The Magazine of RAF High Wycombe Autumn 2017 Winter ......looking after others, as there simply...

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2015 Wycombe

World

The Magazine of RAF High Wycombe Autumn 2017

A N N U A L R E C E P T I O N | E X B O N A PA R T E | R E D B U L L S O A P B O X R A C E | E U R O P E A N A I R G R O U P

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OIC: Plt Off Adam South Ext 6748Editor: Sophie Sheldon Ext 5414Deputy Editor: WO Claire Old Ext 5251Distribution: Sgt Steve Monks Ext 4172Mailbox: [email protected]

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ForewordStation Commander’s

Group Captain Rob Woods OBE MA BEng (Hons) RAF

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2015 Wycombe

World

The Magazine of RAF High Wycombe Autumn 2017

A N N U A L R E C E P T I O N | E X B O N A PA R T E | R E D B U L L S O A P B O X R A C E | E U R O P E A N A I R G R O U P

WelcomeEditor’sAll articles for the WINTER ISSUE 2017 Edition to be sent to the Editor no later than 23rd October 2017 to HWY-Editor WycombeWorld. Please send files as word documents with separate photos in the Jpeg format with highest possible quality to [email protected].

WW: 4WYCOMBE WORLD AUTUMN 2017

Welcome to the Autumn Edition of Wycombe World, which

showcases the rich variety of

activities that members of our Station community have been involved in over recent months.

The articles featured here allow us to appreciate the diverse opportunities for learning and development that we have open to us- ranging from volunteering our time, energy and skills; understanding our place in history; and inspiring others in the most challenging,

innovative and creative ways.I would like to welcome Plt Off Adam South to the Team as the new OIC of Wycombe World. Thank you to the outgoing OIC, Fg Off James Palfrey, for his support and guidance on every edition, and to Padre Mike Hall, who is also leaving us, for his invaluable contributions. We wish them well in their future posts.

Sophie Sheldon

In the six months that I have been in command of RAF High Wycombe, I have had

the opportunity to assess just how diverse the activities of this unit are, both internally (on the Station and across the HQ) and externally (in the local community as well as operationally). I have been extremely impressed with what I have seen and taken part in, and I am confident that our hard-earned reputation is in very safe hands. This edition of Wycombe World rightly focuses on some of these achievements.Reflecting on this assessment, I have been able to resolve what my priorities should be going forward. They are most easily captured by just three words: Ready, Balanced, Smarter. Gates closing and facilities going into lockdown were just a few of the necessary steps taken to ensure safety during an exercise here recently. Exercises with a variety of scenarios are regularly carried out in order to test capabilities in a realistic situation, as well as testing the response

of others. We practise these scenarios to ensure our training is up to date, test our response procedures, and to ensure that we have the appropriate facilities and supplies needed to support the situation. All in all, it means that we are ‘ready’ to respond confidently and successfully. This culture of preparedness will continue and expand under my tenure so that we can play our full part in fulfilling the RAF’s mission.

As the summer holidays fade behind us, I hope you all have had the chance to take some downtime with your family and recharge your batteries. It is important that we all do at regular intervals. Many believe that you can either have a balanced life at home or you can be highly productive at work, but you can’t do both. I disagree. Life is dynamic and we need to create the capacity to balance, day in, day out. Work, family, health and well-being, are all vital and interconnected parts and all of them must be sustained. Living a ‘balanced’ existence is crucial to ensure that we can grow capacity and resilience and be ready to surge when necessary. Working with other agencies, I am determined to do everything I can to help ensure that personnel are able to achieve such balance through the provision of mental, physical, welfare and moral support.

Thirdly, we must aspire to be ‘smarter’. Delivering our part in the next generation Royal Air Force means we need to innovate and draw upon our collective skills, experience and ideas. Not every problem you face requires millions of pounds or takes a year or more to fix. Some things have simple solutions and may just require some self-help, some innovation or a little sponsorship from above. Many of you have already told me “the one thing you should fix is…” as well as your solution. Of course, there are also some perennial problems out there and I’ll be seeking your support in a different way to consider how we address a few of these too.

I have one final important message and that is to encourage you to think about the RAF Centenary next year. We are asking you to play a vital role both in contributing to RAF100 events and in acting as RAF100 ambassadors to the rest of our nation. By ‘you’ we mean the entire RAF Family: serving regulars and reservists; veterans; Air Cadets; RAF charities; business or industry partners; or indeed anyone associated with the RAF. I strongly encourage you to find out how you can be part of what is sure to be an incredible opportunity to Commemorate, Celebrate and Inspire.

Enjoy this edition of Wycombe World.

The views expressed by the contributors to the Wycombe World are not necessarily those of the Editor, MoD, RAF or the publishers and do not reflect Station policy. All precautions are taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by kind permission of the Station Commander.

Contents Autumn 2017

6 Padre’s Pause

10 Ex Bonaparte

14 Annual Reception

15 Station Charities Committee

16 European Air Group

17 Force Development Day to Battle of Britain Bunker

18 First Aid at Work Training

20 The Command Performers’ Awards

20 Ladies’ Choir

21 Music Festival

26 Charity Cake Sale

28 Red Bull Soapbox Race

30 Bucks Broncos RFC

35 CO’s Cup Sports Day

36 Girls on a Mission

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Padre’s Pause

Hopefully, we have all had the opportunity to enjoy a rest and a break away from the usual routine during the summer months, but how would you feel if you couldn’t have a summer holiday (no matter how short) because you were the carer for someone else? This is often the case for those looking after others, as there simply isn’t anyone else to help with the routines of caring for a loved one. Sometimes, alternative care arrangements are too expensive and therefore not possible when

working to tight budgets. Spare a thought for those who are in this situation and ask whether there is anything you can do to help.

For those who are carers, there is a Carers’ Group which meets regularly to support, listen and offer any practical assistance possible to those who are responsible for the care of a family member or friend. Details of the dates, times and venue are on Announcements.

