Newsletter. Overseas Area. October 2015 AIR MARSHAL PETER BRETT WALKER CB CBE. Royal Air Forces Association. Overseas Area

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1 Overseas Area Newsletter Royal Air Forces Association Overseas Area 21 Talbot Street Belfast BT1 2LD Northern Ireland October 2015 Inside this issue: EAC Jersey Weekend Package & Timings EAC Malta 2016 Update 2 4 It is with considerable sadness that the death of His Excellency Air Marshal Peter Walker, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey and President of the European Area of the Association, is announced. Air Marshal Walker died in the early hours of Sunday 6th September. A letter expressing condolence and sympathy on behalf of all members of the Association has been written by the President to Mrs Linda Walker and her family. Branch News 5-7 Membership 8 AIR MARSHAL PETER BRETT WALKER CB CBE (September 1949 September 2015) Remembrance Garden Wings Appeal Branch Newsletter Competition The son of an RAF Group Captain, Peter Brett Walker was born at Rowley Regis in Staffordshire in September 1949 and educated at Pocklington School in the East Riding of Yorkshire. He joined the RAF in 1968 and entered the RAF College Cranwell in 1971 where he trained as a pilot and gained an external BA in Politics, Law and Sociology from Durham University. After training, his first operational tour was with No 29 Squadron flying the Phantom from Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Operating in the air defence role, he had regular encounters with Soviet long-range bombers approaching the UK Air Defence Region. After 3 years of Squadron service Peter became an instructor on the Phantom Operational Conversion Unit, where he was recognised as being fair but firm. He qualified as a fighter weapons instructor before heading for Germany as the weapon s leader on No 92 Squadron.

2 P A G E 2 EUROPEAN AREA CONFERENCE & JERSEY BRANCH 90 th ANNIVERSARY Radisson Blu Hotel, The Waterfront, St Helier EVENTS & TIMINGS Friday 30 th October 2015 Arrival of Delegates & Visitors 17.00hrs EA Council Meeting in Le Hocq Room 19.00hrs - Reception in Conference Foyer 20.00hrs - Buffet Dinner in Rocco Tower Room (Raffle Prizes will be much appreciated) Saturday 31 st October hrs E.A. Conference (inc coffee break) in Rocco Rooms hrs Lunch (limited drinks) in The Waterfront Restaurant 19.15hrs Pre Dinner Drinks in Conference Foyer 20.00hrs Gala Dinner in Rocco Tower Room Dress Black Tie and Mess Kit Sunday 1 st November hrs Church Service Arrival of Guests of Honour 11.00hrs - Church Service at St Luke s Church, St Helier Buffet Lunch in Elizabeth room Total Cost of Programme including Accommodation & Sunday Lunch 2 Persons (Double room) 2 nights B & B Package 186 = Total * = Person (Double room) 2 nights B & B Package 93 = Total * = 208 Any extra night s accommodation charged at above rates, Double 105 Single occupation Double room was 95 now NB * As this is a very special occasion the Jersey Branch has decided to sponsor delegates and visitors to the sum of each also Dinner wines on Friday & Saturday

3 P A G E 3 Branch Reports European Branches wishing to table a report at the Autumn Conference are reminded to include a statement about their Wings Appeal fundraising, and should arrange to bring at least 30 copies of their report to Conference. Branches are also asked to e- mail a copy of their reports, as an attachment to the Area Director thank you. Raffle Prizes Branch delegates attending the Autumn Conference in Jersey are requested to bring one or more prizes for entry into the Grand Raffle to be held during the Reception on Friday, 30 October Autumn Conference Malta The Malta Branch will be hosting the 2016 Autumn Conference over the weekend of 4th-6th November Delegates will be briefed further at the Jersey Conference. European Area 2017 Autumn Conference - Bids. There have currently been no bids received from Branches interested in hosting the 2017 Autumn Conference, Branches wishing to be considered as hosts for the 2017 Autumn Conference should inform the Overseas Director as soon as possible, forwarding an outline of their bid in the usual format. Interested Branches will be expected to present their final bids to delegates at the Jersey Conference such that delegates can decide on their preferred venue for the 2017 Autumn Conference. This will allow the successful Branch two years to prepare and organise the Conference weekend.

