David Biggs (M2123), Stephen Lim Fung Meng (M2002), John Dicks (M603) and Lim Towsoon (M2000) enjoy a memorable evening at the Changi Yacht Club. RAF CHANGI ASSOCIATION including HQ FEAF August 2018 Issue No. 67 RAF Changi Association (Including HQ FEAF) Founded May 1996 The aim of the RAF Changi Association is to bring together all those who were stationed at RAF Changi (including HQ FEAF) Singapore, in order to renew old friendships and make new ones. www.rafchangi.com Chairman/Archivist: John Dicks 4 Langley Crescent, Kings Langley, Herts. WD4 8EW. Tel: 01923 400221 • [email protected] Founding Member/Newsletter Distributor: Mike James 12 Shiners Elms, Yatton, Bristol BS49 4BY. Tel: 01934 833170 • [email protected] Secretary/Regalia Officer: Pat Holt 14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ. Tel: 01256 477253 • [email protected] Treasurer: Richard Collins 115 Station Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8HQ. Tel: 01621 785096 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Les Davies 4 The Bryceway, Liverpool L12 3HJ. Tel: 0151 228 9874 • [email protected] Membership Secretary: Malcolm Flack 14 Highfield Close, Amersham, Bucks. HP6 6HG. Tel: 01494 728562 • [email protected] Publicity/Press Officer: Brian Lloyd Apartment 26, Hardy Lodge, Coppice Street,, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8GY Tel: 01747 850898 (Mobile: 07798 731364) • [email protected] Webmaster: Tony Holt 14 Burrowfields, Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4XJ. Tel: 01256 477253 • [email protected] Almoner/Medal Adviser: David Haylock 37 Pierces Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks. RG31 6RB. Tel: 01189 425753 [email protected] Reunion Liaison Officer: Peter Mersh 24 Asher Reeds, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0AN. Tel: 01892 862643 [email protected] Overseas Liaison Officers Iberia: Brian Morgan Tel: 0034 952 196446 • [email protected] Australia: David A. Wood Tel: 0061 2 8338 9103 • [email protected] New Zealand: Brian Churcher Tel: 0064 7 549 4230 • [email protected] Singapore: Lim Tow Soon Tel: 0065 43 1106 • [email protected] © RAF Changi Association. No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the prior written or verbal consent of the chairman or secretary. Changi-ite Newsletter 2 August 2018 EDITORIAL Chairman/Archivist’s Report Welcome to the August issue of Changi-ite and I do not have a lot to say this time except to report that the Annual Reunion at the my thanks to all those new venue was very well received and went off fairly smoothly. We have provisionally who responded to my re-booked for next year, but one week later to avoid the bank holiday weekend. whine about lack of We are still looking for members to run mini-reunions, especially north of the contributions to the newsletter. London area. I am sure that there are many members who would like to meet up The biennial trip to Singapore with ‘old’ mates and acquaintances but, maybe due of financial constraints or the and Penang earlier this year distances involved, cannot make it to the annual event. We cannot organise these enticed more people than usual; 26 events for you but will give as much help as we can. Give me a call. members and wives arrived at Please think about marching at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday on the 11th of Changi airport on 28th February, November. All the best for now. Kind regards. John Dicks (Chairman) perhaps because some believed it could be the Association’s swan- song. Was it, John? Treasurer’s Report Financial Year 2017 One of the most memorable events in Singapore was the dinner The Association’s audited accounts for 2016 were presented at the Annual General at the Changi Yacht Club where our Meeting on Sunday, 6th May 2018. The Association continues to be in a sound hosts did us proud. Our group’s financial state. Expenditure for the year exceeded income by £195. Income from sincere thanks must go to Steve, membership fell this year from £10,100 in 2016 to £9,400, a continuing trend, whilst Towsoon and George (Photo) for expenditure across the board remained broadly in line with that of 2016. Funds held giving us a night to remember. in the bank at the end of 2017 were £1394 in the Current Account and £26831 in the After one week in Singapore the Capital Deposit Account. A full summary of the accounts is available to members on party travelled up to Penang for a request to the Treasurer. Richard Collins (Hon. Treasurer) fortnight at the Bayview Beach Resort in Batu Ferringhi. My personal Secretary’s Report highlight of the trip was going to I’ve had quite a number of ‘get well’ and ‘thinking of you’ cards sent out in the past Raffles Hospital to year