Padre Mike

The HIVE Information Officer, Tracey Clarke, and the Station Community Development Officer, Dani Bowman, have moved!

The HIVE is now based in the former Youth Centre on 3 Site, and the Youth Centre is now in the former HIVE office on the other side of the Oakeshott Centre on 3 Site. This part of the building used to accommodate the HIVE a number of years ago before being relocated to another part of the building,

but with a lick of paint, new carpets and furniture, the HIVE and CDO have a new (if not totally unfamiliar) home. Please drop in to see the team – you’ll be assured of a warm welcome.

The Oakeshott Training Room 2 is now a Welfare Lounge, and is available for small groups to meet for informal gatherings and forums. It can be reserved through the Chaplaincy on 3 Site.

Padre Mike

Say hello, wave goodbye…

Hellos and goodbyes are part of everyday life and as we grow older, we get used to the regular rhythm of welcoming new people into our lives and similarly letting people move on to new circumstances. In the military and especially the RAF (I suggest), we come to terms with this change in life with an ever-increasing frequency. Every few years, military personnel and their families are required to move homes, jobs, schools, away from friendship networks, colleagues and areas of life that are of interest. This brings with it its own set of challenges and demands, some we welcome, others we struggle with. Each person and family have their own way of dealing with this and one way is not necessarily better than another. No-one wants to see individuals struggle with change, so it is a privilege for the team in Community Support to help people through whatever ‘change’ might mean for them. If you notice someone not coping, please refer them to the agencies on unit established to support personnel and their loved ones. If that person is you, then please come and find us in the Integrated Welfare Facility on 3 Site.

With this said, it is time for me to say goodbye to RAF High Wycombe and Air Command as I prepare for deployment and a posting in 2018 to RAF Halton. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of High Wycombe for their friendship, support and assistance in the 2½ years that I have been here. Whether uniformed personnel,

civil servants, contractors or members of the local community, we have enjoyed some good times together and I hope that the wider RAF community is the richer for those experiences. At the risk of missing someone out, I would like to highlight the work that has been done through the Welfare Team and Community Support Team on 3 Site and at Air Command, the Airplay – Youth Service and the partnership with the Air Cadet Organisation – most notably 332 Squadron at High Wycombe and 606 Squadron at Beaconsfield. These teams in their different ways have focused on the needs of Service Personnel and their families, and have brought the best out of them even in difficult situations. Amid the vast amount of our work which is sometimes impersonal, the energy and enthusiasm of these dedicated teams directed to helping others is something to be noted and commended. It has been a privilege to be part of this work for a short space of time. I wish you all well for the future and look forward to reading about the work of High Wycombe in future editions of Wycombe World. I leave you in the capable hands of Padre Kevin Capelin-Jones who has joined High Wycombe from RAF Benson.

Padre Mike Hall.

Caring 24/7

All Change in the HIVE

HIVE CDO

WYCOMBE WORLD AUTUMN 2017

The stunning French/Italian Riviera as seen from 2000’

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Most RAF Flying Clubs Association (RAFFCA) sorties tend to be flown

from A to A, generally operating within 20 miles of home-plate. But there’s a big wide world out there, where the terrain, weather, language and challenges all differ from what a high percentage of our members are used to. The Halton Aero Club (HAC) has run an annual flying Exped since the RAFFCA Berlin trip in 2006. Destinations have included: Highlands and Islands; Ireland; Peenemunde; Dachau and the Alps; and this year, the island of Elba in the Ligurian sea (off the West Coast of Italy). This article gives a (very) small insight into the 5-month planning and preparation cycle and its expected 7-day execution…

Prior planning and preparation prevents persistently poor performance (or something like that). And the requirement to safely conduct an Exped for 16 club pilots with vastly different levels of experience, age and ability, flying aircraft of equally different levels of performance, bears witness to this. Our plan for this Exped actually started in 2005, when I failed to get to Malta in the very first RAFFCA Exped – not listed above, as it was attended by just two aircraft (my Grumman

AA1 and a C-172 from Wyton) who did not speak to each other before, during or after the event! Not really an Exped, more two separate flights… My AA1 had a bigger retrofitted engine, but no increase in fuel capacity, so was desperately limited in endurance. This resulted in us getting stuck at Elba, when the only airfields down-track within range refused entry due to ‘no fuel for visitors’. Despite the ‘Ciao!’ every cloud turned out to have a silver lining, and the day off nursing my bruised ego whilst sitting on the beach sipping local beer got me thinking about a follow-up plan for the future.

Precisely 10 years and 6 months later, we had decided to float the idea of the longest and most ambitious Exped to the HAC membership. Although we had grown the event over the years – it was usually around five days and 1,800nm – perhaps this 7-day 2,200nm extravaganza would be a step too far? The result caught us by surprise and was a total oversubscription. So, in January 2017, the real planning phase had started. The only way to make such an event work is to delegate – this also satisfies one of the major requirements of an Exped in that everyone learns something new at all stages – whether through leading on a topic by research, or

through someone else’s briefings. In all, there were 30 research topics and duties allocated including: FSO; European airspace; airfield liaison; Admin Order; Risk Assessment and daily Emergency of the Day briefings. And of course, all domestics were allocated from sourcing the accommodation to booking of taxis. The five planning meetings were roughly monthly and focused upon:

1st Meeting: Overview, planning assumptions and crewing/aircraft preferences.2nd Meeting: Duties requirements and allocation, crew list and initial outline of route.3rd Meeting: European planning considerations, airfields brief, and route study.4th Meeting: Ditching, survival, risk assessment, accident sequence/mitigation, and chart inspection. Pre-departure day: Allocation of FLARM/survival equipment/PLBs, final preparation and ‘take ownership’ of aircraft.With this cycle of events, the team of 16 were ready to depart around 40 hours of prep, better educated than before and enriched by the experience before even calling ‘Clear Prop!’ on Day One. So, there we were on the morning of departure with everything

under control and in place… but there was one thing we forgot to book – the weather! From the very beginning we were behind, with nature’s input changing our schedule as follows:

Day 1 Plan: Halton-Jersey-Chateroux. Day 1 Reality: Poor weather in the Western Channel resulted in a re-plan to Le Touquet followed by four hours on the ground, before attempting to launch to Chateroux. This was aborted due to 800’ cloudbase and drizzle, so night one was spent in Le Touquet!

