Overseas Area Newsletter February 2018 LAPSED MEMBERS 2017-558 Inside this issue: RAF100 Note from the Secretary General Overseas branch insurance Standard bearers Westminster Abbey RAF Association RAF Centenary Service Annual Conference 2018 RAF100 European Area Autumn conference 1 1 2 2 2-3 4 4 RAF 100 Request to RAF stations Note from the Secretary General In the run up to the RAF100 celebrations, the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS) has asked that I write regarding the provision of passenger flights, fly pasts, other auction and raffle prizes. The RAF has a clear programme of activity and events to celebrate RAF100 that includes provision for the RAF Benevolent Fund, RAF Charitable Trust, the RAF Museum and the RAF Association. The Association placed its request for support from the RAF in September 2017 and we are part of a Joint Venture: the RAF100 Appeal with the above charities and the RAF. Station Commanders and others absolutely cherish the local relationships with you but are being placed in a difficult position through repeated requests for support, which they have no hope of fulfilling. Therefore, may I ask that if there are exceptional and compelling requests for support that these are in the first instance channelled through my office, where I will make representation to ACAS on your behalf. Many thanks, Nick Secretary General Overseas branch insurance After lengthy negotiations with headquarters and following extensive research by headquarters with the British Association of Insurers, we can confirm that the current situation regarding insurance cover for our members engaged on voluntary work on behalf of the Association is that Public Liability Insurance is provided from within the overarching insurance policy maintained by headquarters and that a separate policy has been enacted to provide Personal Accident Insurance for those within specific age groups, details regarding this latter insurance has already been forwarded to branches. Additionally, headquarters has confirmed that where branches consider it necessary to source Employer s Liability Insurance locally, the appropriate premiums will be refunded by headquarters. This subject will be kept under review by the Area Council and headquarters and any further development will be notified to branches.
Standard bearers required for Westminster Abbey The Royal Air Forces Association has been allocated 20 standard bearer tickets for the service to Commemorate the Centenary of the Royal Air Force to be held on Tuesday 10 July 2018 at Westminster Abbey, followed by a reception in Horse Guards Parade. Standard bearers can be accompanied by a guest, however, they will not be able to attend the Service in Westminster Abbey but they will be able to attend the reception in Horse Guards Parade. If you wish to attend, please contact Christina Narayan, South Eastern and Eastern Area HQ, Leicester, in writing or email christina.narayan@rafa.org.uk no later than Wednesday 28 February 2018. Royal Air Forces Association RAF Centenary Service National Memorial Arboretum Staffordshire Sunday 13 May 2018 1100 hrs We invite you to join us at a once in a lifetime centenary service to commemorate and celebrate 100 years of the RAF. This significant and large scale event will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) in Alrewas, Staffordshire, on Sunday 13 May 2018, at 1100 hrs. The event will include our annual remembrance service. We are hoping to have many of the Association's standard bearers attending and as a poignant finale to this key event, an RAF flypast has been requested. Tea and cake will then be provided. Tickets are available free of charge, but if your means allow, we would ask you to please consider making a donation to go towards the cost of running the event. Join us and commemorate all those that have served, are serving and their families in this historic year - be part of your RAF centenary. Tickets are first come first served but are going fast and can be obtained via rafa.org.uk/nma/ or by calling 0800 018 2361. Annual Conference 2018 The 2018 Annual Conference will be held at the Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre from 11 to 12 May 2018. This is your conference and your chance to contribute to important debate on the future plans for the Association. It is also an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends. As one of the largest conference and training centres in the UK, Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre is situated in the heart of the midlands in Stone, Staffordshire. Please visit their website www.yarnfieldpark.com for full details on the venue s facilities. Registering your attendance: Registration is now open, you can register delegate details for yourself and all guests who would like to attend through Eventbrite: rafa.org.uk/annualconference. In order to use Eventbrite, you do need an email account. Therefore, if you do not have an email account, please contact our reception team on 0116 268 8750. They will happily take your booking details over the phone. Once you have registered, you may receive an automated email from Eventbrite asking you to create a password in order to login and print your tickets. To clarify, you do not need tickets to attend Conference. Once registered, we will have all the information we need and therefore please disregard this email.
