Inside this Issue: Rainbows rated Outstanding • Welcome 207 Squadron Issue 4 2019 £Free The official publication of Royal Air Force Marham FREEDOM OF KING’S LYNN PARADE www.marhammattersonline.co.uk MARHAM MATTERS Stunning homes, inside and out at ARATED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HIGH SPECIFICATION AS STANDARD Plot 65 – Topaz 69.8m² Plot 22 – Harmony 88.4m2 Plot 7 – Sylva 92.9m2 An end terraced 2 bedroom home A semi-detached 3 bedroom home A detached 3 bedroom home with single garage – £180,000 with single garage – £240,000 with single garage – £260,000 INCLUDED IN THE COST OF YOUR HOME: Fibre broadband Fully-integrated A-rated Money-saving solar PV direct to your home kitchen appliances tted to every home High performance Remote electric garage doors All rooms tted with triple-glazed windows and o -street parking quality oor coverings Spacious 2, 3 and 4 bedroom new houses and bungalows in the charming market town of Watton Showhouse open Thursday-Monday 10am-4pm Please call 01953 884486 or visit abelhomes.co.uk for more information about our speci cation External images are computer generated and for illustrative purposes only. Kitchen from showhouse at Hare’s Green. 12768-0819-8 2 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 4 2019 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ MARHAM MATTERS Contemporary and spacious energy e cient new homes designed for modern living Phase 3 of this popular development providing A-Rated for energy e ciency 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes and bungalows in the attractive town of Swa ham 2 2 Columbus: Plot 165 Admiral: Plot 226 4-BED 4-BED 1,815ft Detached open-plan four 1,749ft Detached open-plan four bedroom home with bedroom home with en-suite, utility room en-suite, utility room and a double garage and a double garage £380,000 £375,000 INCLUDED IN Fully-integrated A-rated High performance Money-saving solar PV THE COST OF kitchen appliances triple-glazed windows tted to every home YOUR HOME: Fibre broadband Remote electric garages All rooms tted with direct to your home and o -street parking quality oor coverings Marketing suite and showhouse open Thurs – Mon, 10am – 4pm Call 01953 884486 to nd out more or visit abelhomes.co.uk for further information and detailed oorplans External images are computer generated and for illustrative purposes only. 12768-0819-9 www.marhammattersonline.co.uk ISSUE 4 2019 MARHAM MATTERS 3 MARHAM MATTERS EDITOR: Diane Wilson Ext: 6739 Email: diane.wilson704@ mod.gov.uk 13 RAF MARHAM WEB PAGE: www.raf.mod.uk/rafmarham DESIGNER: Laura Lang Email: laura@ lanceprint.co.uk SALES MANAGER: Jayne Bailey Tel: (01536) 334219 Email: jayne@ lanceprint.co.uk PRINTER: Lance Print Ltd Tel: (01733) 390564 COVER IMAGE: Cover Image by Sgt Steve Buckley 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 19 not reflect Station policy. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform REGULARS Duathlon 2019 Rainbows to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by kind permission of Station Commander's Foreword ........................................................... 09 ............................................................ 18 the Station Commander. All Images © Crown Copyright 2019, unless otherwise stated. ........................................................... 05 207 SQN Co-Response STOCKISTS: Community Support ............................................................ 10 ........................................................... 21 The Surgery, Marham, Manor Farm Medical Centre, Swaffham, Plowright Medical Centre, ........................................................... 22 Sqn Ldr Frederick Larry Larard The Name behind the Tankard Swaffham, The Surgery, Swaffham, Howdale Surgery, Downham Market, Hollies Veterinary Heavens Above ............................................................ 10 ........................................................... 26 Clinic, Downham Market, The Crossings Veterinary Clinic, Downham Market, The Grove Veterinary ........................................................... 22 3 FP WG Royal Norfolk Show 2019 Surgery, Swaffham, Priory Centre, Downham Market, Lynn News, King’s Lynn, St Martin’s at NEWS ............................................................ 12 ........................................................... 27 Shouldham VA Primary School, Marham Infant School, Marham Junior School, Downham Allotments F-35 Families Day Market Academy, Nicholas Hammond Academy, Swaffham, Town Halls in Downham Market, ........................................................... 07 ............................................................ 13 ........................................................... 