ISSUE No. 40 DECEMBER 2007
DEDICATION
We
who served alongside other nations in the armed forces
are proud of our association with
and are justly proud of our place in the
history of NATO.
Through
our Association we have found old friends and made new ones.
We
are grateful for the opportunity to meet together in the spirit of comradeship
which will endure until the last.
To
those who are unable to join us and our colleagues who have passed on
Thankfully
we will remember them.
EDITORIAL
We
have reached another milestone with this the 40th issue of your Newsletter. So
much has happened in the world, not all for the good, since the Association was
founded in 1995. During this period we have been reunited with many friends
from those halcyon days at
With
Christmas approaching fast Seasonal Greetings are sent to all our readers. May
2008 bring you all good health and happiness.
OBITUARIES
Dave Bennett had not enjoyed the best of health since he
lost his wife, Zena, in April last year and following a short illness he was
admitted to hospital where he received his “home call” at end of September.
Dave was the Orderly Room NCO in the RAF Element at
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Malcolm Hughes had suffered stoically
with motor neurone disease for a couple of years before it finally took him
away from us in September. Malcolm was a driver in the Motor Pool at
Brigadier General Paul Tibbits
who will be remembered as the Captain of the B29 Bomber “Enola Gay” that dropped the
first nuclear weapon used in warfare over
A LIFE REMEMBERED
On
Thursday 18th October, along with Mike and Ann Capon, Peter & Ruth Fryer
and Terry and Victoria Vine, I attended the funeral of our friend David
Bennett. Following the service at St. Peter's Church, Portishead, we were
present at the burial in the local cemetery , where he
was laid to rest alongside his late wife, Zena. The funeral had been arranged
with the Royal British Legion with whom we participated in forming a Guard of
Honour for the coffin draped with the Union Flag.
Thankfully,
a bright sunny day helped lighten this sad occasion and we were able to spend
time with his sister, two sons and their families.
David
was a staunch, loyal member of our Association and responsible for introducing
several to our ranks through his tireless efforts. Both very involved with the
Royal Air Forces Association, we would often meet at functions. But our
friendship goes back a long, long way. At Guynemer, back in 1958, while I was
being given the sad news that my brother had died in an accident, it was David,
then Orderly Room NCO, who packed my kit and made arrangements to get me to
Although
we had spoken on the phone, we met for the first time Maureen (Mo) Pelling
David's friend who had shared his final months. Many of us will recall how low
and depressed he was last year after losing Zena. But his friendship with Mo
gave him a new lease of life. He called me a few times in
Goodbye
David ! On behalf of us all.........Many Thanks for
your friendship !
Brian
Gibbons (
I was
really shocked to learn that Dave Bennett has passed on because it is only a
few short months, really, since the
Elaine
Swift (Rotherhan)
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Elaine
and I are sorry to hear of the passing away of Dave Bennett. Unfortunately we
have been away and were holidaying in
Tony
and Elaine Bowdler (Droitwich)
I was sorry to read that David had passed away, I hope he didn't suffer for too long.
Jean
Allen (
Another old team mate/member leaves
us.
Jeff
Lester (Oldbury,
Thank
you for the two donations received on behalf of my father David Bennett. I know
how much it would have meant to him. His passing happened very suddenly and we
are still coming to terms with it. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts
which are much appreciated.
Dean
Bennett (
FROM THE POSTBAG
I have just downloaded Issue 39 Newsletter
- very well presented, and thank you for the coverage ! Harry Horn's letter is a masterpiece and
clearly he is a budding author. He has
reminded me of some of our mutual chums and I would like to 'phone Harry for a
chat. Do you have his number
?
Peter Goldsmith has been in touch with me
at the weekend, and we enjoyed a long reminiscence - his voice has not changed
in 50 years nor his enthusiasm for all things mechanical ! I must say this website of yours must be
giving many people much pleasure.
Ian
Davis (Horsham)
We had
a great visit to
Thanks
for a marvelous piece of work that I'll re-read but won't ever forget.
