The Badge Newsletter No 17 February 2018 For ex and Serving RAF PTI’s, PJI’s, ATI’s & ERI’s RAF PTI Association Motto Friendship and Respect Chairman’s New Year Message Happy New Year to one and all as we now head into 2018 and the long awaited 100th Anniversary celebrations. The Roebuck memorial is now in place at the National Memorial Arboretum. I have to say it looks magnificent and is befitting to all those who it stands for, past and present. I hope you will share the same sense of pride and achievement on 14th April during the consecration service. From the outset the Roebuck project was ambitious especially considering the sum of money that needed to be raised. I know this caused Darrald a little anxiety at times! But in true PEd spirit, people started to get behind the project. As the months rolled by the fund started to accumulate, allowing us to pay off our debts in full. This would not have been possible but for the generosity of all those who contributed in whatever shape or form – a massive well done and thank you. In this my last year as Chair of the PTI Association, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, the members, for the support you have afforded me throughout my tenure. I am humbled yet proud to have been accepted as your Chairman. There are a small number within the Association; you know who you are whose advice and guidance has been invaluable – my heart-felt thanks to you. To the incoming Chairman, WO Mick Barron the current WO SofPT, I wish you all the best during your tenure. Throughout 2017 there have been sad bereavements and unfortunate illness within our membership. To the families and friends who suffered the loss of loved ones and anguish during illness, on behalf of the membership I extend our sympathies and condolences. On a final note, I somehow doubt it has escaped your attention but the RAF celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year. What with marching bands, 1000s of marching airmen and women, 100+ aircraft fly pasts down the Mall, the month of July promises to be SPECTACULAR! Couple this with our own celebration of 100 years of Physical Education within the RAF, 2018 promises to be a very special and memorable year indeed. See you there………………. WO Clarke Coghill 1 In this issue:- School of PE WO Mick Barron Kenneth Irvine George Medal Tribute to John Doran – Terry Hagan My first Free Fall – Terry Hagan Mountaineering article – John Henderson Kevin Redstone ‘Moving On’ The Roebuck Memorial Cycle Standard Bearer Update – Roy Rigg Memorabilia Reminder – Ronan Archbold New Official RAF Centenary Five Pound Coin RAF PTI Association Reunion, Centenary Event 2 Mick Barron WO School Of Physical Training As I write this introduction, it is six months since I was honoured to assume the mantle of School Warrant Officer from Clark Coghill. Not the easiest of shoes to fill – Clark is one of the most unflappable and thoughtful PTI’s I have had the pleasure to know. To Clark go my sincere thanks for the advice, stewardship and patience he provided whilst I initially found my feet. So what’s it like? What are the challenges? As ever, the greatest strength of the School lies in the quality of the people that serve it. They are committed, professional and forward-looking. They embrace and deliver on the challenges the RAF presents them and then they immediately look for the next one. They are the same as many of the previous generations – determined to secure promotion, keen to obtain their specialization, pursue their career and have a lot of fun doing so. They will definitely keep me on my toes… The challenges are clear. As with nearly every organization at this time, resources are limited and forecasts predict little change on that front. So developing and investing in both research and the staff to ensure TG10 and Physical Education remains abreast of the times is the first challenge. We must continue to remain relevant and seek to lead the way – as mentioned previously, we have the people to do it and they clearly possess the passion to do so. Manpower has also taken a hit lately with a significant amount of movement and gapped posts. We must be careful that our ‘can-do’ approach does not lead to a ‘proved you can-do without’ response by those that hold the purse strings. One of the more immediate challenges surrounds the centenary celebrations for the School. It is a busy period at Cosford – as a matter of note it is also the centenary celebrations of No1 Radio School, so there is a lot of anticipation for 2018. From our perspective, a number of options are being considered. When we have finalized our commitments to the RAF 100 celebrations, the ‘big parade’, RAF Cosford’s 80thcelebrations, the Cosford Air Show and addressed the design and delivery of two very special graduations, we can go live with our plans. I am aware that Facebook comments are calling for the detail; rest assured, we are working on them and when we have approval we will publish the blueprint. The School acknowledges the magnitude of the event and is seeking to mark it appropriately. That’s a snapshot. I look forward to keeping you informed of School of PT life – including whether Nick Hitchman is still the top dog at table tennis! It is unfair to measure the Cpl’s against Nick – he has all day to practice after all, unlike them… 3 WO Mick Barron – Warrant Officer School of Physical Training Mick Barron joined the RAF in 1995 as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI). After completing his PTI course, he was posted to RAF Odiham. This tour was followed by a move to No1 Parachute Training School (PTS) where he gained his Q-annotation as a Parachute Jumping Instructor and was promoted to Sgt. Detached to Wattisham Airfield as part of the RAF detachment to 16X, his exposure to large scale parachuting activities afforded him a valuable insight into the planning and leadership required for complex exercises involving multiple agencies. Following this, Barron deployed to Bosnia on Op OCULUS, completing a tour at Banja Luka providing physical fitness and welfare activities for NATO personnel. A brief return to No1 PTS led to the Joint Service Adventure Training Center Weston on the Green, where he delivered Force Development activities through the medium of parachuting. This enabled him to develop his FD competencies and ensure students experienced a rewarding exposure to FD activity. To date, this is his most rewarding tour. In 2007, he was posted to 22Gp to manage a number of tasks associated with overseas detachments, including the preparation of PTI's to support operations and the Heat Acclimatization Policy. In 2009 Barron took over as SNCO PEd at High Wycombe before being promoted to the rank of FS and returning to 22Gp. Here he was responsible for the delivery of PEd policy with a specific focus on the RAF Fitness Strategy. In 2011 Barron was deployed on Op TELIC to FOB ar Rustimayah where he worked as a NATO mentor with the Iraqi Physical Education team training Iraqi Army Officers. Upon return he was posted to RAF Cranwell as a Deputy Flight Commander on OACTU before transitioning into Staff Training Flight. In 2013 he returned to No1 PTS as FS Military Training Flight, responsible for a large team of instructors delivering ab-initio training to personnel from all 3 Arms. This period also witnessed the introduction of Army instructors into PTS. Married to Victoria, they have 3 children and enjoy the theatre, gardening and (some) DIY activities. He has a Master’s degree in Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities with Art History. He plays tennis for his local club, enjoys bouldering and American Football due to the science behind its training methodologies. To relax he enjoys viewing art and listening to opera. 4 Kenneth Irvine George Medal Taken from “Medal News” February 2007 Forty one years ago Constable D121 Kenneth Irvine arrested a thief and held on to him despite being stabbed in the heart which subsequently earned the Constable a George Medal. Kenneth Irvine’s fitness was well above average even for a policemen. Following National Service in the RAF as physical training instructor 1946-48, he became a logger at Tahsis on Vancouver Island in Canada, returning to England in 1957 to join the Manchester Police. Ken’s positive attitude made him a natural for dangerous work, as a plain clothes policeman, a duty which presented him with an opportunity to display exceptional courage when tacking a thief armed with a knife. The incident occurred around 11.50 on 11th June 1965. Ken was on plain clothes duty with a colleague in an unmarked police car. The officers observed a man get out of a car and enter the back gate of a property only to exit a few minutes later carrying a large square object which he placed in the back of the car. His suspicions aroused, Constable Irvine drove diagonally across the road to block the car but as he did the car drove straight at the van, causing Irvine to swerve violently to avoid an accident. Reacting swiftly Irvine set off in pursuit of the car and after a high speed chase managed to get the police van alongside the car forcing it on to the pavement and jamming the passenger side door against the other vehicle.