4 P A G E 4 Malta GC Hosting Autumn Conference 2016 Branches are reminded that the 2016 Autumn Conference will be hosted by the Malta GC Branch over the weekend 4th 6th November 2016 at the San Antonio Hotel and Spa, a 4 star deluxe hotel located in Bugibba. The hotel is 100 metres away from the Northwest Bus Terminus which links all parts of Malta and Gozo by public transport, including a direct link to and from the Airport. The Malta GC Branch will be taking care of all attending by meeting you at the airport on arrival and arranging private transport to and from the hotel as part of the package offered. Visit: For further hotel details Extra nights Conference Package will be 48 B & B for single occupancy 36 for double occupancy The package for a double room single occupancy is 300 and for double occupancy is 250 per person. Drinks during lunches and Dinners are included. The package also includes: Welcome drinks Pre Gala Dinner Drinks Friday Dinner Saturday Breakfast, Lunch and Gala Dinner Sunday Breakfast per person. Sunday Lunch is optional at 20 Booking Branches are to inform the Malta GC Branch Secretary of the expected number of Delegates and Visitors attending by no later than January 2016 to give the Branch an idea of the number of rooms that would need to be block booked no deposit is required at this stage. Firm bookings will be required by 1 August Cancellations up to two weeks before will be subject to a forfeiture of a one nights room rate.

5 P A G E 5 Sydney Metropolitan Branch RAFA Sydney Metropolitan Branch has had an active Battle of Britain commemorative period with our church service in The Garrison Church on Sunday 13 th September. We were well represented with many members in attendance as well as our British expat associations from Sydney supporting us. As usual we had the support of the Knox Boys school pipe and drum corps in attendance. The new Reverend Craig Tubman gave a wonderful sermon that gave the congregation an overview of events 75 years ago and our President, Val Dougherty laying a wreath in remembrance. Tuesday 15 th September RAFA members were represented at the Royal Australian Air Force Association memorial service at the Martin Place Cenotaph. Val once again laid a wreath on behalf of the RAFA and gave a speech to the members in attendance that included the State Governor General David Hurley AC DSC (Ret d). Saturday 19 th September we held our inaugural Battle of Britain dinner in the beautiful surroundings of the Masonic club in Sydney. We were privileged to have the Consul General & Director of UK Trade and Investment, Australia and New Zealand, Mr Nick McInnes and his partner Edwina as well as senior representation from the RAAFA.

6 P A G E 6 Jamaica Branch Wings Appeal in Partnership with young Cadets Wings Appeal 2015 was launched by the Governor-General, His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen at King s House on September 8th. At the launch The Governor-General s Trophy, The President s Trophy, and The Chairman s Trophy were presented to three Battalions of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF) for raising the most funds for Wings Appeal The JCCF is present in most high schools in Jamaica, and this was the first time the Jamaica Branch had partnered with the Cadets to promote and raise funds for Wings Appeal. This partnership will continue in the coming years. The launch was followed by Battle of Britain Week events including our Annual Thanksgiving Service, the Wreath Laying Ceremony on Battle of Britain Day, and our Annual Dinner. The photograph shows: Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen (3 rd left) with Cadets of the winning battalions. Enjoying the moment are Major Johanna Lewin, Chairman RAFA Jamaica Branch (left), Major General Robert Neish, President RAFA Jamaica Branch (right). In the back row Col Lemuel Lindo, Commandant JCCF, and Capt Craig Lewis Mayne, Wings Appeal Coordinator. Aphrodite Branch 60 TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAF AKROTIRI 28 TH JUNE 2015 The 60th Anniversary of RAF Akrotiri took place on the 28th June, everyone was seated at 07.45am for the parade on a very hot morning. The Salute for the parade was taken by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB, CBE, ADC. The participants of the parade were in Northern Europe No. 1 dress and really excelled under what must have been quite an ordeal. Well done to all. A few members of the Aphrodite Branch attended to give their support.

