SLETTER 3.2012NEWSLETTER 6.2012Edited and Compiled by Ray Towler

THETFORD AND DISTRICT No.996Branch Charity No.1070702

Annual East Wretham Ceremony

7th November 2012

Annual East Wretham Ceremony - 7th November 2012

Members Profile – Bill McGaw

First Bit – 1971 to 1974

I was born in Dumfries Maternity Hospital in 1954. My dad was what was called a ‘platelayer’ in those dayson British Railways but this after became ‘Trackman’. We lived in ‘tied’ BR cottages in the early years andthe first that I remember was Lochmaben and then latterly in Dumfries. We had outside loos and weekly bathsin front of the fire in our two bed cottage. I was always keen on the military but I was not keen on the army,the Navy took my fancy but Dad would not sign me over so I applied for an apprenticeship with the RAF. Ihad to go to RAF Stafford for a 2 day assessment and interviews at 16. At the end of it they offered me a 3year technician apprenticeship in Ground Radar dependant on me getting the necessary ‘O’ levels. This iswhere it went wrong slightly in that I did not achieve a pass in physics so fearing the worst I contacted therecruiters. They said not to worry, how about a 2 year Craft Apprenticeship instead! Yes I was in.In early January 1971 a few days before my 17th birthday I set off on the train to Weston-Super-Mare and RAFLocking for my apprenticeship. This was the start of 2 great years of training, friendships and experiences.These included flying for the first time and being airsick for the first and only time in my career! A Varsityaircraft from Little Rissington would drop into Weston’s airport to give air experience flights to the uninitiatedand I remember lying in the aircraft belly area looking out over the Bristol Channel as we headed down thecoast and around various places.

On my first pay parade I received £1 which was lot to me. Next pay parade I received £3. In those days ifyou were under 18 some of your pay was held back and given in lump sums on the summer, Christmas andEaster block leaves. This was a good idea so you had something to take home on leave. However, on turning18, which I did a year later, this stopped and you received all your pay, a mighty £8!! You were consideredan adult so you had to make your money last and save your own for the block leaves. On the plus side youcould now drink beer in the NAAFI.

Another highlight was to be picked to try parachuting instead of the two week camp in the Brecon Beacons.Names were put in a hat and a ‘lucky’ four were chosen including me. So off we went to RAF Abingdon forinitial training with a mixed bunch of RAF people who had volunteered. First week was ground school andthe following week was two jumps from a balloon at 800 feet and two jumps from Hercules at 1000 feet. Allstatic line jumps but we four apprentices were always in the same ‘stick’. We jumped alphabetically and youwould think with my surname I would not be first in line, wrong!! The others surnames were Rowley, Wevilland Wright. Unfortunately Dave Wright fractured his ankle on the first balloon jump and was out of it fromthen on.

Then in December 1972 I passed out as a Junior Technician in the trade of Electronic Fitter Ground Radar (LFitt GR) and posted to Ground Radio Servicing Flight (GRSF) at RAF Scampton. On the radar side all thatwas there was Precision Approach Radar Type 3B. I had been trained on Area Radar Type 15 (AR15) andPAR 3C!! Oh well, I soon learned the differences but was also given on the job training to service and maintainCADF, VHF/UHF radios and ILS as part of the 3 person watches, two Ground Comms and one ground radarthat were part of the system at the time. Scampton at the time had Vulcans and Hastings. The Vulcan Sqnswere 617 and the Vulcan OCU. 27 Sqn arrived from Cyprus I think. I can’t remember the Hastings Sqn butthey had a radar underneath to trin the Vulcan crews to use airborne radar. Quite a contrast between thepowerful 4 engine jets and the slower four engine prop jobs. On nights the shift in Ground Radio wassupposed to last until 7 am but if we were lucky would finish around midnight after the last Vulcan had landedfrom somewhere in Canada or USA. It would be race some nights to see if we could run down the radar andother equipment before the ATC lot upstairs could get out the door. Rule was last lot out had to hand in thebuilding keys at the guardroom. During this time at Scampton I married Krissie and had our first marriedquarter. Not long after we were enjoying this life together came the posting order that changed my careerdirection, posted to be trained on RAPIER Surface to Air missile system.

