Winter 2019 Winter WitteringThe official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force View WINTER 2019 WITTERING VIEW 1 Features: In the Spotlight - Community Support Future • Accommodation Model • Fighting Ovarian Cancer 2 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2019 WINTER 2019 WITTERING VIEW 3 Editor Welcome to the Winter edition of Foreword the Wittering View. With Autumn now a distant It has been a busy first few memory, and as our thoughts turn months for me. But I wanted to Christmas, we can’t quite believe to start simply by saying thank how quickly this year has gone! you for all the support that RAF Wittering is an incredibly you have given me, as well as to say thank you to all of our busy Station but despite this incredible personnel who have everyone has still found time continued to support both the throughout the year to send in their Station and the A4 (Logistics and articles for which we are grateful. As Engineering) Force Elements. a result, this issue features a good Some of the recent highlights cross-section of the activities taking have included; place here at Wittering. • The Annual Formal Visit by Air From the recent Annual Formal Officer Commanding (AOC) 38 Visit (page 6) and Annual Reception Group, Air Vice-Marshal Simon (page 8) to the various exercises Ellard. The AOC spent 30 hours that Station personnel have been on Station and was able to see involved with (Exercise COBRA the tremendous work that our WARRIOR – page 12 and Exercise personnel from across the Whole JOINT SUPPORTER – page 9), it does Force conduct on a daily basis. seem like the last few months have Our unofficial theme was ‘shine been non-stop. through our people’ and we The work of the Community certainly did! Another fun event took place such as drink driving and Support and AirPlay Teams is in the • We were also able to showcase in Winchester, when the RAF drugs – don’t put your life, the our capabilities to the local Wittering team competed in the lives of others or your career at spotlight on page 18, while Wing dignitaries and civic community Countess of Wessex Cup. They risk for a moment of madness. Commander Debs Wright talks during the Station’s Annual came second to 5 Rifles, and it We must also spare a thought for about why she is working with the Formal Reception. was great that the Countess could those who will be deployed, on charity Target Ovarian Cancer (page • The Battle of Britain was another join us and fantastic that she took essential duty or no longer with 24). Meanwhile nothing quite says special day, where it was great to part in both the shooting and us. They will be missed. Christmas like the smell of home- see our personnel on parade and high ropes. Finally, the sheer volume of made mince pies, so why not try our I was able to personally attend We have also bid farewell awards the Station and Force recipe on page 30. services in both Stamford and to two of our Warrant Officers continue to win says so much On a different note, the Wittering Peterborough, as well as spend who left the RAF during this about our people. We have seen View editorial team is currently some time with some of the period. Both WO Bervoets and our Safety and Assurance Cell win looking for new members to join incredible veterans and air cadets. WO Pinnion have served in excess Air Command’s Total Safety Award us. So, whether you fancy yourself We have also seen some of 30 years in the RAF and it was and we have also won the AirPlay as a writer, turning your hand to incredible opportunities for teams important to take time out and Award, which highlights the Image By Anna Frajtova at Shutterstock.com at Frajtova Anna By Image some editing or helping with the to pull together – one of those say a fond farewell to them both. work of our fantastic Community distribution, then please contact us events was the Peterborough Half We wish them all the very best for Support Team and the wider for some more information. Marathon. More than 30 Station the future. community. The presentation of Finally, the Wittering View team personnel trained for three With plans for Christmas events the Stainforth Trophy - to mark would like to wish all our readers a months for this event, some not already well underway, it looks the exceptional contribution the having even run 5km before. The like we will continue to be busy Station made in 2018 - is a fitting very Merry Christmas and a Happy team spirit was incredible and, for the next few months. I hope way to end the year. The fact New Year! despite the Peterborough event that as many people as possible that these awards cover so many being cancelled at the last minute are able to take some quality time aspects of the Station and Force See