The Badge Newsletter Xmas Edition No For ex and Serving RAF PTI s, PJI s, ATI s & ERI s. RAF PTI Association Motto. Friendship and Respect

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1 The Badge Newsletter Xmas Edition No For ex and Serving RAF PTI s, PJI s, ATI s & ERI s RAF PTI Association Motto Friendship and Respect Hello All In the interim period while we find a new editor for The Badge, I have put together a short Xmas Edition. In this issue:- Appeal for the Roebuck Memorial Fund Memorabilia RAF PTI Association Reunion information Chairman s Message West Midlands Xmas get together Denise Street Brown Secretary RAF PTI Association 1

2 Roebuck Memorial Fund Dear Colleague, Those of you who attended the AGM back in April will have heard from Dave Percy and Darrald Jones who outlined a proposal to set up a Memorial Roebuck Fund to raise monies to commission a statue commemorating the PEd Branch and all those from within the branch who have given their lives serving their country. The members wholeheartedly supported the proposal which was passed unanimously and a number of members present pledged 100 each to kick off the fund. This was followed later in the year by a letter from our chair WO Clark Coghill, On 1 April 2018 the RAF celebrates its 100th anniversary, as will the RAF School of PT which is now one of only 2 remaining fully functioning RAF schools still in existence since 1 April 1918, the other being the Central Flying School. To mark the occasion in a befitting manner and led by the PTI Association, it was decided to commission the manufacture of a Roebuck mounted on a granite plinth to be located at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA). This will be a fitting and lasting tribute to all those personnel who are and have been involved within RAF Physical Education over the past century. Why a Roebuck, because at one time or another, regardless of Q annotation or background, we have all passed through the School of PT and it is the one common figure that represents us all. This is indeed an ambitious project, costing circa to complete, broken down as follows; sculptor 10000, stone mason 7000 and NMA costs In order to progress work and show commitment on our part a deposit of 2500 has already been paid to the sculptor and 1000 to the NMA. To enable these initial payments to be made the PTI Association donated 1700, the PEdO Association 300, PTIC 89 raised 450 through their Course charity event and all other monies to date have come from very generous personal donations. As I write to you the fund stands at Clearly more money needs to be raised to be exact! Therefore, it is to each of you, PEd colleagues one and all that I ask for your support and financial contribution however large or small to see this project come to fruition. All donations will be formally recognised in the SofPT museum, anonymity, should you wish will be respected. If successful in our fund raising efforts the intention is to organise and conduct a formal dedication at the NMA in April 2018, which will coincide with the RAF PTI Association Reunion Yours sincerely, WO Clark Coghill Chair RAF PTI Association 2

3 There have been some changes since then the original letter from Clark was sent out as follows:- Donations have been slowly coming in and the fund currently stands at (having already paid out 3500.) Bills have to be paid and the sculptor currently needs a further The photograph below was taken recently and shows the progress. The actual dimensions are - back of the leg to nose, 1.25 metres length, and height 1.15 metres. The Roebuck will stand on a boulder (dimensions I am not sure of) which is currently being sourced by the Stonemason. All design and materials must fit in with NMA guidelines and specification so it is not straightforward. Many thanks to Darrald Jones and Dave Percy who are leading on this project and working closely with the sculptor, stonemason and NMA. Details for bank transfers as follows:- PTI Association Memorial Account Barclays Bank Sort Code , Account No If you have any queries about transfers contact Dave Percy on Your help with raising funds is greatly appreciated. While our retired members have been sending in donations, we have received very few from the serving members. We are not asking for a King s ransom and every bit helps, so please do put your hand in your pocket or bank account as the case may be and donate to the RAF PTI Memorial Fund. Feel free to pass this on to colleagues who are not affiliated to the Association. 3

4 With Xmas coming up perhaps you would like to purchase some items.. PTI Memorabilia Sgt Ronan Archbold Blazer Badge Wall Plaque Tie Slide 3.00 Special Tie Pin 4.00 Lapel Pin 5.00 Tankard Cuff Links Statue Cummerbund Tie out of stock 4