TO BE CONTINUED

Membership Subscriptions

To: All Members of the Association

Classification: The highest importance – Action required

You will all recall the Chairman of Council’s open letter in the April 2012 edition of Air Mail in which hestressed the point that Membership should “pay for itself” but the reality was that income fell well short ofexpenditure. Many replies were received following that article and I thank you all for taking the time to writein with your views. Since then much discussion has taken place on how to reduce the annual deficit (currentlycirca £600k). I am sure that we all agree that Membership should, overall, “pay for itself” otherwise the costof Membership is being subsidised by funds that could otherwise be used for welfare purposes which wouldbe much more appropriate. So how do we close the gap? In simplistic terms there is no easy solution. Weeither reduce costs or increase income (and the only source of income is subscriptions) or, we opt for acombination of both. What is abundantly clear is that whatever course of action is chosen, it must be chosenby you – the Membership. As the Chairman mentioned in his article last April, the Secretary General has beenreviewing administrative expenditure which will help drive down the cost of Membership. Reducing costs isa constant theme and every effort has and will continue to be made to make further cuts in any of theadministrative procedures.

Membership subscriptions has always been a difficult subject and whether we like it or not, we may have toface the possibility that subscriptions will have to rise in future initially above inflation if we are serious abouttrying to reduce the gap.

This is where you, the Members, the very lifeblood of the Association come in! In our 70th year, difficultdecisions have to be made, and you, the Membership, has to make them, that is enshrined in our rules. It istherefore proposed that the ‘Cost of Membership’ be the main topic for debate at our 70th Anniversary AnnualConference 2013 in Eastbourne on 11 May. During the debate it is envisaged that a range of proposals wouldbe discussed in order to reach an acceptable solution. Such options could include:

· An electronic copy of Air Mail is made available on-line through the Members login area so thatMembers could opt out of receiving a hard copy.

· Membership cards are not distributed annually.

· Annual Members could pay higher subscription fees (and potentially pay by monthly direct debit tospread the cost over 12 equal payments).

· Associate Members could pay more in subscription fees.

· Life Members could be asked to contribute or, say for example, that in order to receive a hard copyAir Mail they would have to pay for it.

· ...or any combination of the above.

Whatever we choose we must not single out a particular group of people, this is a Membership wide issue andthat means over 65,000 of you have a view and should take the opportunity to air it.

Following on from the debate it would be envisaged that Conference would agree an action or course ofactions and from that a formal Resolution (or Resolutions) would be proposed to be voted upon to give anagreed mandate going forward.

Therefore, it is vital that your Branch sends a representative to our very special 70th Anniversary AnnualConference in order to make your views heard. Better still why not come along yourself, meet old friends,enjoy the entertainment and parade, and most importantly have your say – it’s your Membership and yourConference.

If you wish to attend Conference please contact Margaret Duff, Conference Organiser –margaret.duff@rafa.org.uk (tel 01772 600211) or write to her at RAFA Conference, PO Box 316, LeylandPR25 9AX.

A Reminder To Branches – First Contact With New Serving Members

There is currently much debate centred round how to increase our membership recruitment and strengthen thebranch-based network. The Association is working hard in this area, not least to recruit new serving RAFmembers at Cranwell, Halton and Honington (being the 3 current points of entry) and encourage new membersinto their local Branches. Recognising that Initial Officer and Recruit Training will be followed by furtherphases of training and relocation, personnel are tending to add themselves to the Area or HQ Roll. This doesnot necessarily support Branches, so we will continue to encourage serving personnel to become members oftheir ‘home’ Branch and in so doing ask them if we can approach their wider family members. Please, whenyou receive membership notifications, do all you can to make that first contact with the new serving RAFmember a positive experience so that when they disappear back to the RAF they may encourage their widerfamily. As we pick up new serving members from the recruiting points we shall endeavour to notify theappropriate Branches.

RAFA Pocket Diaries 2013 – Error Correction

Please note that Wings Day in 2013 should read 14th and NOT 21st September, as printed.  The RAFAssociation apologises to its members for this error.

Project Pathfinder – Repeat Article

Annual Conference recently approved, subject to the completion of due diligence by Central Council, theformation of a new category of ‘junior’ Membership of the Association for young people between the ages of13 and 17.  A dedicated Project Officer, Group Captain Nicky Loveday Retd, has been identified to undertakethe necessary work to enable a detailed proposal and recommendations to be submitted to the RAFA CentralCouncil and subject to agreement, it is hoped to launch a youth membership scheme in 2013.  To date, theProject Officer has had discussions with the Youth Leadership teams from the Air Cadet Organisation, theGirls Venture Corps Air Cadets and the Air Scouts and has completed a series of Focus Groups with youngpeople aged 13-17 years old to help design the proposed Youth Membership scheme and ensure that anyproposal remains interesting and affordable to the young audience whom we hope to attract to the Associa-tion.  If any Branches are interested in helping to finance the setup and administration costs or sponsor abenefit, competition prize  or award for the Youth Membership scheme, please contact Bob Hounslow,Director of Membership and Areas, on 0116-2688759.