you all next year. on the day, many of our off over this festive period, but Element outputs is testimony to Wittering View Editorial Team committed personnel from the please take care. your efforts. team have completed their own It is really important to relax and 13.1 miles to ensure the money enjoy time with family and friends Congratulations to all of you. raised could be retained for the but look after yourself and others View RAF Benevolent Fund. – stop and think about things Winter 2019 Winter WitteringThe official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force Submissions Please direct all submissions for Wittering View Magazine to: The Editor, [email protected] [email protected] Please try to ensure that images are in .jpeg format and as large as possible. Text should be supplied in Microsoft Find us on Facebook Word .doc format or plain text if possible. at Wittering View 1 WINTER 2019 WITTERING VIEW 4 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2019 In the Spotlight • Community Support - Exercise COBRA WARRIOR • Future Accommodation Mode • Fighting Ovarian Cancer Features: Wittering View The official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force 06 12 24 Contents Annual Formal Visit 06 501 Squadron marks 90 years 07 News in Brief 08 The Future Accommodation Model 11 Padre’s Corner 11 Exercise COBRA WARRIOR 12 RAF Video Gaming and Esports Association 13 In the Spotlight... Community 16 Support and Airplay Team Johnnie Johnson Appreciation Society 18 Warrant Officers Retire 20 Join the search, Change a Life 22 Heritage Centre 23 RAF Officer Signs Up to Fight Ovarian Cancer 24 Recycling Cycles 25 Community News 26 Tea Break Time 28 09 In the Hot Seat 30 Editor Distribution Designed By Flt Lt Madi Timlin Morrisons Stamford, Sainsbury's Stamford, Families' Laura Lang [email protected] Shop Wittering, Walkers of Stamford, Stamford coffee shops, Phoenix Shop Wittering, Wittering Advertising Deputy Editor local businesses and amenities. Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Emma Stacey Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL Published By Tel: Jo on 01536 334221 Team Lance Print Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, [email protected] Marissa Russell, SAC Jack Welson, Ed Palmer Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL and SAC Kim Waterson. Tel: 01536 334222 Printing www.lanceprint.co.uk Lance Print Ltd, Email: [email protected] Tel: 01733 390564 WINTER 2019 WITTERING VIEW 5 ANNUAL FORMAL VISIT 501 SQN RAF Wittering’s Annual Formal Visit Every year the Air Officer Commanding No 38 Group and Chief of Staff for Support makes a formal visit to RAF Wittering to engage with personnel and understand the roles they play in delivering Defence outputs. Visiting 42 Wing. It is an opportunity to discuss awarded to the Station for being matters of the moment that the most effective in the delivery may be affecting how RAF of support to operations, the Wittering personnel work, and development of its people and its to discuss some of the ideas readiness to respond and adapt. that have been developed Furthermore, Wittering also won and implemented within their both the Airplay Team of the Year working environment. and the RAF Total Safety Trophy Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) for 2019. Simon Ellard is the Air Officer The final day of the visit Commanding No 38 Group and started with the Warrant Officers’ he was joined by his Command breakfast and group discussion. Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer AVM Ellard then hosted a Stu Pullar, and his Deputy Town Hall where he provided Personal Staff Officer, Pilot Officer the audience with a precis on Kate Manley-Soanes, for this year’s his areas of responsibility and Annual Formal Visit which took an update on the RAF Senior place in October. Leadership Team’s strategy for AVM Ellard and his team met delivering the Next Generation AVM Ellard at the Town Hall. many station personnel including RAF, before inviting questions RAF Regulars and Reserves, from the packed audience. members of the Civil Service, The AVM then concluded his Contractors and Army personnel Annual Formal Visit with a tour lodging at RAF Wittering. of the Station community and On the first day the AVM toured welfare facilities, to see what RAF the working environments of the Wittering provides to its workforce RAF Wittering A4 Force Elements and their families, and then to the and the Station’s Operations Wing. RAF Wittering Reserves Squadron. He was then prepared lunch by RAF Wittering’s Station members of 3 Mobile Catering Commander and the A4 Force Squadron to demonstrate the Elements Commander outstanding food they can Jo Lincoln said: prepare in the field.