TITLE OF ARTICLE SECTION HEADING Winter 2017 Winter WitteringThe official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force View Features: Op RUMAN • STEM • Honours and Awards • Challenge Cup • ColourWINTER Chaos 2016 WITTERING For Charity VIEW 1 SECTION HEADING TITLE OF ARTICLE Foreword As the nights draw in and the last few year, the most obvious of which is Remembrance Day, as we wear leaves fall from the many trees around RAF our poppies with pride and give thanks to those that fought in Wittering, we can gain some warmth in two World Wars. reflecting on a remarkable last few months. But we mustn’t forget the Editor veterans from more recent Individual success came for peak had around 50 personnel campaigns, be that the Cold War, Another year has gone by in a SAC Matty Smith in the RAF deployed across the Caribbean Iraq or Afghanistan, or indeed flash as I see my second Winter Photographic Competition, – it was a classic example of the those serving today in need Edition of the Wittering View swiftly followed by the A4 Force responding to a call of help and support. The RAF go to print, the final edition collective success of our Regular for help. A fantastic job from Benevolent Fund and Royal Air for 2017. and Reserve Chefs in Exercise all on 1AMW, together with Force’s Association are at the It has been business as usual JOINT CATERER, showing the 4624 RAuxAF Sqn who were forefront of supporting the RAF for RAF Wittering personnel. The Royal Navy and the Army that swift to backfill at Brize Norton, family in its broadest sense, and Annual Formal Reception on the RAF are the best magicians and the many staff in the Force both enjoy excellent support page 16 provided an excellent in the kitchen. Personal Headquarters working hard in from Station personnel and engagement opportunity to success came for many at the the background to reposition the their families. thank our neighbours for their Peterborough Great Eastern A4 Force to a heightened state And on that note I would continued support. With various Run, and the Station again of readiness – a big thank you like to wish everyone and their sporting events such as the reached out to its neighbours: to all involved. There are other families a very Merry Christmas Peterborough Great Eastern parading in Stamford, working reasons to reflect at this time of and a Happy New Year. Run on page 19 and the Station on community projects, Football Teams competing in the inspiring the next generation Manchester Festival of Football through STEM and recruitment on page 8, there is bound to challenges, and keeping local be something to whet your horse riders safe through an sporting appetite. It is with excellent safety campaign. sadness that we bode farewell On top of all of that our to WO Mark Thorogood after 38 resident flying squadrons years RAF service - see page 19. continued to graduate student May I take this opportunity pilots and qualified flying to wish all of our readers a very instructors, while the A4 Force Merry Christmas and a very was again at the forefront of Happy New Year. I look forward operations and major exercises. to bringing you the spring Operation RUMAN, the edition (my last before I am UK’s military response to the posted) in the New Year. humanitarian disaster in the Flt Lt Sarah James Caribbean was a notable success, especially for 1 Air Mobility Wing (1AMW), commanded by RAF Wittering but based at RAF Brize Norton. 1AMW mobilised within 24 hours and at the Operation’s Group Captain Keeling. 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. Find us on Facebook Text should be supplied in Microsoft Word .doc format or plain text if possible. at Wittering View 4 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2016 4 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2017 TITLE OF ARTICLE SECTION HEADING Wittering View The official magazine for RAF Wittering and the A4 Force 08 28 19 Battle of Britain Parade 06 News In Brief 08 Padre’s Corner 11 Great Eastern Run 12 20 In The Spotlight… New Station Gym 13 Annual Formal Reception 16 Ex JOINT CATERER 17 Life-Saving SAC 18 PUFC Boot Camp 18 Colour Chaos Run 19 OP RumaN 20 Challenge Cup 24 Honours And Awards 25 STEM At Wittering 25 16 (R) Sqn NFL And Skiing 26 3MCS - Exercise MAGIC CARPET 28 Community News 30 HIVE Info 31 What A Year… RAF Benevolent Fund 32 Tea Break Time 34 In The Hot Seat 36 Editor Distribution Designed By Flt Lt Sarah James Ext. 7478 Morrisons Stamford, Sainsburys Stamford, Families Amanda Robinson [email protected] Spar Shop Wittering, Walkers of Stamford, Stamford coffee shops, Phoenix Shop Wittering, Wittering Advertising Deputy Editor local businesses and amenities. Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Emma Stacey Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL Published By Tel: Tammie on 01536 526667 Team Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Tailby House, [email protected] Marissa Russell, Cpl Paul Robertshaw, Ed Palmer Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL and SAC Matty Smith. Tel: 01536 512624, Fax: 01536 515481 Printing www.lancepublishing.co.uk Lance Print Ltd, Email: [email protected] Tel: 01733 390564 WINTER 2016 WITTERING VIEW 5 WINTER 2017 WITTERING VIEW 5 FEATURE BattLE OF Britain ParaDE Battle of Britain Parade Stamford residents turned out with RAF Wittering personnel to mark the annual commemoration of the Battle of Britain. The congregation in full voice RAF Wittering’s new Station were not alone in those days. People inside All Saints Church, Stamford. Commander and Station Chaplain were on our side, so we’re saying joined the people of Stamford thank you for that too.” for the commemorative Battle of The service took place at All Britain service and parade. Saints Church and was led by Stamford residents turned out Reverend Squadron Leader Shaw with RAF Wittering personnel to and the Very Reverend Mark Warrick. mark the annual commemoration Stamford Mayor, Coun Anthony of the Battle of Britain. Fought in the J. Story, Stamford councillors and skies over Britain over 70 years ago, it council officials from Lincolnshire remains the defining engagement in and Peterborough joined townsfolk the Royal Air Force’s near 100 at the memorial outside Browne’s year history. Hospital on Broad Street to watch The service and parade was the military drill and the laying the first for Group Captain Tony of wreaths. Keeling since taking over as Station Councillor Story said: “I am Commander in June. It was also a honoured to represent the citizens first for Reverend Squadron Leader of Stamford. Back in 1940 the people Stewart Shaw, who also came to RAF of Stamford would have seen aircraft Squadron Leader Stewart Wittering as Padre recently. leaving RAF Wittering, knowing the Shaw addressing the Group Captain Keeling said: pilots were on the way to engage congregation in “We are here to remember The Few, the enemy. All Saints Church. those who gave their lives during That experience gets passed on the Battle of Britain. For serving from generation to generation, so it’s RAF personnel and veterans today no surprise to me that Stamford is resonates very deeply, but it is still very proud of its association with important to remember that we the Royal Air Force.” Group Captain Tony Keeling and the Stamford Mayor taking the Salute as the parade marches past. 6 WITTERING VIEW WINTER 2017 NEWS IN BRIEF News In Brief Stamford Mayor was Former Station Photographer The Mayor of Stamford was what the Royal Air Force is and reunited with his old station what it does for us.” when Town Councillors and RAF Wittering’s history guests visited the Heritage is recorded in the Station’s Centre at RAF Wittering. Heritage Centre. In addition to These days Coun Anthony Coun Story, other RAF veterans J. Story is the Mayor of Stamford in the group included Coun but, not so many years ago, Harrish Bisnauthsing, who spent he was Sergeant Story of RAF 12 years working on radars and Wittering’s photographic section. computers, as well as two former He said: “I love it! It’s wonderful RAF photographers Mick Steel to be back at Wittering again and Don Lambert. and you never forget it. It’s very important for me that the Stamford Town Council paid a people of Stamford understand visit to RAF Wittering. RAF Festival of Football RAF Wittering FC entered two The game against RAF Benson teams into the RAF Festival of went to a penalty shootout, but Football Tournament held in unfortunately they were knocked Manchester in October. This out of the plate. prestigious annual tournament Wittering A Team were affords RAF Stations the chance victorious against RAF Marham to compete against each other and Waddington. A guest civilian in a 5-aside format. team from Leonardo Plc stood in RAF Wittering A was drawn the way of them being crowned in Group A and took on RAF champions. Unfortunately, they Aldergrove in their first fixture, couldn’t overcome them and winning 4-1. Further victories finished as runners-up. Wittering ensured they achieved top A were excellent, although position in Group A. defeated in the final, they came RAF Wittering B was drawn in home with the consolation of a difficult Group B and could only being the best RAF team at the qualify for the Plate competition.