and please get in touch should you want any member to receive one of these. see the excep- The regalia sales have been quite steady, except for Christmas, but we did manage to tional Dr Lee Yian get almost every order sent out in time, and I’m pleased to say that we sold £1,415 Ping, the cardiolo- worth of regalia, plus £60 for 12 History of Changi books. Many thanks for your continued support of the regalia. gist who operated on me in 2016. Pat Holt (Secretary) I will be forever grateful to him and his wonderful team of nurses. Please keep your letters Membership Secretary’s Report coming, whether they be critical or complimentary, for our members’ I am sorry to bring up the subject of sub renewals at this time of year in this edition. contributions are the lifeblood of No, don’t panic just now as in the Christmas magazine you will always find a reminder Changi-ite . irrespective of how you pay. Sorry I was unable to attend However, currently we do have approximately 411 members who make their this year’s annual reunion, I had a annual payment by standing order and I would like to see more members doing this. bit of a ‘blip’ three days before and All you need to do is e-mail, phone or write to me and I will send you a form to set was ordered to visit my local this up. hospital sickbay instead, with my Now, to a very important mention about your Membership Records. blood pressure at 204 over ‘very As far as our records are concerned we have always taken precautions to protect details held. I am sure silly’. OK now! Kind regards to all. you will all guess what I am referring to, as members in the UK and EU will have been recipients of Les Davies correspondence, reference a review of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which caused us to take action earlier this year. CONTENTS I wish to thank the majority of members who have already complied for your very rapid response to this exercise. BUT – a small percentage of members have still not signed and returned the required section at Committee Reports......................3 the bottom of the letter sent out in late April! Annual Reunion in Nottingham .........4 An extract of the important detail in the letter that may affect your membership reads as follows: “We Sentosa Island ............................5 want to communicate with you as a member of the RAFCA in a way that has your consent and in line with American Band in Singapore ...........6 the EU directive. As a result of changes introduced by the GDPR, effective 25th May 2018, your written consent is required in order to ensure the Association can contact you and correspond with you. If you are Postcards from the Past .................7 happy for your records to be retained by RAFCA and for extracts published in the Changi-ite magazine should Searchline/Shackleton Boys.............8 you submit an article, please complete the consent form below with contact details that you would like the Your Letters............................9/11 Association to use in all communications. Members have the right not to have their data published in the National Service ........................12 Changi-ite but must agree that their details are recorded and maintained by the Association in order to remain a member. Changi Hospital .........................13 So, please check your in-tray and I would appreciate if you would help to conclude this matter by Deep Sea Boxes .........................14 returning the form (a Freepost envelope was enclosed) in the very near future. St George’s Changi Fellowship .......15 Enquiries about possible membership this year (up to 18th June) so far now total 19 and while (as in Singapore Biennial Reunion ...16/17/18 my April report) the year started off with a sudden rush of new members’ applications completed, an increase of five more applications have been processed in the meantime which, along with notifications of the demise New Members/Obituaries .............19 of an ever-increasing number of members, this now leaves a net membership of 857. Regalia Shop ............................20 Malcolm Flack (Mem. Sec.) August 2018 3 Changi-ite Newsletter 22nd ANNUAL REUNION at the Novotel, Nottingham, 4th to 7th May 2018 FTER holding the last five Annual Reunions at the – a nice little attention to detail. ATillington Hall Hotel, Stafford, we moved to a new e dinner followed the usual venue this year – the Novotel, Nottingham, conveniently format, and the Chairman’s Cup situated just off the M1. was presented to Founder Member A total of 114 members and their guests braved the Mike James for his service to the Bank Holiday traffic and the ‘Smart Motorway’ roadworks Association. e proceedings were and a great weekend was enjoyed by all.