7 P A G E 7 Sud Ouest Branch. The only flying Mosquito in Europe very sadly crashed on 6 August. Sud-Ouest Branch members attend annually 5 ceremonies involving crashed Mosquitos of 23 and 151 Squadrons. Each ceremony has always been marked by a French built replica Mosquito completing flybys which adds both joy and gravitas to the occasion. Regrettably in the summer on 6 August, the replica Mosquito completed 2 flybys at a ceremony in Charente Maritime to remember the dead aircrew of a Mosquito of 151 Squadron at JONZAC but on its return to base it crashed on landing! Fortunately the pilots survived the crash but the aircraft will take 3 years and about to rebuild! The photos attached show the demise of the Mosquito. If Area members would like further details or perhaps make a contribution to the rebuild do ask them to contact the Branch. Malta GC Branch Operation Pedestal RAFA Malta Standard 2nd from left, bearer Colin Pilling The Malta Branch attended the Operation Pedestal Commemoration on 12 August 2015 to commemorate the British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War, the day was organised by the Malta Seafarers and the Port Chaplain at Grand Harbour, Valletta side. The Branch also attended a Church Service organised by The Not Forgotten Association contingent visiting Malta from the UK at Mtarfa Cemetery on the 17th September The photograph below shows a wreath being placed on the tombs of the York Air Disaster which crashed on take-off from Luqa on a flight taking back a number of servicemen from North Africa after the Suez crisis 1956

8 Membership P A G E 8 The Overseas Branch Membership currently stands at 3484, since the August Newsletter there have been 18 new members joined the Association from the Area but sadly 38 have passed away. Overseas members can pay the full membership fee direct to Leicester or via Direct Debit if they have a UK bank account which is the preferred method, or alternatively, pay the reduced fee (full fee minus rebate) to their branch if required. Please can the Branch then send in a Form 4A/5A (forms attached) with a cheque or advise Leicester to deduct the money from the Branch account which is held at accounts in Leicester. Secretaries can request an upto date list from me at any time. Members are reminded they can now make changes to their membership details which are held at Leicester, such as a change of address, phone number or address by logging onto the membership portal at and click on my account. You will first need to have registered with the website to enable you to log into the portal. Remembrance Garden We are currently in the process of enhancing and carrying out essential maintenance work in our RAF Association Remembrance Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. We envisage the entire project will take 4 weeks to complete starting from the 21st of September 2015 and therefore will not be accessible during this time. We thank you kindly for your patience and if you require any further information about the our RAF Association Remembrance Garden, please do not hesitate to contact our Legacy and Memoriam Manager Vinny Manak on or vinny.manak@rafa.org.uk' Wings Appeal Returns Branches are reminded that Wings Appeal returns have to be made, via me, as soon as possible but no later than Friday 13 November Any Branch that wishes to claim a Welfare Refund from their Wings Appeal collection must have a Form WR(a)(Reverse) (formerly Form WA5) completed, also by 13 November If Branches let the Overseas Director know of any refunds required, she will happily complete the forms on their behalf. If in doubt, please contact the Overseas Director. Branch Newsletter Competition Branches wishing to enter the 2015 Branch Newsletter Competition are reminded that their submissions should be forwarded to me no later than 18 January South African Branches are reminded that their submissions should come via their Area HQ. Submissions should include at least 2 examples of Branch Newsletters, together with a statement on how many issues there are per year and what the average distribution in numbers is per issue. The competition will be judged at the end of January 2016.

9 Registered Charity No (England & Wales), SC (Scotland) AREA STAFF CONTACT DETAILS Sarah Waugh Overseas Area Director 21 Talbot Street Belfast HELP US TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU By far, the quickest and easiest way for us to get in contact with our members is through . This method of communication also saves money on postage money that we can instead spend on providing welfare support to members of the RAF Family. Please update us on your current address by sending a quick note using the details on the right. Follow us on: BT1 2LD Northern Ireland (m) (w) sarah.waugh@rafa.org.uk Mike McCourt Area Welfare Officer 20 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX Scotland Branch Notices WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Let us know what your Branch is up to, so that it can be included in next month s newsletter. You can contact us by calling the office, or you can your updates and photographs to us using the details above. (m) (w) mike.mccourt@rafa.org.uk Diary Dates Oct 30 1st Nov Nov May 13th May 13 15th 2016 Nov 4 6th 2016 European Area Autumn Conference Jersey Cenotaph Ceremony London EAC Blackpool, The Savoy Hotel National Conference The Hilton Hotel Blackpool European Area Autumn Conference Malta