5 RE: RAF PTI ASSOCIATION/AGM/DINNER/GOLF 7 th - 8 th April 2017 GOLF Golf is booked Fri 7th April 2017 at The Shropshire Golf Centre. Tea/coffee + bacon butties will be available on arrival and first tee off times will be approximately with subsequent times and partners announced on the day. There will be two competitions:- Max handicap for the Association trophy NB anyone can play for the Association Bowl even with a higher handicap, but can only claim 18 shots and must declare this prior to the comp Diggers and Hackers sponsored by Chris Beadel for all higher handicaps If you have any queries please contact Dave Percy heather.percy@btopenworld.com The cost of the golf will be 25 with a non refundable deposit of 10 to book your place. Please complete the attached booking form and return with a cheque made out to Service Funds RAF Cosford. TOUR OF THE SCHOOL OF PT There will be an opportunity to visit the School of PT on Fri 7 th April at If you would like to take a trip down memory lane please complete the appropriate section on the reply form. Arrangements for parking and camp access will be organised closer to the time, once we have definite numbers. ACCOMMODATION We have moved to the Holiday Inn, Telford so that we can accommodate greater numbers. We will miss the Ramada Telford which has provided such friendly and good service since we moved off base a few years back. The Holiday Inn hotel is only five minutes drive from the M54 motorway. Telford Central station, for trains to London Euston and Birmingham, is also five minutes away. You can catch an international flight from Birmingham Airport (BHX), 45 minutes away by car. The hotel is 15 minutes by car from Telford's iconic, 18th-century Iron Bridge. Hotel guests also have free access to the Wonderland woodland, in the park directly behind the hotel. You can work out in the gym or you can relax beside the fire, or outside in the garden in summer. The Olive Tree restaurant is open for breakfast and serves food throughout the day and evening. Room service is available 24/7 The cost of the accommodation (including full English Breakfast) is:- Bed and Breakfast 69 single occupancy per night /Bed and Breakfast 79 double/twin occupancy per night. Apologies for the increase, it comes with a move to a bigger hotel, however there are more twin rooms here compared with The Ramada, so an opportunity to share with someone and halve your accommodation costs. Members are requested to settle their bill before leaving the hotel on Sunday 9th April, so do not include this in your payment (see below) To avoid any disappointment book at your earliest convenience using the attached reply slip DO NOT book your accommodation direct with the hotel. Please return the booking slip to me at the address overside or dmbsquash@hotmail.com. PAYMENT NB send cheques for dinner, golf etc direct to the treasurer Sgt Ronan Archbold:- Training Support and Design Flight / School of Physical Education / Royal Air Force Cosford / West Midlands / WV7 3EX /Please enclose an advice note (or write on the reverse of the cheque) with your name and break down of what the cheque includes e.g. Joe Bloggs, 1 x dinner 25, Golf deposit 10, Donation 10, Total 45. 5

6 RAF PTI ASSOCIATION REUNION 7-8 th April 2017 Name Phone number Confirm address (please print) Address Land line Mobile If you are unable to attend the PTI Association Annual Reunion please would you update your contact details (if they have changed in the last year) and return the form. Accommodation at The Holiday Inn Hotel Golf I require (tick appropriate box) 1 night accommodation 2 nights accommodation SINGLE DOUBLE TWIN I will be playing golf Additional Requirements Additional Requirements I will not be playing golf Tour of S of PT Friday 7th th I wish to visit the S of PT I do not wish to visit S of PT Cost Dinner 25 Golf Deposit 10 *Donation to Service Funds Please return this form to me at:- Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, C/O Direct Services, Oxford City Council, Horspath Road, Oxford, OX4 2RH NB affiliated members will take precedence over non - affiliated so if you have not taken out membership it would be in your interest to do so. Contact me on if you need a membership form, alternatively you can me at dmbsquash@hotmail.com Thank you. TOTAL 6

7 Chairman s Christmas Message Dear Colleagues, With Christmas round the corner and 2016 drawing to a close we all look forward to a wee bit of rest and recuperation over the holiday period. Whether retired, semi-retired, or still with the nose fully to the grindstone I am sure it will be a welcome break. Nevertheless, spare a thought for our members families who may have suffered bereavement this year, our thoughts are with you. Similarly, to all the current serving men and women who are out on operations throughout the world and will be unable to be with their families. Upwards and onwards to 2017 Our Roebuck sculpture has taken shape! Work has progressed faster than anticipated and in fairness it looks fantastic, still not quite finished yet but I really believe it will be a superb monument and fitting tribute to 100 years of RAF PEd. Money is still required to be raised. Your initiative, imagination and pro-activeness to meet our financial goal is encouraged. Please circulate the word, please encourage, please help us out. To all the area reps, committee members and our Roebuck monument project team many thanks for all your efforts this year. Next gathering will be at the AGM and Dinner, I look forward to seeing you all again in April. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 7

8 RAF PTI Association Area Reps Scotland George Whitecross Wales: Geoff Diggle London & SE Ian Swindale North West John Gallagher North East John Doran West Midlands John Weedon East Midlands Chris Williams South West Graham Hughes East Anglia Terry Hagan Overseas Sue Zwart-Woodward Trade Mottos PTI Motto - Viribus Audax Bold in Strength PJI Motto Scientia discutit timent Knowledge dispels fear ATI Motto Semper Resurgens Always Rising ERI - Per Mutua Through mutual service RAF PTI Association Amicitia et Respectum Friendship and Respect West Midlands Xmas get together meeting in The Plough Inn, Shifnal TF11 8AZ Tues 20th Dec at 1900 hrs. Contact John Weedon or Dave Percy May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Xmas and a Happy and Healthy