Annual Service St Clement Danes – Sunday 14th April 2013

The Annual Service to commemorate formation of the Royal Air Force will be held at St Clement DanesChurch the Strand London on Sunday 14th April 2013

Royal Air Forces Association Standard Bearers have been invited to attend the Service.

The format is the same as last year with Standard Bearers marching from Lincoln's Inn Field to St ClementDanes Church headed by the RAF Halton Pipe Band.

Any Standard Bearers wishing to attend should contact the South East Area Manager, Peter Stockdale Tel:020 8286 6667 no later than Friday 1 March 2013.

Ticket allocation for the Service as in previous years is on a first come first served basis but unfortunately,only invited guests will be allowed to attend the reception after the Service.

Any members wishing to obtain tickets for the Service should contact the South East Manager no later thanFriday 1 March 2013.

The Service will commence at 11.00 hrs.

RAF Widows Association

Please note that Ms Jude Howcroft has been appointed as the new Chair of The RAF Widows Associationtaking over from Jackie Towl. Jude can be contacted via e-mail:Judith.m.howcroft@gsk.com or via the RAFBF.

Royal International Air Tattoo RAF Fairford 20-21 Jul 2013

People planning to attend next summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, who purchase theirtickets before 7th January 2013, will enjoy a saving of up to £14 on the price of admission.

Special Super Earlybird tickets are available until 6th January and are priced at £35 for a Saturday ticket and£30 for a Sunday ticket.

Between 7th January and 3rd April, Earlybird tickets will be available priced at £40 for the Saturday and £35for the Sunday.

After 3rd April, the standard advance ticket will go on sale, priced at £45 for the Saturday and £40 for Sundayand will be subject to a £4 admin fee.

For full admission ticket details and to see the wide range of optional upgrades designed to enhance yourenjoyment of the Royal International Air Tattoo 2013, visit www.airtattoo.com.

The Blue Apple Charity

We were recently alerted to a charity called The Blue Apple Charity by a contact at the RBLhttp://www.blueapplecharity.org.uk/ and felt this should be brought to your attention in case members areapproached. They are not, as far as we can tell, an ‘official’ charity, they do not appear to have a charitynumber and the MoD is not aware of them. MoD are in the process of investigating them further, but their firstline of action is to remove the MoD logo from their website.

On A Lighter Note – Wanted!

Wanted urgently - 2 front buttons from a chip hat.  Please contact Tich Taylor 01446 730894linda.49taylor@tiscali.co.uk.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of the Thetford and District Branch of The Royal Air Forces Association willtake place in the Sergeant’s Mess, RAF Honington, on TUESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2013, commencingat 7.30pm.

Associate members and partners of member are most welcome to attend. We would like to see a lot moremembers attend this Annual General Meeting. To enable the Branch to be kept up and running it is essentialthat members be more involved in branch activities.

AGENDA

1. Dedication and Chairman's welcome.2. Apologies for absence.3. Minutes of the Year 2012 Annual General Meeting.4. Chairman's 2012 Report.5. Secretary's Report on 2012 activities.6. Treasurer's Report and Statement of Accounts for 20127. Wing's Appeal Organiser's Report.8. Membership Secretary's Report.9. Welfare Officer's Report.10. Election/re-election of Vice-Presidents - non committee.11. Election/re-election of Vice-Presidents to serve on the Committee.12. Election of Officers and General Committee. a) Chairman b) Vice Chairman c) Secretary d) Treasurer e) Membership Secretary

f) General Committee Members (this will be for members who wish to take an active part in theBranch and can attend meetings regularly). This includes Associate members who are now permitted to serveas Committee Members.

g). Appointment of Honorary Welfare Officer, Deputy Welfare Officer, ATC Liaison Officers,Wings Appeal Organiser, Deputy Wings Appeal Organiser and Media Liaison Officer.

