The Official P Ub Lication of Royal a Ir Force M Arham Issu E 1 2 018 £ Free
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Inside this Issue: Honours and Awards • Dentaid Uganda • Charity Spinnathon • Argentina Tour 24 The official publication of Royal Air Force Marham Issue 1 2018 £Free www.marhammattersonline.co.uk MARHAM MATTERS CONTENTS EDITOR: Diane Wilson Ext: 6739 Email: diane.wilson704@ mod.gov.uk 08 RAF MARHAM WEB PAGE: www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham DESIGNER: Sherrie Bacarese Email: sherrie@ lancepublishing.co.uk SALES MANAGER: Jayne Bailey Tel: (01536) 526677 Email: jayne@ lancepublishing.co.uk PRINTER: Lance Print Ltd Tel: (01733) 390564 COVER IMAGE: Photograph by Sqn Ldr Tuxford DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the contributors to the Marham Matters are not necessarily those of the Editor, MoD, RAF or the publishers and do not reflect Station policy. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform 23 to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by kind permission of the Station Commander. All Images © Crown REGULARS NEWS RAF Marham Rowing Club Copyright 2014, unless otherwise stated. Station Commander's Foreword Honours and Awards ............................................................23 STOCKISTS: The Surgery, Marham, Manor Farm Medical ............................................................... 5 ............................................................... 7 Charity Spinnathon Centre, Swaffham, Plowright Medical Centre, Swaffham, The Surgery, Swaffham, Howdale The Lightning Basing Team 31 Sqn Update ............................................................23 Surgery, Downham Market, Hollies Veterinary Clinic, Downham Market, The Crossings Veterinary ............................................................... 9 ............................................................... 8 RAF Polo Association Clinic, Downham Market, The Grove Veterinary Surgery, Swaffham, Priory Centre, Downham Community Support Air Drop Ursula Argentina Tour 24 Market, Lynn News, King’s Lynn, St Martin’s at Shouldham VA Primary School, Marham Infant ............................................................28 ............................................................ 12 ............................................................24 School, Marham Junior School, Downham Market Academy, Nicholas Hammond Academy, Heavens Above Lt Col David Chaundler's Story Busybodies Stage School Swaffham, Town Halls in Downham Market, Kings Lynn and Swaffham, BAE, Warton, Armed ............................................................29 ............................................................ 15 ............................................................32 Forces Careers Office in Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough, Royal Air Force Association in Dentaid Uganda Extension to the Rainbow Centre Downham Market, Downham Market Air Cadets, All other RAF bases. ............................................................ 18 ............................................................33 4 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 1 2018 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ STATION COMMANDER'S FOREWORD MARHAM MATTERS Station Commander’s Foreword What a year we have ahead of us! You cannot fail to notice the This is the year where we all get to changes being made at RAF be part of RAF100 and celebrate Marham as transition from the centenary of the world’s ‘current to next generation first independent air force. Our combat air power’ occurs. Whilst part of this celebration at RAF I am keen to embrace RAF100, Marham is significant where we we must ensure that we do not are the epitome of the RAF100 get distracted from ensuring themes. We can COMMEMORATE our activity is SAFE, SECURE our Station’s heritage; CELEBRATE and always conducted with all those personnel (military, SUPPORT TO OUR PERSONNEL at Civil Service, contractor) who lie the forefront of our minds. 2018 at the heart of our success on will continue to see enormous 18 Operations and INSPIRE those transition for those who work at who wish to become part of ‘Next Marham and not just the military. Generation’ Combat Air Power. Change is affecting the ‘Whole Force’ and we must approach Whilst sustaining Tornado GR4 this change as the RAF Marham From the Editor operations from Akrotiri, RAF ‘family’. What we do is different; Marham will be the regional face it is not a normal job. How Hello everyone and welcome content so the community of RAF100 and we have planned we support each other is also to the first edition of support events calendar numerous events both on and different whether it is relying Marham Matters for 2018. will now appear within off Station where we can engage on other military friends or the magazine rather with our