Day 2 Plan: Chateroux-Valence-Cannes. Day 2 Reality: A good weather day that meant the reality matched the plan with an extra 1hr 50m sortie, launching at 0750hrs (L) from Le Touquet. This was a hugely successful day flying from the North to South coast of France in a day. Morale was high!

Day 3 Plan and Reality: Cannes-Pavullo or Genoa-Elba. Finally the only flying day where everything went to plan. The options for the lunch stop were due to some opting not to land at the mountain airfield of Pavullo, but at the end of the day we were all in the right place and ready for a meal on the beach.

Ex BonaparteThe Halton Aero Club Expedition to Elba

Strong winds in Elba forced an extra day on the ground and the aircraft to be securely tied down

‘When I nod my head, you hit it...’

WYCOMBE WORLD AUTUMN 2017 WW: 11

Day 4 Plan and Reality: Force Development Day. A trip into Portoferraio to visit the Napoleonic sites and enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard. But something wasn’t quite right… During the night, the pine trees throughout our hotel complex had shed tonnes of needles which covered the resort like brown snow. The Scirocco had arrived unannounced from the Sahara and the wind was gusting to 40kts! The day went ahead as planned, but started with a trip to the Airfield to check the aircraft and their tie-downs – all was well.

Day 5 Plan: Elba-Cannes-Grenoble Le Versoud. Day 5 Reality: The Scirocco had not dissipated and following an 08:30 meeting the decision was made to cancel and sit it out for a day. Whilst the wind was due to abate later in the period, with 16 people already in hotel rooms, accommodating this herd of cats had to be considered in all decisions to ‘remain’, ‘press’ or ‘wait and see’. Whilst erring on the side of caution for our bed-down and scepticism for the weather forecast, a day on the beach was enjoyed by all.

Day 6 Plan: Genoble-Troyes-Le Touquet. Day 6 Reality: Elba-Cannes-

Grenoble Le Versoud. It was now inevitable that we were not going to be home by the morning of Day 7 as the forecast through Central France looked poor. As we launched on the Northerly Elba runway, it became evident that the strong Scirocco Southerly had disappeared and what a great departure toward the 700’ AAL peak it was. The rest of the sorties were typified by extreme turbulence at Cannes and glorious weather through the Alps, but we were now (at least) a day behind.

Day 7 Plan: Le Touquet-Halton. Day 7 Reality: Grenoble Le Versoud-Lyon. The weather was as poor as the forecast suggested, with some low cloud stubbornly remaining in the beautiful valley that the airfield sat in. The decision to reposition to Lyon (just 60nm away) was based upon getting out of the Alps for weather and the knowledge that Lyon is a large city with plenty of accommodation. There might just be a later clearance… ok, it never materialised! And we lost our C-182 due to a ceased flap motor, leaving the aircraft in the unflyable configuration of Flaps Fully Down – luckily, Lyon is the Easyjet hub for central France. It was eventually fixed and retrieved two weeks later.

Day 8 Plan: Cut the lawn and return to domestic reality. Day 8 Reality: Lyon-weather divert into Vichy… This was the day where the plan to get as far North as possible resulted in a 60nm backtrack to the South mid-sortie. All aircraft were headed from Lyon to Troyes when the weather became completely impassable. However, through adversity comes great performance and I was pleased that everyone marked the last good weather diversion and acted upon it – this was also ably assisted by Clermont Radar who allowed me to relay the weather call to ‘all Golf-registered, Halton-based aircraft’. So we arrived at Vichy and within an hour, the weather began to worsen necessitating another night stop and hotel. And expensive taxis…

Day 9 Plan: Back to work. Day 9 Reality: Vichy-Deauville-Halton. The morning brief started with the same line as the rest of the week ‘there is no pressure to get any further today than the ramp where our aircraft are parked’. But a forecast 1300(L) clearance somehow felt more realistic and indeed it arrived on time. Thereafter, aside from being poorly served at Deauville which resulted in a 3-hour wait

for fuel, all went smoothly. A cold beer awaited the weary Airmen’s return at Halton and our 9-day marathon was at an end.Over the years, we have always waxed lyrical about the Expeds, but it is my observation that the marginal weather, emergencies and challenges are destined to become the elements that are often the topic of conversation. I believe that the frustrations of planning and re-planning; sitting on the ground for hours on end waiting for mythical weather clearances; and the general uncertainties that this adventure brought will consign it to the book of great memories. I am proud of everyone who worked hard over the first five months of 2017 to make this trip a huge success. I am extremely proud of the youngsters (with as little as 20hrs post-PPL) who matured during this extremely challenging trip, and the more experienced crew members that nurtured them. And finally, I am delighted to see how those who are used to flying from A to A coped with planning to negotiate A to L, but despite adversity, successfully navigated A to O (missing out B, C and M) and worked as a team throughout. Destination Norway in 2018…

Gp Capt Mark Manwaring

Membership of the RAF Halton Aero Club is open to all Serving Members of the Armed Forces, Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Forces, MOD Civil Servants and a limited number of Civilians. With flying rates at around 35% cheaper than comparative organisations – What is your excuse not to join?!

Training – The HAC offer a 364 days/year training schedule for all major private pilot licences, instrument training, revalidation and Groundschool.

Private Hire – Our fleet of aircraft is second to none and licensed members are encouraged to develop their skills through solo hire and attendance on regular Fly-Outs and Overseas Expeditions.

Social – Monthly social lecture evenings form the backbone of our annual programme. The Clubhouse is comfortable and modern.

Trial Lessons – Unsure if flying is for you? Book a Trial Lesson and fly with one of our instructors to find out.