Annual Conference 2018 continued Accommodation: We are pleased to inform you that we have secured the same accommodation rate for you at the 2017 price, which provides excellent value for money. This is priced at 55 a night for single room or 75 a night for a double/twin room based on two people sharing. This price includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and each room offers an en-suite bathroom, TV, hairdryer, unlimited tea/coffee and biscuits and wi-fi. Your accommodation can be booked through our reception team on 0116 268 8750. Please do not contact Yarnfield Park directly as all the accommodation has been allocated to the Association for this event and must be booked directly through our reception team. Please note, fully accessible rooms are limited and we would advise booking early to avoid disappointment. Car parking: There are over 600 car parking spaces available on site at Yarnfield Park and parking is free for all those attending Conference. Although they are limited disabled parking spaces are available, but we can also allocate normal car parking spaces for blue badge holders. In addition we will provide transport and support for you/ your luggage on arrival and departure. Conference documents: Closer to the date, all the Conference documents will be available online and further links and details will follow. Conference 2018 live streaming Following the success of the live streaming in 2017, we are pleased to announce that we will again be live streaming Conference in 2018. This enables anyone unable to attend to watch the main business of Conference. A schedule of the live streaming will be published soon. European Area Conference 2018 The European Area Conference will take place at the Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre on Friday 11 May at 1000hrs. Registering your attendance Please inform the Area Director if you are attending the European Area Conference as a delegate, this does not need to be booked through Eventbrite, Eventbrite is for booking the accommodation only. Contact details: sarah.waugh@rafa.org.uk or call 0044 2890 325718. Accommodation Accommodation is the same as for Annual Conference. Accommodation bookings are not done through the Area office. Please note, fully accessible rooms are limited and we would advise booking early to avoid disappointment. Again, please telephone our reception team on 0044116 268 8750 and they will be happy to assist. European Area drinks The European Area Drinks will take place as normal on the Friday at around 1630hrs, full details will follow nearer the time.
Ticket ballot for RAF100 celebrations in London on Tuesday 10 July 2018 The 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force will be celebrated in central London on Tuesday 10 July 2018. A limited number of tickets are available for the Service in Westminster Abbey (including reception), or access to the reception only on Horse Guards Parade, from where you will view the flypast. Applicants should provide the names, addresses, place and date of birth, passport or driving licence and the number of individuals wishing to attend. Applications should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Applications should reach Mrs Michèle Small, SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events, RAF Ceremonial Office, RAF Northolt, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG before 3 April 2018. Please clearly mark the rear of the envelope PARADE. To assist with the categorisation of tickets those applicants that have previously served in the Royal Air Force or its Royal Auxiliary Air Force/Reserve Force should provide their Service number. Please state if you are a wheelchair user. Successful applicants will receive tickets, and a note on dress and timings four weeks before the event. Those applicants wishing to attend the Service at Westminster Abbey should plan to be at the Abbey at 0845hrs. Reception guests only should plan to be at Horse Guards Parade no later than 1045hrs. It is stressed that this is not an Association initiative or concession. Publicity to our members is on behalf of the Service Ceremonial staffs. European Area Autumn Conference The European Area Autumn Conference will take place over the weekend of 2 to 4November 2018 at the Bedford Hotel in Brussels. The weekend will include a meet and greet on the Friday evening followed by a buffet dinner. After the Conference on the Saturday morning there will be the opportunity to visit sights in the local area, the day will finish with a gala dinner in the evening. To round off the weekends activities on the Sunday there will be a service of remembrance in the RAF Chapel in Brussels Basilica. For further information and an application form to attend the weekend please contact the Area Director at: sarah.waugh@rafa.org.uk. Please note that the deadline for booking a place for the European Area Autumn conference is 20 August 2018.
Registered Charity No. 226686 (England and Wales), SC037673 (Scotland) AREA EMPLOYEE CONTACT DETAILS Overseas Area Director Sarah Waugh 21 Talbot Street Follow us on: www.rafa.org.uk 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 email. 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 email address by sending a quick note using the details on the right. Belfast BT1 2LD Northern Ireland (m) +44 7920 193 733 (w) +44 2890 325 718 sarah.waugh@rafa.org.uk Area Welfare Manager John Arthur john.arthur@rafa.org.uk Deputy Area Welfare Manager Anna Lawton anna.lawton@rafa.org.uk 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 email your updates and photographs to: sarah.waugh@rafa.org.uk 20 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX Scotland (m) +44 7462 474 777 (w)+44 131 225 5221 Diary Dates 11 May 2018 European Area Annual Conference, Yarnfield 11 to 13 May 2018 Annual Conference, Yarnfield 10 July 2018 RAF100 celebrations, London 2 to 4 November 2018 European Area Autumn Conference, Brussels