The Aldwark Chronicle Newsletter of the Royal Air Forces Association - York Branch Branch Headquarters 3-5 Aldwark, York YO1 2BX Tel:01904 652796 [email protected] Issue No. 62 Dec 2017 RAFA RAF Linton-on-Ouse Visit Photo: RAF Copyright Club opening hours: Thurs - 7:30pm to 10:30 pm; Sat - 11:30am to 3pm Our Website is at: www.rafayork.org Membership: 473 York Branch & Club Official Appointments for 2017 - 2018 President: Mr J J Mawson President Emeritus: Air Commodore W G Gambold DL FCMI RAF (Ret) Life Vice President: Mr H R Kidd OBE Vice Presidents: Mr R M Mathieson Mr J Allison BEM Ms S Richmond, Chairman: Mr B R Mennell [email protected] Vice Chairman: Mr Richard Gray [email protected] Hon Sec & N Area Delegate: Mrs M Barter [email protected] Hon Treasurer: Mr D Pollard Dep Treasurer Mr A Ramsbottom [email protected] Welfare Officer: Mrs C Hanson [email protected] Dep Welfare Officer: Mrs G Woodhall Wings Organisers: Mrs M Smith & Mr I Smith [email protected] Branch Standard Bearer: Mr G Murden Dep Standard Bearer: Mr I Smith Bar Officer: Mr R Gray Ass’t Bar Officer: Mr G Murden Social/Fundraising: Mrs G McCarthy. Public Relations/Press Officer: Mr A Bryne Buildings Officer: Mr J Forrester Membership Secretary: Mrs K Allison Newsletter Editor Mr D Taylor [email protected] Please address all general enquiries to the Hon Secretary CHAIRMAN’S RAMBLINGS As Christmas approaches it is well worth looking back on our last RAFA Year - and what a year it has been. Thanks to the organisational skills of Maureen and Ian Smith and the support of members collecting on the street and in stores the branch has raised £10,840. 68 for this year’s Wings Appeal. An excellent result, of which not only Maureen and Ian can be extremely proud, but so can all our branch members as we once again achieve the £10,000 Merit Certificate. Not just that, our membership has been on the march and we can now boast some 473 members making us the largest branch in the Northern Area. Not just new members joining though; many new members have wanted to get involved in all aspects of the branch, and have got straight on with it. The current committee are excellent - one and all. Using common sense and a good degree of business acumen we have developed an excellent working relationship in how the branch is managed. Success breeds success and we have been extremely lucky to receive three fantastic bequests to the branch over the last couple of years - from our sadly departed members Joan Robinson, Irvin Machin, and Robert Wharton. These legacies have allowed us to update our fund raising marquee and move directly into updating our ancient HQ. We have already installed full electric central heating, special ventilation and an update to the audio visual system in the bar. The kitchen is in the process of an update complete with new sinks, worktops, two new cookers and a dish washer allowing our Dining in Nights and Saturday feeding frenzies to continue apace. Further, we have installed a controlled water heater on the top floor which will feed hot water on demand to the toilet sinks, the bar and kitchen sinks meaning we can remove all the single water heaters. Finally we will insulate the loft for the first time in its history. Unfortunately we uncovered a couple of problems in the roof void which we are having investigated with a view to sorting them out. That has started recently with a new access door in the roof. At this time it is important to pick out one person who has worked tirelessly on the building for the last two or three years, Dick Gray; but of late his work levels have been awesome saving us vast amounts of money we would have spent on contracted labour. Many “Thank You”’s indeed Dick. Others who have worked exceptionally hard this year are Catherine on welfare - nothing misses her gaze, and Gillian on social activities. John Forrester has also put on some good film and quiz shows with the new audio-visual equipment. Kath has worked on the membership, and newly co-opted to the committee Andy Bryne is working hard on furthering our media output. Lots of work has gone into the bar with manager Dick Gray, ably supported by Gordon Murdon, organising new better value stock and fiscal controls. Last but by no means least our stalwarts, Secretary, Maureen, Treasurer, David, and President, John Mawson have worked tirelessly and fully supported me in every way throughout the year with much appreciated help, advice, and guidance. There are still many things