Serving Personnel Enhanced Learning Credits – We are an ELCAS Registered Training Facility – did you know that ELCs can be used to gain a Pilots Licence?

Want to know more? Check out the HAC Website, then give us a call on 95237 Ext 6178. We’d love to meet you and discuss your future part in Aviation – it could be the call that changes your life!

The Tecnam Sierra aircraft basking in the 35c heat of Cannes Airfield

The PA-28, a 4-seat aircraft that flew with two people but carried the bags of the smaller aircraft... team work!

Morning in the Alps - note the cloud hiding a 3000’ hill side! Grenoble Le Versoud in the Alps

The House that Jack Built (Day Nursery) Limited has been awarded “Outstanding” at two of our nurseries and is amongst one of the few childcare providers

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RAF High Wycombe

Annual Reception

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Update and call for volunteers

Each year, the RAF High Wycombe Station Charities Committee selects a number of charities to support, ensuring that between them we back local causes, children’s charities, and organisations which provide services to the military community.

This year, the Station’s charities are Families’ Activity Breaks (FAB) http://fabcamps.org.uk/, Wycombe Homeless Connection http://www.wyhoc.org.uk/ and PACE http://www.thepacecentre.org/.

Thanks to the hard work of the Committee and generosity of the Station, we are able to donate thousands of pounds to these charities over the course of the year, and will be selecting new ones this coming October.

Money is raised through standing donations by the Messes and by a series of Station events, and this is where you come in. We would very much like to hear from anyone willing to offer their time to organise or help out at an event, or better still join the Committee itself – in particular a volunteer to become the Secretary would be very welcome.

We would also like to hear from those undertaking activities in support of any other charities, in order that we can support where possible and collate an annual report of the money raised across the Station, so please make contact if this is you.

If you would like any information or would like to become involved in this highly rewarding Committee, please contact Flt Lt Dan Ruane on extension 7254 or via email at [email protected].

Station Charities Committee

WYCOMBE WORLD AUTUMN 2017

On 20th June 2017, RAF High Wycombe invited local industries

and key partners to its Officers’ Mess for this year’s Annual Sunset Parade.

Every year, the Station invites local industries to the Officers’ Mess so that we can hear and understand their concerns and issues, but also develop new ties that could in turn benefit either the Station or the local community. The evening starts with arrival drinks and finishes with the Sunset Parade.

This year, the Station was fortunate enough to receive a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which arrived at 8:15pm

and completed three flypasts over the crowd.

Flying Officer Gareth Davies, the Parade Commander, said: “It’s an honour to take part in the Sunset Ceremony and it was really great to see so many people attend.”

RAF High Wycombe uses this event as a way to forge new partnerships, reinforce existing ones and see how we can better integrate with the local community. The Station was able to re-affirm ties and say thank you for the support received. We look forward to next year and all that it brings.

European Air Groupconducts key Force Protection Exerciseat RAF Honington

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The seven EAG nations, plus force protection partner Norway, conducted

a successful multinational Force Protection Command Post Exercise from 8th – 19th May at the Force Protection Centre at RAF Honington. The aim of the exercise, named ‘VOLCANEX FP CPX 17’, was to strengthen force protection interoperability between the participating nations, through the use of common doctrine and procedures. The exercise was conducted in purpose-built force protection

facilities provided by the UK Royal Air Force, which provided invaluable support and expertise. It culminated in simulating the activity at a deployed multinational Force Protection Command Post, with subject-matter experts from all of the participating nations defending a deployed operating base from multiple incidents and attacks.

‘VOLCANEX’ is the EAG’s umbrella name for its multinational exercises, through which it seeks to test and refine its products and procedures. The key to success in multinational force protection operations is to establish a robust, common level of understanding and communications between nations, so that there is no doubt amongst the participants about what to do and how to do it. Because of the substantial level of interest in this year’s exercise, it was conducted over the course of two weeks, with each week containing the same exercise for a different audience, and a total of 105 personnel, players and trainers took part.



O n 26th June 2017, the Air Capability Delivery ISR Team conducted a

Force Development Visit to the 11 (Fighter) Group Operations Room, on the site of the former RAF station at Uxbridge. The staff working in this facility were responsible for coordinating the air defence of London and the South East of England during the Second World War; this part of the UK probably suffered the most from the Luftwaffe onslaught during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Beyond the Battle of Britain, the 11 Group Operations Room was responsible for air defence and fighter operations in the South East of England, and over occupied Europe throughout the Second World War, including the Dunkirk Evacuations and the Normandy Landings. Today, the Bunker is set up to recreate the exact conditions of 15th September 1940, the busiest day of the Battle of Britain and the day of the famous visit by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The visit was led by the P-8A Poseidon Programme Team, and gave us an opportunity to see the command and control structure that was established to counter the daunting threat of Goering’s Luftwaffe. We also tried to understand the demands of fighting a complex air battle as Britain faced the very real threat of invasion. Finally, we discussed the lessons and issues that relate to the modern day Royal Air Force, and the challenges we face today.

Wg Cdr Rich Berry opened proceedings with a look at the strategic picture in the summer of 1940 and an explanation of the perilous position that Britain found itself in as it stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany. The team then descended the long flight of steps into the Bunker itself and settled down to hear a brief by Mr. Seb Cox, the Head of the Air Historical Branch. Seb described the detailed working of the world’s first integrated air defence

system that AOC-in-C Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding put in place immediately before the Second World War began. The simplicity of the communication systems is stark compared to the technology used today, but it was this system which rapidly identified incoming enemy raids, and directed the fighters to respond and engage. The political situation in 1940, and the German tactical and strategic

errors were discussed, allowing us to understand situation from an operational perspective, all the way down to the tactical level. The atmosphere and pressure of that critical day in the bunker is difficult to comprehend, but the visual impact of the Bunker laid out before us, and in-depth descriptions provided by Seb, allowed us to imagine the tension.