David
Block (
Glad
the reunion was a success. I expect we will meet up again sometime. Jack also suggests I come to the next reunion
and by then it might be something to look forward to so that I can meet up with
everyone again. Gwenda
Millin (Hermitage, Berks)
I
am sorry that I missed the last Reunion because I was in
Peter Argent (Bexleyheath)
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Anyone
want a Beverley pullover made by Dennis Johnson’s late wife Jean around 1990/91
for my wife - never used - hardly necessary since our move to
Christine
and Ronald Fraser, Clairinsh,
Tel : (07) 4934
4422 E-mail : clairinsh@cqnet.com.au
Christine & Ronald
Fraser (
The
article on the research on Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry struck a cord with
me as an RAF Museum Cover Collector, and RAF Escaping Society Cover collector.
On the
21st February 1977 RAF Escaping Society Cover SC16 was issued to commemorate
the escape activities of Sir Basil. The cover was taken by car to St Omer and
the route of Sir Basil's capture and escape completely retraced as far as
Neufchatel. This was from Devres,
Hucqueliers, Contes, Hesdin, Dreuil-Hamel, Cayeux Eu and Neufchatel.
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Covers were produced and sold towards funds for the RAF Escaping Society. I have a copy of this cover and if Les Hills
would like to have it I would appreciate his address.
Don
Dykes (
Thank
you once again for a first class Newsletter. Some very interesting letters some
of which took me back to my days in
Dave Keery (
Well
another re-union has come and gone, I must congratulate you and others who make
this happen, A lot of work must be done to achieve
this success. It was very good, and enjoyable and I
look forward to the next one.
Malcolm Degville (
Fay
and I had a very enjoyable week-end in
The Hotel informed
us that all rooms will be modernized and the heating sorted by next year.
George Durant (
In June Gwen and I
were having lunch at Dunkerswell Airfield, near Honiton when some diners behind
us were talking about
Gilbert Wilkins (Yeovil)
Just
a quick one to congratulate and thank you for another great reunion.
Ann and I have no complaints. We arrived back at about 4.15 after enjoying some
hospitality with Pam and Keith in
Ted
Caton (
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One
evening just before our 46th wedding anniversary on the 12th May last the
telephone rang. My wife answered and a voice said this may seem strange but is
your name Maureen and is your husband Brian? My wife replied yes the voice then
said I used to stay with you when I was about 7 years old, to which my wife replied
“and if I am not mistaken your name is Chantel and your mother is called
Monique” She agreed this was a very nice surprise and wonderful to hear their
voices again.
This
all came about because Monique receives the Fontainebleau Vets Newsletter and
recognised us from our photographs as new members after nearly 46 years a
surprising and welcome voice from the past.
Whilst
serving in Fontainebleau we lived at 30 Rue De La Parroisse and the concierge
there was Monique's mother and father (Lucien and Leon) who we got on with very
well - they treated us like a son and
daughter as we where just married when we moved into the apartment. This is how
we met Monique.
Finding
the Fontainebleau Veterans web site purely by chance brought about this great
event and reunion after so many years.
Arrangements
were made and we agreed to meet the following Saturday which was exactly 46
years to the day when we first arrived at the flat so we drove down to Hitchin.
Chantel showed us around RAF Henlow married quarters to see how it had all
changed since we where there. Then it was time for lunch after which the photographs
came out and we chatted over old times. Before we knew, it was 9.00 pm and time
for us to leave to return to
Brian
Bursell (
My
letter in SAGA magazine about HM Customs ripping apart a young National
Serviceman's clothing to find a diamond ring which he had already given to his
fiancee (she had asked him for the box, from Paris) had a reply from a former
Customs officer throwing doubt as to whether his fellow officers would treat a
young soldier like this, and I have found this gem, in Road To Resistance by George Millar,
M.C., D.S.O., Croix de Guerre, Legion d'Honneur:
"I wandered up to the Rock Hotel, and met
Alan Moorhead and Alex
Clifford, now war correspondents (they
were
"The
"In Poole Harbour HM Customs hated the
sight of me, in my foreign clothes.*** The Brigadiers had a few bottles of sherry
between them, whereas I had sherry, brandy and elastic. Everybody had told me, both in
"HM Customs loathed elastic.They demanded
from me in duty what seemed like a month's rent in cash. I said that if they gave me a cheque I would
make it out. No, was the answer.