we need to do. I hope this committee will continue for some time. I have enjoyed leading the team and I hope to do so again at the next AGM. In the meantime Dorothy and I wish you and your families a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year and indeed may 2018 be an even better year for the Branch. ** JOAN AND PAUL ROBINSON Joan and Paul Robinson both served the Second World War, Paul in the RAF as a Wop/Air Gunner in Costal Command, Joan in the WAAF. Paul’s aircraft was attacked and exploded over the North Sea. The crew found themselves in the water, but their dingy was close by, and soon occupied. Voices were heard, but turned out to be those of a German boat. Taken prisoner, Paul served some three and a half years in prison camp, to be repatriated at war’s end. Paul was demobilised as a Warrant Officer in 1945. In his new civilian life, Paul become a representative for the company of Procter and Gamble. Joan, maiden name Almond, served in the WAAF secretarial Branch, and after the war, became a medical secretary. Both joined the York Branch RAFA, who first met in rooms above public houses. They assisted in the formation of the Flying Services Club, in Coney Street, and when that lease terminated, helped in the search for the Branch’s permanent home. Joan and Paul, members of the Entertainment Committee, sought a venue for holding a Saturday evening dance. Paul booked the York Assembly Rooms for a date from the City Council. The booking included provision of bar facilities, and a suitable band was engaged. The evening was a 'sell out', so Paul booked each Saturday evening for the rest of the year. It was these bookings that provided some of the funding that was to allow the Branch to establish their own building, in Aldwark. Unfortunately, other organisations soon 'cottoned on' to the idea, and future bookings were allocated to the many. Paul was Chairman of the York Branch in 1957. Joan and Paul met at York Branch, and married. They had two children, Michael, unfortunately an invalid, and Judith, who became a district nurse. Paul, unfortunately suffered from kidney failure, and later, cancer. He passed away in 1990. Joan remained a member of the Branch, but suffered from failing eyesight. She became an active member of the organisation for the Partly Sighted. Joan passed away in October, 2017. Older members of the Branch may remember both of these respected members. Their lasting devotion and loyalty towards York Branch RAFA will be seen over the next few months, a result of their kind legacy, left in order that we may continue to maintain our Branch in the future years. John Mawson Joan & Paul Robinson WINGS REVIEW FOR 2015 TO 2017 At The May 2015 RAFA York Committee Meeting, Maureen was appointed as Wings Appeal Organiser (WAO). Three months later Ian was appointed as her assistant. Having had very little experience of Fund Raising, apart from “manning” Poppy Stalls at Remembrance Time, it was a steep learning curve. Grateful thanks are due to the Chairman at the time, Dick Gray; his help and advice was invaluable. The total raised in 2015 was £9,888.46, having just failed to reach the Magic £10K. 2016 saw us get off to a flying start, and with increased “In Store” collection and the placing of Collecting Tins in various premises saw us raise an amazing £10,749.06. So on to this year, 2017. Having built up a pool of regular volunteers and learnt from our experiences, at the time of writing we have once again exceeded £10K. The figure reported was £10,840.68p. A breakdown shows that: In Store Collections raised £6,209. Collection Tins raised £2,513. City Centre raised £1,630. Donations/Raffle raised £400. We would like to thank everyone who has helped, and would ask that anyone who would like to give us an hour or two of their time, please contact: Maureen or Ian Smith on 01904 424972 (A short piece that says a lot. Thank you Maureen and Ian. Ed) York Branch RAFA Linton-on-Ouse Visit Ten members gathered at RAF Linton-on-Ouse guardroom at 10:00hrs on August 10th for a guided tour of the camp and facilities, and what a day it turned out to be, from an overcast start the weather forecast was spot on, for very soon warm sunshine was 4 what greeted us, along with a warm welcome. Our first port of call was for a brief briefing by John Allison in the Maple Leaf Café. From here it was on to Air Traffic Control, and with the tower located at the far end of the airfield, a minibus had thoughtfully been laid on.