Sqn Ldr Andy Bull presented a brief on the character of Dowding, and the parallels between procurement in the Second World War and the present day. Lt Cdr Matt Blake then outlined the value of joint operations during World War II, focusing on the Royal Navy’s contribution in deterring a German invasion in 1940; he then talked about the vital role played by the RAF in overcoming the Admiral Dönitz’s U-boat wolfpacks in the Battle of the Atlantic. After the presentations, we had some time to explore the Bunker’s

museum and the fascinating historical artefacts on display.

In conclusion, the ISR Force Development Day allowed the team not just to explore the history of Fighter Command and its command and control system, but also to allow the team to discuss intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from a modern perspective, and to explore the procurement challenges of the time and their relevance to the present day.

Our sincere thanks to the Bunker staff, and to Mr. Seb Cox for his enthusiastic and enlightening presentation which had us all on the edge of our seats. Ownership of the Bunker now lies with Hillingdon Council and more information can be found at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/bunker and http://friendsof11group.co.uk

Lt Cdr Matt Blake RN

Air Capability Delivery ISR Visit to the 11 Group Bunker, Uxbridge

Force Development

Day

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so

many to so few

“”

– Sir Winston Churchill, 20th August 1940


First Aid at Work Training©

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In July, 10 staff based at RAF High Wycombe attended and successfully passed

a First Aid at Work (FAW) course, these were both Service Personnel and MOD Civil Servants. The course was three days long and covered a wide range of practical and theoretical scenarios to build knowledge, and reinforce the confidence that in an emergency you will do the right thing. The course covers basics, such as bandaging and minor illnesses, and goes all the way to giving Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and using an Automatic

External Defibrillator (AED). Attendees had a variety of reasons for coming on the course, ranging from being able to help a work colleague in an emergency, to being able to support clubs and other activities here at RAF High Wycombe. We can never know when these skills may be

called upon, and having the knowledge and confidence to help someone may not just be in the workplace; you could be in town or at home and as such, this should be seen as a whole life skill, not just a “work” qualification. Legally, we are well covered for First Aiders, and to be able to offer places

on the course for personnel who wish to promote activities for the wellbeing of others is a bonus for the Station.

RAF High Wycombe has five AEDs on base, including three Public Access Defibrillators (PAD); 1 Site and 3 Site Guardrooms, and the Station Gym on 3 Site are PADs that are available to members of the public as well as Station Personnel, with “behind the wire” AEDs at the Officers’ Mess reception desk and Building 47 badge control. Wise Owls nursery in Greenwood has a PAD in a secure cabinet on the outside wall, the Danesfield Arms at Medmenham is soon to have a PAD fitted as well. To access any of the PADs, the code to the cabinet would be given by the 999 operator, who can also give advice on using an AED if needed.

Courses are run at regular intervals throughout the year, and the dates are advertised in Station Announcements. For further information on FAW or training courses, you should contact the SSHEA Department.

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RAF High Wycombe

Ladies The Command

Performers Awards

T he choir had a very busy period in the run-up to the summer break

with several performances and planning for a pretty special concert in October.

We sang at Napfest on the Crick at the beginning of June, performing just outside the main tent. Singing outside created a few challenges with sound and blending that were new to us but the performance went down well. Later that month we performed for the Station Commander and all his guests at the RAF High Wycombe Annual Reception in the Officers’ Mess, singing a shortened programme due to the flypast timings. July saw us perform at the Station Music Festival singing on the back of a truck! Outside again, but this time miked up to help our Musical Director (MD) balance the sound between the Altos and the Sopranos; another new experience for several of the ladies. Then, later in the month, we were invited by the High Sherriff of Buckinghamshire to sing at a reception he was holding in Aylesbury for the promotion of Mental Health charities. He had heard us

sing at the Station’s Annual Reception and was very keen to have us at his function. He even came and posed for photos with us afterwards.

After all of this, you would think that we deserved a rest and wind-down towards the end of term but instead, we were straight into learning new choir pieces and full ensemble pieces for the ‘Sing it Out’ concert in Beaconsfield in October to raise money for the Hear Their Roar charity project. The concert is to be held in the Chalfont St Peter Community Centre on the 8th October starting at 1830hrs and tickets can be bought by contacting [email protected] or calling 07957787399, costing £8 for adults and £4 for children. The evening will include performances from a variety of groups including community choirs, such as ours, and professional West End performers! Afterwards there will be cake and a raffle (We all love a bit of cake!)

The RAF High Wycombe Ladies Choir is open to serving Ladies, Civil Servants and contractors working on RAF High Wycombe as well as partners and daughters (16yrs and over) of all three

The Command Performers bring back the Silver from Shrivenham

Earlier this summer, RAF High Wycombe’s Drama Club, The Command Performers, took a play to the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. This was for the RAF Theatrical Association’s Annual One Act Play Festival. Over a weekend every year, RAF Drama Clubs perform plays which are judged by an independent professional adjudicator.

Each team has a 30 minute “familiarisation” where they try out their set on the stage, and sort out the lighting, sound and how they will actually act out their play. Then, when it is their turn to perform, they are allowed up to 60 minutes. This includes a maximum of 10 minutes to get their set into position and a maximum of five minutes to remove their set. Overrunning any of these times results in penalty points.

We took a play by Rona Munro called “Dirt Under the Carpet”. The play was set in an office in Aberdeen early one morning when only the two cleaners were in (and the dead body of the Boss!).

The results were terrific. We got the cup for the best set. Anne Artus and Caroline Seraille were joint winners of the best actress award and we won the trophy for the Best Production.

Any play involves teamwork, but add to this taking a complete set, furniture, props and costume,

and getting it all on and off in the time limits, and it becomes a real challenge. But it is great fun and we get the chance to see lots of other plays. Despite the competitive nature of the event, the atmosphere is great; all the teams want to see plays done well.

