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Outgoing Chairman Mr Alan Goudge ( right ) hands over the chain of office to incoming Chairman Mr Chris Cox

Tuesday 28th February 2023 saw the Branch conduct its AGM. Some 25 members assembled at the T E Lawrence Mess, RAF St Mawgan to reflect on another successful year that is now gathering pace to a full return to activities in the post pandemic world.

Our Wings Appeal Team had another record busting year with over £10,000 raised during 2022 and Mr Barry Fryett will be presented with another 10K Certificate at the Annual conference later this year.

Mr Alan Goudge handed over the baton to Mr Chris Cox to continue the hard work that he and founding chairman, Wg Cdr ( Retd ) Steve Richards, have put into making the branch the success it is. Al is taking on the role of Secretary, a role he held for the first 7 years. Chris on the other hand was Treasurer during that time before taking on the role of Vice Chairman to support Al as he took the Chair. Thanks was given to all involved on the 2022 committee and special thanks to outgoing Treasurer FS Mark Lamacraft  who is posted to Abbey Wood and to outgoing Secretary Mr Mick Headleand for their dedication during their tour.

We remember our comrades who moved on to higher service this year – Mr Ken Jeavons, Mr Doug Lovelock and just very recently Mr Reg White. All stalwarts of the branch and very much missed by us all.

A fantastic team is in place and we all look forward to another successful year supporting the RAF Family.

Our thanks to Station Commander Wing Commander Marshall Kinnear RAF, for his continued support and for the use of the station as the branch’s home.

We recently joined with RAF St Mawgan in celebrating their 80th Anniversary alongside our own 10th Anniversary at a formal Dine In night. Interestingly it is RAFA’s 80th Anniversary ( in its current format ) this year as well.

Tornado Tribute Tour of England in aid of the Royal Air Force Association

UPDATED March 2021:

With the virtual part now complete Martin and Mal are still hoping to do the physical rides and hope to start at St Eval Church in Cornwall, in memory of Flt Lt Steve Hicks XV Sqn, on 18th of June. As a branch we hope to support them along with Padre Andrew Turner and local Vicar Helen Baber.

Padre Andrew and local Vicar Helen joined Steve’s widow at his graveside back on the 14th February to say prayers and to light a candle whilst Chris was completing the virtual cycle along with some members of the local reserve squadron, No 505 Wessex Sqn RAF Reserves.

Locally Chris raised £ 895.00 to go towards the £17k + that Martin and Mal have raised so far. So thanks to all that sponsored him.

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Two veterans are riding 670 miles across England for The RAF Association (RAFA) because they want to remember their fallen comrades.

Local Links ….

On the 14^th February Mal and Martin will be riding 15 miles, sadly now virtually due to COVID Restrictions, in memory of Flt Lt Stevie Hicks who lost his life while on a mission in a XV Sqn Tornado on 14^th February 1991. Formally a ‘wet man’ on 42 Sqn on Mk 1 Nimrod, Stevie was one of the last two ‘wet men’ that converted to Mk 2 Nimrod. He then applied for a commission and became a Navigator on the Tornado. Flt Lt Hicks was laid to rest at St Eval Church, abutting the former RAF Station St Eval near Newquay in Cornwall. The hope is to do the real cycling in April so perhaps you can physically join them.

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2021 will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Gulf War. The Royal Air Force deployed a large force of Tornado GR1 attack and reconnaissance aircraft to the Middle East for Op Granby, and not all of the aircrew came home.

Two Gulf War veterans – Mal Craghill and Martin Wintermeyer – are taking on the challenge of cycling from Cornwall to Tyne and Wear in memory of their fallen comrades (this should have been in February 2021 but has now been delayed to April due to Covid-19). Along their route they will visit and lay wreaths at the English grave sites of the Tornado aircrew lost in the Middle East thirty years ago. The ride will also take them to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to pay their respects at the Gulf War Memorial and the Armed Forces Memorial. The latter commemorates not just the seven Tornado aircrew killed on deployed operations, but also those lost in training accidents in the UK. They will also remember the two pilots from the RAF Jaguar force who were killed, one in the UK and one on deployed operations. In total they will be honouring the memory of 13 RAF and 1 USAF aircrew.

