty years. Chris now lives in Catterick and travels down each year to attend the Christmas Lunch. (Nice hat Chris)Trevors anecdotes:- Patients notes – The patient has chest pain when she lies on her side for over a year !!!!.Visit to the Pen Museum in Birmingham.We have arranged to visit the Pen Museum on Saturday the 24th March 2018 at 11-00, with a lunch or a drink after in one of the local hostelries nearby. The Museum is based in a former Pen Factory in the Heart of the Jeweller Quarter and shares the story of how the modern pen evolved from quill to nib to fountain pen. There is plenty to see and do at the Museum, from a victorian schoolroom to Calligraphy lessons. Being a Saturday there should be plenty of car parking in the area and of course there is the bus or Tram, the tram stops at the Jewellery Quarter, another little adventure, Sue and I went to Birmingham on the tram from The Hawthorns station into Grand Central (or New Street station as we knew it) and using our bus passes it did not cost us anything, even better. There may also be time to have a look at some of the Jewellery shops in the area. So if you would like to come with us please let me know so that I can inform the Museum of our numbers.Dean Forest Railway As I mentioned in the last Newsletter, we are arranging a trip in the new year to go down to the Dean Forest Railway at Lydney in Glos. Sue and I drove down to Lydney on the 11th of October to have a look at the facilities available, and we were met by Branch Member Harry Jenkins and his wife Linda.left3746500Harry and Linda, who are volunteers on the Railway, gave us a tour of Norchard Station, which is the main station on the line. Then we had some lunch in the Station Cafeteria, which was very nice they have a wide variety of meals at very reasonable prices. We then bought our tickets from the Shop ( ?11 each ) at the station to go for a trip on the Steam Engined train, it was a great experience. 77470990600The Journey began at Norchard Station and travelled south to Lydney Town Station and on to Lydney Juction, in doing so we had to go across the A48 trunk road, this had to be closed off with massive gates and a guard placed on the road side of the gate for safety reasons.We were amazed by this even more so when we were passing him he raised his hand and waved to us all, very funny, but I suppose you had to be there !!!Lydney Junction was the end of the line so the engine had to be transferred to the other end of the Train, whilst this was taking place we were allowed off the train and again Harry gave us a tour of the station showing us the equipment that was stored at the sidings, and the Signal box at the rail junction, it was great to see. 2361794351169900left60108800Soon it was time to get back on board to resume the journey and because I was so excited Harry had to sit me down and buy me a coffee, we retraced our journey past the waving guard and on to Lydney Town Station. We stopped at the station, then to Norchard Station and on to Whitecroft Station, again we stayed on the train and continued to the end of the line at Parkend, where we were allowed to get off, Harry again gave me a tour of the Station and some historic information about the area, it has really developed in the years that Harry has been a volunteer, with many new houses going up, that’s progress I suppose. The Engine changed ends again and we were back on for the homeward journey back through Whitecroft and on to Norchard. A journey of 8.5 miles in about 90 minutes. We could have had a cream tea on the Train, but we had had a good lunch before the journey. On the rail line by the platform they have parked up an old corridor carriage that they use for selling books, models and pictures of trains, I did manage to buy some old Ordanance Survey maps at a ?1 each, so I was a happy bunny. (Maps are my thing, so sad)We then parked the Ladies in the Cafeteria for a cup of tea and a chat, Harry showed me the Station Museum and the workshops where the Engineers were rebuilding a couple of engines and converting a freight carriage into a corridor carriage, to be used on the line, with access for wheelchairs through the double doors, the quality of the work was amazing. We then met up with the Ladies and said our goodbyes and hugs and kisses, and started back to Birmingham which is only 67 miles away through some lovely scenery.We are looking to go back down to Lydney as a group on the 14th April 2018, if you would like to join us for the day out then please let me know so that Transport can be arranged to take us all there, so far I have 10 names on the list.Events taking place during 2018 R.A.F Regiment Chapel Commemoration at St Annes Catterick Village 12th May 2018Commemoration Reception at Catterick Golf Club - 12th May 2018Commemoration for the Air Forces of the Commonwealth – 13th May 2018 at Runnymede Annual R.A.F.Regiment Memorial Commemoration – 23rd June 2018 at the NMA National Commemoration Service of R.A.F 100 10th July 2018 at Westmister Abbey.Battle of Britain 77th Anniversary Memorial Day July 2018 at Capel le Ferne KentR.A.F Regiment Association Annual Tower of London Chapel Service July 2018.Battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey 16th Sept 2018Field of Remembrance – Westminster Abbey London 8th November 2018National Remembrance Day – London and Nationwide 11th November 2018 Branch Meetings.Branch meetings will take place on the third Saturday of the month. We will be meeting at the Duck Inn unless we agree to a change and have notified you in advance through the Newsletter.The dates for the year 2018 will be as follows - 20th January, 17th February, 17th March, 21st April, 19th May, 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15TH September, 20th October, 17th November and the Christmas Lunch will be held on the 8th of December 2018 at The Duck on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Please try and join us if you can, or maybe we could come to your area. All we need is a restaurant that can take 12 or so Members and Wives and Free car parking, if you can get that organised let me know and we will try to work out a date.354076010858500R.A.F Regiment TiesI have now received a new stock of the ties.There are three new R.A.F Regt ties, two in Silk and one in PolyesterAll of the ties are of a longer length 62” or 160 cm.The Silk tie is ?20The Polyester tie is ?13The Silk multi colour ties in is ?20Post an packing will be ?1.50. I can fit two ties in for the same postage. The Crested Plaque10160010858500The Plaque is new for this year and costs ?7.50 + ?2.00 P & P. It is 4 inches high and 3 ? inches wide, the Crest is made of Pewter and was cast in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. It has a cut out section on the rear for wall mounting.-34988544259500BLAZER BADGESI have had these Blazer Badges produced by the company that make our Ties and as you can see they are of an excellent design and quality. They are hand embroidered with wire and Silk, and the Crown is padded out. The cost of the badge is just ?12 plus ?1.50 p&pContact information.It would help with administration if all enquiries of any nature came through to me direct, I can then redirect the enquiry to the appropriate person and respond effectively to the query. You can contact me by phone 0121 429 5635 Mobile 07446555672 , on my email rockape2005@tiscali.co.uk. or by post to Tom Magee 11 Pavilion Avenue, Smethwick, West Midlands. B67 6LA.Hopefully I will see you over the coming year.Take care, keep warm and if you are out and about, keep safe.Tom Magee, Branch Secretary / Treasurer.This photo shows the model of a Bofors Gun made and presented to the Branch by Albert Worton, now sadly passed on, and is used as Branch Silver on Formal occasions.This Newsletter is photocopied and bound by kind permission ofGowling WLG (UK) LLP. Solicitors of Birmingham. ................
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