regional community and relying on our fantastic welfare You may have noticed that than being distributed bring RAF100 to life. Our own support. Every effort is being you didn’t receive a magazine separately. celebration starts in March with a made to ease the difficulties in January, that is because we Station Annual Formal Reception associated with the moves in and only run 11 editions per year. If anyone would like to where we will launch our RAF100 out of Marham whilst sustaining have an article published campaign and run the second of Tornado ops and bringing F35B There has been a slight please contact me at our inspirational STEM events for Lightning to its new home. change to some of the the details opposite. local schools. The pace accelerates in the summer with the Royal Challenging? Yes. Exciting? International Air Tattoo (14-16 Yes. Do it together? Yes. Jul), our own Friends and Families Deadline for Next Issue: 19th February Day (26 Jul), the arrival of 617 Cab Townsend Please submit all entries for the next issue Sqn in the summer and a formal Station Commander, 617 Sqn parade in the autumn. RAF Marham. by the date stated above. www.marhammattersonline.co.uk ISSUE 1 2018 MARHAM MATTERS 5 6 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 1 2018 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ HONOURS & AWARDS MARHAM MATTERS HONOURS & AWARDS The following personnel from RAF Marham were recognised in the New Year Honours. APPOINTMENTS TO AND DCom’s Commendation PROMOTIONS IN THE Lt (RN) D James MILITARY DIVISION OF THE DCom’s Team Commendation MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF RAF Marham Military Working THE BRITISH EMPIRE Dog Section As Commanders (CBE) AOC 1 Gp Commendation Group Captain Richard Andrew A/Sqn Ldr C N S J Paton Davies Sqn Ldr B C B Thorpe Flt Lt J W May As Members (MBE) PO (RN) D B Hull Flight Sergeant Alison Frances Sgt N Nolan Fisher Cpl C P Foot Meritorious Service Medal AOC 1 Gp Team Commendation WO P J Major RAF Marham Supply, Control & WO S M Wiseman Accounts Flight Visit Dents for Springtime Inspiration Fresh farm produce , fine foods, Hampers, Spring planted pots and baskets, potted roses, trees and shrubs, Gardening accessories, seeds, bulbs, Furniture , gifts and birdcare. Mother’sSunday 11th MarchDay Treat Mum to special lunch in the Barn Cafe bookings 01366 385661 Afternoon tea served daily after 2.30pm £ 12.95 Finger sandwiches and dainty cakes, Booking required Friday 2nd March ‘Make and Cake ‘ Craft Workshop 10 am til 12pm Coffee and refreshments Make a beautiful potted paper orchid £25.00 all materials supplied 10% discount for all RAF Marham Personnel with valid ID card www.dentsfarmhilgay.co.uk [email protected] 01366 385661 Call us at London Road on 01553 773168 or Find us on A10, Hilgay, 5 miles south Downham Market at the Hollies on 01366 386655 for more details. Open 7 days a week: Mon-Sat 9-5pm, Sun & Bank Holiday 10-4.30pm Visit our website at makeyourpetsmile.co.uk 2018 / user:olga_vasiljeva shutterstock © www.marhammattersonline.co.uk ISSUE 1 2018 MARHAM MATTERS 7 MARHAM MATTERS NEWS 31 SQN UPDATE Autumn started slowly for the Goldstars, with members relishing some leave followed by a period of ground training during the runway refurbishment, but soon the sqn was back into essential training. The initial few weeks of flying saw having plenty of opportunities to The Squadron shop has recently the aircrew undergo a period of enjoy several recent social events. expanded, providing many ‘UK reset’, whereby lots of skill sets This included a visit to Bremont items of squadron memorabilia and currencies that had faded in Henley, where the new limited to purchase; including badges, over recent months whilst we had edition Tornado IDS watch is prints, stickers and much more. If been away were practiced. This currently being produced. We interested please contact meant flying once more in poor have also had our formal Dining- Flt Lt Stuart Milne at weather, with busy airspace and Out Night in Norwich, a fantastic [email protected] tight training programmes. After occasion to bring partners and this, the more complex training friends together to say goodbye to scenarios began to take shape and some of our finest officers - namely: drive the flying requirements of Sqn Ldr Hewat, Flt Lt Ballantine, Flt the squadron. Close cooperation Lt Suckling, Flt Lt Pirkis and Capt with IX(B) Sqn was the flavour of Eaton. the month, with each unit donating Into the winter months, the sqn a pair to form a 4-ship on many took part in several Close Air occasions. This was often in support Support exercises in support of the of affiliation sorties with Typhoons Army, as well as starting several or USAF F15s – with the drawdown work-ups in night flying and of the mighty GR4 imminent, and supervisory qualifications. The sqn with it the staged reduction