"Now see you here," one of the
brigadiers interrupted. "This young officer has just completed a trying
flight. We are not going to see him
bullied by you, are we Jim?"
"Absolutely not," said the second
brigadier.
"Here's your cheque form then," the
head Customs officer said angrily.
"And that will be twopence for the stamp."
"I haven't got twopence."
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But the
first brigadier paid it. The second
customs officer reappeared. "Field
Security,
*** Lt. Millar, of the Rifle
Brigade, wounded and captured by the Afrika Corps, had his leg cured by a
German doctor, and he was introduced to Rommel in his tent to show him
"the kind of men we are fighting."
The blonde, handsome Millar was a prisoner in
He
parachuted back into
"Another
point, Emile" the General said, "at Vielley,
do you remember the main street had a name, the street under which you hid in a
sewer? Well, it's now the rue Charles
de Gaulle. Amusing, is it not?"
Peter
Kinsley (Peckham)
PRESS
CUTTINGS
The
following article appeared in the Warwick Courier on 28 September and is
reproduced here by their kind permission.
MEMBERS
of the Allied Air Forces Central Europe Association, who served in
The men
were handpicked from the Royal Air Force who, together with the founder members
of the NATO countries, worked to defend
The
Association was formed 10 years ago and has brought together old comrades, some
of whom had not seen each other for years.
Mrs D A
Hogg, one of the member's wives, said: "In those dark days after the
second world war, it was the skill and dedication of these hand picked serving
airmen and officers that provided vital intelligence to the free nations of the
western world, and their work was rated highly top secret.
"These
veterans now have their own Association, badge and necktie and wear them with
pride.
"Members
come from all over the
She
added: "The group has returned to Fontainebleau on a number of occasions
and such is the high esteem that this special group is held by the French that
they are the only group allowed to march up the Champs Elysee to lay a wreath
at the tomb of the unknown soldier in memory of those who didn't return from
various theatres of operations that they were involved in."
The
reunion and dinner dance will be held at the
It
was reported in the Oct – Dec issue of Air Mail that George Millington
collected the grand sum of £1736 over 4 days for the West Bromwich Branch and
was awarded the Sheldonian Shield for the highest individual collection of the
year. George trained as an RAF medical orderly and served in
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"Decorations & Honours Register"
<admin@honoursregister.co.uk>
The
Decorations and Honours Register is now accepting registrations for the
Commemorative Edition to be published in the spring of 2008.
We
believe that many of your members are eligible for inclusion and we would
welcome their entries in this new and unique book.
Registration
is free of charge and painless, via our website
www.honoursregister.co.uk
http://www.honoursregister.co.uk
or by simply sending in an individual's name, list of medals, decorations
and/or honours with dates awarded, to us by post to the address shown below.
The closing date for registration is 29 February 2008.
Please
see our press release http://www.honoursregister.co.uk/PROct07.pdf
which contains all the information your members should need to participate in
this new reference book. Perhaps you may kindly print it off and post it on
your member's notice board or mention the Register in your member's magazine or
newsletter.
The
Register has been featured in the Daily Express, the Daily Telegraph, the
British Legion magazine and Medal News. Our Editor, the honours expert Charles
Mosley, was recently interviewed on BBC Breakfast and SKY television.
If you would like any more information
please do not hesitate to contact the writer.
Adrian Checketts (Director)
The Decorations & Honours Register
KBC
Bournemouth BH1
2EF E-mail : admin@honoursregister.co.uk Telephone 01202 201405
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
You may wish to note my new address :
p.a.johnston2007@btinternet.com
Alan Johnston
Please note my new email address for all
RAFA, RAFPA and personal email, effective immediately: adams@deci.orangehome.co.uk
Keith
Adams (
This is
to let you know I am back on line again - Mwoolton@aol.com Not totally out of touch now. Spoke to Terry
the other week. Was hoping to go to
Mike
Woolton (
Terry Byant’s new e-mail address is : terry.hazel@tiscali.co.uk
Terry
Bryant (Warminster)
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TENTH ANNUAL REUNION & DINNER
This is the item you have all been waiting for!