30 Kings Lynn and Swaffham, BAE, Warton, Armed Forces Careers Office in Norwich, Cambridge Athletic Association Championship Dambusters Restoring a RAF Icon and Peterborough, Royal Air Force Association in Downham Market, Downham Market Air Cadets, ............................................................08 ............................................................ 16 ........................................................... 31 All other RAF bases. 4 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 4 2019 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ MARHAM MATTERS Station Commander’s Foreword Firstly, a huge thank you from Amy and I for making us feel so welcome. We have spent the last 20 years bouncing from Marham to other parts the World, but each time we come back 27 there is a familiar feel about the Station that is indicative of a unit with strong community spirit. Infrastructure From the moment you drive through the gates, the affect that Lightning has had on the Station is remarkable: huge infrastructure People changes, an Integrated Training The coming months will see Centre that can educate all trades Marham’s aircraft support the in F-35 operations, and a Lighting first Operational Test period Operations Centre that blends a on the Queen Elizabeth, 617 multifaceted team of engineers Squadron will detach to the US from all across defence. We to exercise with the World’s best should be incredibly proud of at RED FLAG, and the new pilots what we are now a part of, and on 207 Squadron will complete everyone across the Station has their first formal period Carrier an intrinsic role to play in the Qualification early next year. It is successful growth of the Force. an incredibly exciting time with However, it is equally apparent a long list of ‘firsts’ for the UK, that there are a unique set of but it is also a very busy time. As challenges associated with the such, please continue with the original infrastructure of the ‘people first’ approach that has Station. I have been massively so successfully transitioned the impressed with the ‘can do’ new F-35 cadre into Marham From the Editor attitude of everyone whom I have and ensure that we do not break met, and the employment of each other as growing forces innovative solutions improves our always have an inherent fragility. Since the last edition Gp RAF Marham has also been day-to-day working environment Capt Jim Beck has taken featuring in a three-part - this approach is something very Marham matters – you matter. over Command of RAF documentary on ITV called important to me and I intend to Marham from Gp Capt Fighter Pilot: The Real Top champion it on your behalf. Jim Cab Townsend. We would Gun. If you didn’t see them like to wish Cab and the when they were aired you Townsend family all the can catch up using ITV Hub. very best for the future. I hope most of you managed You may have seen the to have a bit of a break with most recent RAF your families this summer. recruitment advert on TV, The Community Support what you may not know team put on some great is that the majority of events for the families this the scenes were filmed year, to keep up with the at RAF Marham. Look upcoming events join their closely the next time Facebook group Marham you see it, you may just Community Support. recognise some places. Deadline for Next Issue: 10th September 2019 Please submit all entries for the next issue by the date stated above www.marhammattersonline.co.uk ISSUE 4 2019 MARHAM MATTERS 5 MARHAM MATTERS Vaccination offers! £15 for a booster £30 for a full course Offer valid from October to December 2019 01553 773168 • londonroadvets.co.uk • 01366 386655 DOWNHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL A co-educational, non-selective, independent day school for pupils aged 3 months to 13 years. SCHOLARSHIPS WE ARE NOW INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ENTRY INTO YRS 4 - 7 FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO APPLY PLEASE CONTACT 01366 388066 www.downhamprep.co.uk THE OLD RECTORY, STOW BARDOLPH, NORFOLK, PE34 3HT 6 MARHAM MATTERS ISSUE 4 2019 ‘Deliver Battle Winning Air Power for Current and Future Operations’ RAF MARHAM ALLOTMENTS MARHAM MATTERS RAF MARHAM ALLOTMENTS In late spring 2018 I conducted a handover from the OIC, Flt Lt During the winter of 2017 I became a Cel Hughes, who was due to be posted to RAF Valley in the member of the RAF Marham summer. During his tenure as OIC, Cel had invested personal time to Allotment and Gardens Club and the allotment and was responsible for ensuring the club evolved and received a small plot to occupy progressed; something that had not occurred prior to his time in my time over the winter months. charge. By the time I had officially taken on the role there was a new shed, poly tunnel