Why not be dramatic yourself? We perform in the Oakeshott Centre and we are always looking for new members – experience is not necessary, just enthusiasm. We not only want people to act – we need people to build sets, operate lights and sound, organise costumes, develop a website and to have lots of fun. The next thing we intend to do is a selection of one-act plays and sketches – an ideal opportunity to try us out. So if you fancy treading the boards or being part of the back-stage crew, contact Ellis Artus 01844 347818 or email [email protected]

Caroline Seraille and John Ryder being dramatic in a recent play

From Left to right: Ellis Artus, Caroline Seraille, Stephen Artus, Anne Artus, John Ryder


On Thursday 13th July, the British weather held out and the sun shone (a bit),

for this year’s RAF High Wycombe Music Festival, organised by volunteers from the Station and attended by nearly 400 Station staff and their families. Held on the 3 Site Sports Pitches, the afternoon began with a ‘school sports day’ CO’s Cup event (think welly-wanging and three-legged races with a PTI twist), before becoming a full blown festival with 8 acts playing into the evening. Months of planning and hard work by the team of volunteers, led by Cpl Gemma Burns and Cpl Ben Green all paid off, and festival goers were entertained by a variety of bands and activities. The festival began with an opening address from OC BSW, before DJ Bobby D (who goes by the name of Cpl Rob Dorling when not playing the festival scene) launched into dance classics to set the scene and warm up the crowd. Ken Pike from the Air Media Centre treated

the crowd to an acoustic set of well-known rock and blues covers, followed by Abbey Merritt with her own unique acoustic take on some classic tunes. DJ Classic Morris (aka SAC Nick Morris) gave the crowd more festival dance tunes, before Alfred’s Manor, RAF Halton’s own Music Club band, took the stage. With Cpl Kyle Pingree on drums, indie and rock covers built up to the signature piece of ‘Mustang Sally’, which set the scene perfectly for Lead Vocalist, Sharleen Merritt, to take over and get the crowd up on their feet and singing.

The RAF High Wycombe Ladies Choir performed their set next to a great reception from the crowd, perfectly demonstrating both the talent and the community spirit the Station has to offer. A guest band were next up in the form of the White Tips, a three piece from Aylesbury playing their own original songs which were lapped up by the crowd. Forever Dilemma were another guest band, a group from

Stoke-on-Trent playing pop and punk covers to a revved up crowd as the light faded. The guest bands provided an excellent variety to the acts and the organisers of the Festival were extremely grateful that they offered to play without charging. The final act of the night was the famous (in some quarters) KB25, a home grown band of mainly RAF High Wycombe Music Club members and fronted by Cpl Ben Green. Their rock and grunge covers provided the perfect finale to what had been a fantastic night and sent the crowd home on a high.

The success of the acts and event as a whole was largely down to the professional sound engineers from Q-Audio who deserve a huge thanks from all of us, and hats off to them for on turning an articulated lorry and a 12x12 tent into a proper festival! Further thanks must got to the Station Welfare Fund and to the Warrant Officer and Sergeants’ Mess, who provided initial funds for the event and helped out with staffing it. The events need volunteers to be a success though, so without listing every name, as there are a great many, thank you and well done to all those who helped out in so many different ways, from the admin in the background to the hard work on the day. All being well, next summer there will be an even bigger and better Music Festival taking place at RAF High Wycombe, so keep your eyes out for the advertisements and if you’d like to be involved, contact the Committee using the email address [email protected].

groups. We rehearse in the Station Church on 3 Site from 1900hrs to 2030hrs on a Wednesday evening and we return from the summer break on 6th September. We are always looking for new members; no previous singing experience is required, and there are no auditions, so come along and give it a go! For more information search for RAF HW Ladies Choir on Facebook, email [email protected], or contact the Secretary, Flt Lt Sam Broderick, [email protected] or the Deputy OIC, Flt Lt Anne Nicholson, [email protected]

Hear Their Roar is a charity that has been set up by our MD, Megan Tanner and her associate Sarah Cuthbertson to facilitate young people who have experienced trauma to express their experiences and feelings through the arts. The aim is to allow them to explore their issues and situations in a safe space, and to support those who care for them in understanding their experiences. The pair’s focus is currently around London, but they are also planning their first project in East Africa. More information can be found at www.heartheirroar.co.uk or search for Hear Their Roar on Facebook.

RAF High WycombeMusic

Festival

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To book accommodation please contact Judith Hall on 01536 711884Apartments can also be booked very competitively at [email protected]

You could be in the Algarve, relaxing in the sun...Situated on the top floor of a three storey block the apartment has its own residents’ swimming pool. It has the advantage of being away from the bustle of the town centre but within walking distance (10 minutes to the marina and another 5 to the town centre).

It has a twin bedroom, open plan kitchen and lounge. The kitchen has a 4-ring hob, oven, microwave, toaster, fridge freezer and washing machine. There is a family sized bathroom. The lounge has a sofa (which converts into two more single beds) and a table to seat four. A TV, DVD ,CD player and WiFi are also available. Both the lounge and bedroom have patio doors which open onto the balcony offering views over the swimming pool and across Lagos.There is ample car parking space in front of the building.

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O n 19th July, members of Air Commercial held a Bake Sale

and Tombola on 3 Site to raise funds for two charities – CALM and RNLI.

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. They offer support and work towards changing the culture and policies around this issue.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the charity that saves lives at sea. Every day, people of all backgrounds get into danger in the water and the volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards come to their rescue, saving thousands of people each year.

The organisers – Jo Paish, Sarah Hamlyn, Diane Williams, Gill Fairman and Jane Ellis – would like to thank all those who supported this fundraiser by donating tombola prizes and a magnificent variety of cakes!

A big thank you also goes to everyone who came along on the day and helped to raise a total of £615.


Char

ity

Cake

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RAF Officers win hearts at Red Bull Soapbox Race


On Sunday 9th July 2017, a team of RAF Engineer Officers from

Head Quarters Air Command, RAF High Wycombe took on 69 teams at the Red Bull Soapbox Race at Alexandra Palace to claim 8th place.