They remarked “Our ride should have finished at the final grave site on Sunday 28th February 2021, thirty years on to the day from the ceasefire at the end of the war (this has now been delayed to 18th April). We will have covered 670 miles (well over 1,000 km) and over 25,000 feet of climbing over the ten days of the Tour. We will be raising funds along the way for the Royal Air Forces Association. RAFA is a welfare organization which supports serving and former members of our Air Forces and their families, and your donation will help RAFA to provide friendship, welfare and support to those in need who have served our country. With your help we hope to raise £10,000. Wish us well! “

Local RAFA RAF St Mawgan Branch MCO Chris Cox said “Perhaps you might like to join in by doing a virtual cycle on the 14^th February to support Mal and Martin and cover 15 miles if you can, we would love to see any photos if you do. If you would like to donate to the cause, then follow the link  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ttte

For more information on the Royal Air Forces Association locally at RAF St Mawgan please visit our website rafastmawgan.org or our Facebook page @rafastmawganbranch

Images Courtesy Martin Wintermeyer, Facebook / Skytoons Aviation Art www.skytoons.co.uk

Sunday saw Operation Covid initiated and whilst Chris was on his walk along with Steve to catch up before Steve moves out of area it was found that several other branch committee members were taking their exercise at Trenance Boating Lake as well. Well Cornwall and Newquay, in particular, are small worlds when it comes to bumping into veterans it would seem !

Follow the link for a Video of our encounter !

At the October Committee Zoom meeting Founder Chairman Wg Cdr Retired Steve Richards handed over the chain of office to Newquay Councillor, and former Flt Sgt Mr Alan Goudge.

During the latter half of 2012 Steve along with a small team including the late Wg Cdr Philip Lamb, the then Station Commander RAF St Mawgan, set in motion the birth of the RAF St Mawgan Branch of the Royal Air Force Association. The inauguration took place in the TE Lawrence Mess on the Station at the end of January 2013. In fact, it was the first ever branch to be set-up ‘behind the wire’ on an operational RAF Station, something that has been an attraction to some of the 180 members now.

Branch Media Communications Officer, and former Founder Treasurer, Chris Cox said “ Since then, the branch has gone from strength to strength. Several trophies have been won by the branch over this time including the Cup for the first branch to retain 100% of membership at renewal, together with the coveted Presidents Cup awarded for the best of the 450 branches in the country, this was awarded by Air Marshall Sir Dusty Miller RAF.

Many thousands of pounds have been raised on behalf of the Wings Appeal over the years and many speakers have been welcomed to branch meetings along with many memorable social events including our RAF 100 Formal Reception and Dinner at the Atlantic Hotel in November 2018.”

The object for which the Association is established is to promote, through the comradeship engendered by its members, the welfare by charitable means of all serving and former members of Her Majesty’s Air Forces, their spouses and dependents, together with the widows and widowers and dependents of those who died whilst serving or subsequently. “

Steve is now moving out of area so that he and his wife Carolyn can be nearer to family and in particular their grandchildren, so we salute his contribution and give thanks for all he has done and achieved for the branch and wish them both well for the future.

He said “ Leaving the Branch and its members will be a quite a difficult move for me.   I have had an incredible time, from helping to form the Branch seven years ago and then working with an amazing set of people who have raised around £50,000 and provided a significant amount of welfare support to the RAF Association and local RAF veterans and families.  This could not have been possible without our Committee and the tremendous support from the Station Commanders and members of RAF St Mawgan during my time.  Thankfully, the Branch, now led by Alan Goudge, will no doubt secure even more support for the RAF Family in these difficult times and on into the future.”

In his stead we welcome back Founder Secretary Alan Goudge who, after a spell as a Branch Support Officer for the RAF Association, steps up to take the branch forward as its new Chairman.

Alan said “ With the Chairman Wg Cdr Steve Richards (Retd) leaving to pastures new, the RAF St Mawgan RAFA Branch Committee approached me for consideration on the now vacant post of Chairman. Having previously been the Secretary for over 5 years and employed with RAFA for 5 years as the South Western Area Branch Support Officer, I felt that I could add some benefit to maintain the standards that have been accustomed to during Steve’s tenure. It is with great pride that I have accepted the post as the new Chairman and will enjoy working with the dedicated Branch Committee over the coming years. “

Our local RAF Association Branch volunteers normally collect donations for our Wings Welfare Appeal in key local events, locations and supermarkets.  This year, COVID-19 has put an abrupt stop to that.