Notes:Nominations for Branch Officers/Committee Members should be signed by two members and forwarded tothe Secretary - to arrive not later than 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting. Existing Branch Officersand Committee members who wish to be considered for re-election should notify the Secretary, at least 7 daysprior to the Annual General Meeting. No member can be elected as a committee member or for any otheroffice unless they are present and personally agree to hold the position.Resolutions for consideration should be forwarded, in writing, to the Secretary at least 7 days prior to theAnnual General Meeting.

13. President's concluding remarks.

14. Chairman will conclude and close the meeting.

RAYMOND W. TOWLERHonorary Secretary

Provisional Calendar January - MarchJanuary 2013 8 January Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 13.0018 January Branch Lunch Norfolk Terrier 12.0025 January Graduation Parade & Hosted visit RAF Honington 08.00February 2013 1 February RAF Regiment 71st Anniversary INFORMATION ONLY12 February Annual General Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3015 February Branch Lunch Sergeants’ Mess 12.00March 2011312 March Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3015 March Branch Lunch The Fox, Honington 12.0020 March Informal Social Evening Sergeants’ Mess 19.30April 2013 9 April Branch Meeting Sergeants’ Mess 19.3019 April Branch Lunch Norfolk Terrier 12.00

Note the time for the January Branch Meeting.

The venues for the Branch Lunch has been extended to include The Fox, Honington. This was included toallow our members working at RAF Honington to have lunch with other members without the worry of ex-tended lunch breaks.

This is a profile photograph of Bill McGaw, takenat the Branch Christmas Lunch at the NorfolkTerrier, on Friday 7th December 2012, whose pro-file (part one) appears on page three. There wasn’tenough room to include this photograph.

This is a profile photograph of Bill McGaw, taken at the Branch Christmas Lunch on 7th December2012. The first part of his written profile appears on page three of this Newsletter, unfortunately therewas not enough room to include this photograph.

Royal Air Force Music Services Association

The RAF Music Services Association (RAFMusA) is open to all serving and ex serving members ofRoyal Air Force Established bands, serving and ex members of Royal Air Force Voluntary Bands and anyperson who has an interest in Military Music, especially that of the Royal Air Force. The membership coversall areas of the globe, from Australia in the South, Japan in the East, the US and Canada in the West andScotland in the North. These are not all ex serving members but people who have heard Royal Air ForceBands wherever they have performed and have been so impressed that they wish to be associated with them.

John Snelling has now taken up the post of Eastern Area representative which roughly covers from ELondon - St Albans - Milton Keynes - Northampton up to Doncaster and all points East.John retired fromThe RAF College Band as a Chf Tech in 1984 after joining it as an SAC in 1967. He also served withThe Band of the RAF Germany (80 - 83) and with No 4 Regional Band (later The Southern Band) from60 - 65 then 2 1/2 years in civvy st before re-joining.

If you are interested in joining, we have 2 issues of our glossy magazine "The Blue & The Gold" perannum and an annual reunion of old mates every June I July at present held at Central Band's newHQ at RAF Northolt, Middlesex, or at RAF Cranwell, Lines, either hosted by the Band of TheRAF Regiment ('Shun) or The RAF College Band across the road. The annual membership iscurrently £17 pa or if by SO £15 pa.

Anyone interested in joining the association can contact John at: 35 SwanRoad, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1AGEMail: john.snelling@gmx.co.ukTel No: 01362 693763

RAFA Pocket Diaries 2013- Error Correction

Please note that Wings Day in 2013 should read 14th and NOT 21st September, as printed. The RAFAssociation apologises to its members for this error.

Staff changes

Claire Winfield, Director of Welfare has sadly (and reluctantly) tendered her resignation and will leave usat the end of this year to take over as CEO of a charity closer to her home.

Justine Baynes is starting with us part time (5 days a week) on Monday 29th October as Media & PROfficer to cover Alex Bifulco's maternity leave.

Newsletter 1.2013

Any material to be included in Newsletter 1.2013 should be forwarded to Ray Towler onray.towler@btinternet.com or by letter to Ray Towler, 33A Earls Street, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2AB toarrive not later than 10th February 2013.

Material and photographs which infringe copyright cannot be published unless permission has been grantedby the copyright holder.

The Editor reserves fthe right to publish any material.

AOP’s Christmas Party - Sergeants’ Mess - 4th December 2012

Visiting Apache - Families Fun Day - 1st November 2012

Planting the Norfolk Biffin (or Beefin) Tree, donated by members Margareet and BillNeve, in the Garden of Reflection, to commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Branch Christmas Lunch - 7th December 2012