Message from the Chairman

The good news is that FS Bill Veazey MBE who verbally guides the RAF Police Association contingent at the annual Cenotaph Parade, is promoted to WO on 3 January 2008. Bill is posted to the Joint HQ at RAF Northwood, so hopefully he will still be able to actively encourage us on next years parade.

Many congratulations Bill on your well deserved promotion.

Dear All,

Reference the recent photo of our Association Treasurer, (Brian Whitaker) taking the Salute at an ATC march past, and proudly wearing his Association Beret. Is this yet another First for the white beret on parade?

I know member Big Norman Lock does this sort of thing in Australia and that indeed is an honour. But I was wondering if it is the first time a member (and in this instance an Officer), has taken the Salute in the UK, wearing the white beret.

Anyway, a great honour for the Association and it appears Brian (as ever), represented the organisation in immaculate fashion.

Many congratualations Brian.

Regards

John Walton

Chairman RAFPA

Dear All,

The Griff and Provost Parade should be with each of us by the end of September. With this edition of the Griff, there will be:

1. A 16 page colour supplement to commemorate and celebrate the 50th Anniversary RAF Police UK Dog Trials on 1 September 2007, at RAF Henlow.

2. A 24 page colour supplement to commemorate and celebrate the Dedication Service of the RAF Police Memorial, on 23 June 2007. In this supplement, there will be advertised the existence of a CD of over 200 photos (some of which appear in the supplement) and a DVD of a cine film (30 minutes) of the proceedings. The CD and DVD separately or together, will cost a minimum of £5.00. Please say if you want either or both. I strongly recommend you consider sending for both as a permanent record of a fantastic day.

Cheque payable to RAFP Memorial Fund

Regards

John Walton

Dear All,

Remembrance Sunday this year falls on 11 November. As ever, members of the Association will take part in parades at the Cenotaph in London, Edinburgh Castle and MOD Southwick Park. In addition many members attend their local War Memorial, whether or not they take part in a march past etc.

In October, HM will dedicate the new (very large) memorial, to the sixteen and a half thousand Service men and women, who have died on duty since the end of WW2. This is at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) south of Burton-on-Trent. The NMA authorities believe that because of this new memorial, there will be many more people than usual, at the Remembrance Sunday Service at the NMA.

So that I can let the RAF Police at RAF Henlow know, please advise me ASAP, if your branch intends to visit the NMA and the RAFP Memorial, on Remembrance Sunday. There are no restrictions on attendance as far as I am aware. The sole purposes of this message are to advise you to be aware of the possible numbers present at the NMA and so the RAFP are aware of our presence. I don't know yet what the PM intends for Remembrance Sunday, but at most it will be half a dozen from them.

Regards

John Walton

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Dear All,

Sadly, the Association Treasurer, Brian Whitaker has informed me of his very firm decision to retire from his post at the next Assocaition AGM (April 2008). On behalf of all members, I thank Brian most sincerely for the work both he and Madge have done for the East Midlands Branch and the Association, over several years. And more of that later.

For now, the message is very simple. PLEASE tell everyone, we need a replacement for Brian as Association Treasurer. There are several Branch AGMs and Branch newsletters due before Christmas. Please give this announcement maximum publicity.

Another matter please for maximum publicity is the fact that "the RAF Police and the RAF Police Association fully acknowledge and appreciate the £7000 grant from the "Awards for All" scheme which is under the auspices of the National Lottery. This Grant was a very significant financial boost to the RAF Police Memorial Project".

Maximum publicity is one of the very strict conditions under which we (through our Treasurer Brian Whitaker) received the very necessary and very welcome £7000.