With many of our volunteers considered to be at high risk from COVID-19, we decided to move this year’s collection online, in the form of a ‘JustGiving’ page.  It is hoped that the online payment facility will enable more people than ever before to donate, as the traditional street collections had relied on passers-by having loose change in their pockets.

To donate to the RAFA RAF St Mawgan Branch’s Wings Appeal collection, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RAFA-StMawganBranch-WingsAppeal

For more information on the branch please visit www.rafastmawgan.org or our Facebook page @rafastmawganbranch or by email to secretary@rafastmawgan.org

Some of Steve’s Highlights ……

THE SKY’S NOW THE LIMIT FOR LOCAL ROYAL AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION CHARITY APPEAL

Our local RAF Association Branch volunteers normally collect donations for our Wings Welfare Appeal in key local events, locations and supermarkets.  This year, COVID-19 has put an abrupt stop to that.

Members and friends of the Royal Air Forces Association RAF St Mawgan Branch are usually out in force with collection buckets now, for the September’s Battle of Britain commemorations.

With many of our volunteers considered to be at high risk from COVID-19, we decided to move this year’s collection online, in the form of a ‘JustGiving’ page.  It is hoped that the online payment facility will enable more people than ever before to donate, as the traditional street collections had relied on passers-by having loose change in their pockets.

Steve Richards, the Chairman of the RAF St Mawgan Branch of the RAF Association, said:  “While this means that supporters won’t be given the iconic Wings Appeal sticker in return for their donation, they will still be supporting the vital services that we provide to RAF veterans, serving personnel and their dependants.  The JustGiving page means we won’t be constrained by the number of streets or supermarkets our volunteers can visit, so the sky’s now the limit in terms of how many people we can reach!”

Amy Petterson, Head of Community Fundraising at the RAF Association’s headquarters in Leicester, added:   “People in the Newquay, Padstow, Wadebridge and St Columb areas have always been incredibly generous in supporting our Wings Appeal collections.  In this, the Battle of Britain’s 80^th anniversary year, we hope they will continue to donate, but this time via the RAFA St Mawgan Branch’s JustGiving page.

The RAF Association needs people’s support more than ever, as we continue to provide support and emergency help to those who have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the national lockdown, we have provided friendship and essential supplies to thousands of additional veterans and their dependants.”

To donate to the RAFA RAF St Mawgan Branch’s Wings Appeal collection, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RAFA-StMawganBranch-WingsAppeal

More information about the Battle of Britain and the RAF Association’s work to support serving and former RAF personnel can be found at https://www.rafa.org.uk/

Members of the RAF St Mawgan Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association met for their annual Christmas Luncheon at the Travellers Rest in Trevarrian on Saturday. The assembled guest were treat to a fabulous meal followed by music by Gerry and the Hat-Tricks. Preceding the meal Chairman Steve Richards made several presentations to outstanding members of the branch for the 2019 year, Mr John Beale was congratulated on his efforts with collections for the Poppy Appeal and all he has done behind the scenes. Mr Mick Headleand ‘Mr Supermarket’ was mentioned in dispatches for his unrivalled ability in securing collecting spots where others fail miserably. To Mr Barry Fryett, special mention for his collection prowess at Cornwall Services. All were awarded with a special Bear in a Kitbag customised for their achievements. Some £ 27,000 has been donated to the RAF Wings Appeal over the past two years.

The Chairman went on to give special mention to Founder Treasurer and Member Mr Chris Cox who, after seven years’ service, was stepping down from his role due to concentrating on his recent investiture as President of the Rotary Club of Newquay. Chris will remain active in a PR / Media Role as most know him as a local photographer with the Newquay Voice. Chris was presented with a special bear too, he also won three times in the raffle !! before he disappeared to cover the Newquay vs Bodmin Football match.

The branch meet on the third Tuesday in the month in the TE Lawrence Mess at RAF St Mawgan, to find out more about the branch go online to www.rafastmawgan.org or find us on Facebook @rafastmawganbranch