On
a bright sunny week-end at the end of September after we had a group photograph
take by the Warwick Courier snapper 73 people sat down at 7 p.m. to enjoy the
Tenth Annual Reunion Dinner at the
The
fare was first class and the music provided by Mr. Bojangles had most of the
Veterans and their wives and partners on the dance floor. Unfortunately Colin
Hogg was unable to perform this year due his stroke.
Thanks
to the generosity of the members in providing prizes the raffle generated £375.
It was rewarding to see so many new members attending their first
The
fact that the function was such a success is due the contributions from Colin
and Daisy Hogg who decorated our tables, Mike and Ann Capon purchased and
brought back the champagne and wine from cross channel trips to France and
provided NATO magazines etc, not forgetting Pam Adams and Hazel Bryant for
selling so many raffle tickets.
During
the afternoon the Annual General Meeting was held. The main points arising
were:
The
approval of the 2006 –07 Accounts (included in the last Newsletter),
Agreement to run a coach trip to
To hold the next Annual Reunion Dinner on
Saturday 27 September 2008.
A selection of
photos taken during the evening is attached in the supplement.
REUNION ~ 2008
The
The
cost is £63 per person per night for dinner, bed and breakfast. The hotel did
not impose an increase for this year’s function so their offer was accepted
although the point was made that the increase is above the rate of
inflation. It is worth noting that we
have the use of the Warwick Room free of charge ~ normally £60 per day.
Moreover single supplements are not applied. 50 rooms have been provisionally
booked for the Saturday and there is no penalty if we do not take up the full
allocation. The
A
deposit of £15 per person, irrespective of the number of nights, is payable.
Cheques should be made payable to D M Rogerson and will not be presented until
payment is due to the hotel next April
A
booking form is attached which you are requested to complete and return.
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FRANCE 2008
Subject
to sufficient support we shall run a 5 days 4 nights
coach trip to
The
terms quoted are as follows :
5 days (4 nights)
Staying
at the Ibis hotel,
COST:- £295
per person sharing twin/double room.
v
Single room supplement £115
v
4 nights bed and unlimited buffet breakfast
accommodation
v
All executive coaching, 49 seats with on board toilet
& beverage bar.
v
Short sea crossing
v
Tour of
v
Use of the coach for excursions while in
v
Free car parking is available at the rear of our
office at Sevenoaks
For those
not wishing to join the coach in
The price is based on 40 full paying
passengers, should we have more than 40 then seats 41 and 42 will be provided
free of charge. Provided we can reach this number £590 will be available to
make a contribution to the single supplements and to provide some money for
extras in
A deposit
of £30 per person is required at the end of December. Travel insurance is
required for this holiday and if you do not have their own policy our tour
operator can provide cover for a premium of £24 per person, premiums must
be paid with deposit. There is no need
to send your deposit at this juncture. A
booking form is attached.
BOOKING FORMS FOR 2008
Booking forms for the 2008 fontainebleau trip and 2008 Annual Reunion can be printed from this link (CLICK)
BOOKS FOR SALE
Peter
Kinsley's four hardback novels can be bought for £12 each, (free p & p in
1. “The
Shy Pornographer” : a comedy set in
2. “The
Gold Bidet” : reveals
3.
"To Catch a Paedophile" : provides an
insight into the minds of the characters involved - the victim, the attacker,
the police, and the crime reporter. It gives a behind the scenes look at the
whole detection
4. “The
Cambio Killing” : The perfect crime, an airline heist,
from the criminals side.
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Peter’s memoirs of the French Midi,
"The Valley of the Butterflies" in paperback £7
Sorry, but "Gunner Strikes Back"
set in
Roger
Northam enlisted as a National
Serviceman in the RAF in 1956 and has written about his experiences at
Cardington, Hednesford, Compton Basset and Aden recalling his memories in his
entertaining book “When the Golden Eagle Calls” ~ a must read - available in
hardback with illustrations at £15 incl. p & p
Roger,
a natural writer with a warm sense of humour, has also written an amusing book
of true stories of village cricket and its characters in the
AND FINALLY……..
Your news and tales of your experiences whilst at
Enjoy the festive season and have a good New Year.
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