Team Must Dash, decked out in World War II Bomber Command costumes and moustaches, also won the People’s Choice Award – this was awarded to the public’s favourite soapbox and earnt them a place on the podium. They were proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, and RAF Association in the lead up to the event and on the weekend itself.

The core ‘crew’ of James Sinclair as ‘Ginger’, James Lainchbury as ‘Biggles’, Paul Emerson as ‘Tug’, Dan Ruane as ‘Bertie’ were supported on the day by Ian Withers as ‘Mac’, Chris Phipps as ‘The Bish’ and Ken Pike as ‘Barron’. They are Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Ambassadors, and wanted their soapbox to reflect the spirit of the RAF, and inspire future generations to consider careers in RAF Engineering and STEM areas. The team chose to base their soapbox on a Lancaster Bomber, complete with a ‘pilot’ and a ‘rear gunner’, as it represented this perfectly and would catch the imagination of the public.

James Sinclair was the driving force behind the team, coming up with the idea to take part having seen it advertised on television.

He explains: “As a kid my parents helped me make a wooden soapbox to race in, so I had the ‘soapbox bug’ from a very early age! Taking part in the Red Bull Soapbox Race, with its big jumps and tight hay-bale chicanes, was a massive step up though!”

Paul Emerson headed up the main build phase: “There was great team work between us throughout the project. We were very resourceful – our soapbox was made mainly from recycled items such as the scrap wheelie bins that formed the fuselage, a used ladder for the main chassis and an old all-terrain kart for some much needed suspension and steering parts!”

Dan Ruane added: “As Engineer Officers, it was a chance to turn some theory into practice, whilst promoting engineering

as a fun and diverse career choice. It also allowed us to raise awareness of some great RAF charities, with a crowd of 20,000 people in attendance on the day and the chance of being on Dave TV forever!”

The aim was to uphold the reputation of RAF Engineering, and the soapbox managed to successfully complete the course with absolutely minimal damage compared to the majority of entrants. James Lainchbury concluded that: “We were really pleased with 8th overall, as first time entrants, and hopefully have managed to encourage young people to consider STEM subject choices and future engineering careers in the RAF.”

Tally Ho!

RAF Officers win hearts at Red Bull Soapbox Race



Station Rugby is back with a bang and winning silverware once again.

Two years ago, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Northolt and RAF Halton combined to form the Bucks Broncos. The teams were all struggling to field enough players to allow for competitive games, so with this in mind, the units approached the RAF Rugby Union and requested that they all combined to form one team.

Within the first season of coming together, the team was able to reach the Morrison Shield Final,

Bucks Broncos RFC

eventually losing out. Building on this success, and with the arrival of the new Head Coach, Sgt ‘Hoggy’ Hynd at Northolt last season, the team once again managed to reach the Morrison Shield Final, where a closely fought game against RAF Honington resulted in a win for the Broncos.

The team is friendly and welcoming, and always looking for new players of all abilities to join its ranks. So if you’re just coming back from injury, never played or wanting to take up the sport once again please come along and join us.

I am Cpl Daniel ‘Lips’ Phillips and have just arrived on Station, taking on the role of team focal point for all players based here at High Wycombe. For more information please feel free contact me via 95221 4526 or email me [email protected]

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CO’s Cup Sports DayRAF High Wycombe got

off to a great start for the CO’s Cup event on the

13th July; with over 60 personnel attending from both High Wycombe and Halton, the sports pitches were full of grunts, groans and cheers as both stations went head-to-head.

With RAF High Wycombe sporting two teams, one from BSW and one from Air Command, and RAF Halton sporting four teams, the odds weren’t in our favour. However, the first test for our teams involved a number of different stages, ranging from welly throwing to dummy drags. Corporal Sam Hodges, the event organiser, said:

Today was a great way of getting station personnel out, active and competitive. It took a lot of organisation, but everyone’s having a great time.

These events were a test of our teams, seeing their hand-eye coordination being pushed to the max. However, the battle was not over yet. Next up was the 100m sprint, the egg and spoon race, and finally, the three-legged race. The first 100m sprint was dominated by OC BSW, who later let on that he used to run 100m competitively. After the racing portion of the day had been completed, next up was the obstacle course relay. Teams were expected to spread their members throughout the course and complete various tasks. First up was the jerry can run, followed by a leopard crawl, tyre flips, one handed spins and last of all, trying to get a full cricket outfit on and pass over the finish line.

Overall, a great day was had by all RAF High Wycombe and RAF Halton personnel, with RAF Halton winning the event overall; we’ll get them next year!“

“


Adolescents’, and particularly young women’s, participation

in sport is less than optimal, and it appears that the age that young women are dropping out of sport and physical activity is getting lower. To try and promote a healthier lifestyle, Bucks County Council introduced a scheme in 2014 called ‘Girls on a Mission’ which was aimed at helping girls aged 16 -24 become more positive about physical activity, build self-confidence and make new friends.

The scheme had previously been extremely successful at RAF Halton, so it was decided that the gymnasium at RAF High Wycombe would take the lead on delivering the initiative in the High Wycombe area. A six-week programme was designed to give the girls exposure to a variety of fitness sessions, health-based discussions and team building events, aimed at helping them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Each week, the girls were asked to discuss a different

topic relating to Health; these included healthy eating, alcohol awareness and benefits of training. Under the guidance of the PEd Staff, the girls answered a variety of questions and formulated a way to improve their overall health.

The sessions also included a physical element and this was designed to give the girls a taste of what they could do in their own time once the course had finished. They all fully embraced the variety of activities which included: Body Pump, Functional Training, Circuit Training and Fitness Testing.

The girls were all extremely enthusiastic and appeared to gain a variety of new skills, which they can take away with them and develop; they also gained an AQA certificate of achievement from their attendance.

If you would like further information regarding any future courses then please contact Jo Atkins ([email protected]) or go to www.BucksFamilyInfo.org/girlsonamission.

G rlson a

Mission

Changes to the State Pension were introduced in April last year but still, over a year later, there is confusion about the changes and their impact.

In this article Mary Petley of the Forces Pension Society provides a recap on how last year’s changes will affect you.

Before 6 April 2016 what we all understood as the State Pension was made up of two parts: the Basic State Pension and Second State Pension (S2P) designed to supplement the Basic State Pension. Everyone (save the very low paid) paid National Insurance Contributions (NICs) which counted towards their Basic State Pension. However the same was not true of the S2P. Many pension schemes, including all in the Armed Forces schemes, all those in the public sector and many in the private sector were “contracted out” of S2P. The benefit of being “contracted out” was that the scheme members paid 1.4% of pay less in NICs than was otherwise the case. The downside was of course that they received a smaller overall state pension. From 6th April 2016 this ceased and everybody in the UK who pays Class 1 NICs pays them at the same, higher, rate.

The following Q&A covers the main points:

So what is the new arrangement called?

The new arrangement is known as the Single Tier Pension in order to differentiate it from the arrangement outlined in the paragraph above.

Will I receive less pay?

The answer is probably “yes”. NICs increased by 1.4% of pay at a time when pay rises are running at 1% and charges for food and accommodation tend to rise each year.

What will I get for my money?

The ‘old’ Basic Pension rate went up to £122.30 per week from 6 April 2017. The new Single Tier Pension rate from the same date is £159.30.

Do I have any choice about paying NICs?

I am afraid not. We all have NICs deducted from our pay as long as we are under State Pension Age and still working.

And how long do I have to pay to qualify for the full Single Tier Pension?

Even though you were paying NICs at the lower rate before 6 April 2016, as long as you pay for a total of 35 years, with at least 7.5 years at the higher rate, you will qualify for the full Single Tier Pension.

How am I going to know what I have paid in so far?

During last summer the DWP should have told you what your ‘foundation amount’ is – that is the value of the pension you have already paid for as at 6 April 2016 – and our future NICs will add to it. If in doubt, go on to the calculator and check out your personal position or complete the on-line form (https://www2.dwp.gov.uk?fps-directgov/en/contact-tps/fpc.asp)

Rumour has it that we will be ‘seen off ’ by the changes. Is that right?

No! Most of you have a long working life ahead of you and plenty of opportunity to build up the full Single Tier State Pension. Even if you don’t make sufficient contributions to entitle you to the full Single Tier Pension rate, you will not get less than you have earned by way of the contributions you have made.

How can I check that my contribution record is correct?

You could write to the National Insurance Contributions Office at:

The Pension Service 9Mail Handling Site AWolverhamptonWV98 1LU

Or ring them. The ‘phone numbers are:

From overseas – 0345 3000 168From UK – 0345 3000 169

What if I find that there are gaps in my record?

If you have had no breaks in your Armed Forces service, your NIC record for that period should be complete. If it is not, you need to challenge it and you will probably need the help of DBS to do so.

What if those gaps are correctly shown? Can I pay extra to fill them?

Normally, yes. You can buy back up to 6 years NIC ‘cover’. I use the word ‘normally’ because of an old, now defunct, provision which allowed a married woman to opt to pay reduced rate NIC and rely on her husband’s contributions towards the married couples’ pension. The current position is that, if a married woman opted to pay reduced NICs, the rules will not permit her to pay a top up or buy back those years. More information about Voluntary Contributions can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions

If you are a Member of the Forces Pension Society and have further questions on this or any AFPS issue, please email us on [email protected]

If you are not a Member but would like to learn more about us, visit our website www.forcespensionsociety.org

As the world’s oldest horse charity specialising in providing respite and retirement for working horses. The Horse Trust has cared for many military veterans for over 130 years, from Roger and San Toy after The Great War to recent arrivals like Daniel from The Royal Mews - a firm favourite of HM The Queen, and Viscount, the longest ever serving horse in the British Army.

Alongside retired Police heroes like mighty Caesar and Huntsman they provide sanctuary to horses, ponies and donkeys that needed a second chance at life after suffering unspeakable cruelty and terrible ordeals. Their Home of Rest in Speen is a haven, a place where some of the UK’s hardest working dedicated public servants get to see out their twilight years in tranquillity and where those who were badly treated can feel safe and loved again.

The Home of Rest is a beautiful spot with some of the finest views in the area and a great place to visit. They are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm-4pm except for December and January when the weather isn’t great for horses or visitors. Entry is £5 per vehicle or concessions £3.

Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive of The Horse Trust said “We are very proud to attract visitors from all around the world; some of our residents had illustrious careers and in their working life both their riders and members of the public who saw them develop strong bonds with them, but we really enjoy seeing new faces and it’s always a pleasure to welcome friends and family from RAF High Wycombe.

Many of the horses enjoy meeting visitors, they may be retired now but they spent their working lives performing their duties in front of millions on State occasions and ceremonies like Royal Weddings, Trooping the Colour, The State Opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot.”

The Black Beauty Tea Room offers visitors a chance to enjoy a range of treats including hand-made cakes.

The Trust runs public events throughout the year but as summer turns to autumn they offer fun for the whole family. While many of the activities are geared towards the younger members of the family you can be sure there’s always a little something for the grown-ups to enjoy.

Join them on Saturday 30th September to watch BEAUTY and the BEAST at the outdoor cinema and go along on Friday 27th October for the Halloween extravaganza to enjoy some spooktacular fun including scary skeleton trails, prize draws, ghoulish games and a fancy-dress competition.

If you love all things Christmas, it’s worth a visit on Sunday 26th November for the Neddy Noel event when you might get to meet Father Christmas and there will be a host of festive treats to enjoy.

You can find all the details on the Events page of their website www.horsetrust.org.uk or by following The Horse Trust on Facebook www.facebook.com/HorseTrust

The Magazine of RAF High Wycombe Autumn 2017 Winter ......looking after others, as there simply...

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Transcript of The Magazine of RAF High Wycombe Autumn 2017 Winter ......looking after others, as there simply...