A Donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund 2014

When the question arose of what we should do with the money left over in the fund after our window had been installed, many ideas were suggested. After a vote amongst the contributors, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was chosen as the recipient. On Monday 14th April therefore, ten of us met at The Trenchard Museum at RAF Halton to present a cheque for £500 to Bryan Kettle of the Fund. Shown above are the attendees. Clem Ord, Barry Holt, Steve Tank, Rosie Irvine, Roddy and Kerry McKenzie with Bryan Kettle between them, Colin and Diana Moat, Adrian Small and Ian Mac Gilvery.

Special thanks should be made to Steve and Ian for persuading Clem and Barry to come down for the day and for giving them a lift. It was good to see you again lads. Lets hope it's not 46 years before we meet again!

We gathered in the morning at the old Groves Mess for tea and biscuits and were able to look round what will soon become The James McCudden Flight Heritage Centre. This is an offshoot of The Trenchard Museum due to open later this year and will be used to inform and educate youngsters about the priciples of flight and the many ways in which it is achieved.

After plenty of chat and catching up, we walked up to The Museum for the presentation. We were met by Jane Reilly from the Media Communications Office and Luka Waycott from the Station Photographic Section. Jane has written a report of the day's event for submission to The RAF News and Luka took several splendid photographs to accompany it, some of which are reproduced here. It's good to have the professionals on our side.

Plenty of good humoured banter accompanied the proceedings and Luka suggested that we gather round the Jaguar on the parade square for another few shots. This accomplished, we had another wander round The Museum and then took lunch at the Henderson Mess.

After lunch, some of those who had travelled long distance began to drift off home but one important task remained and that was to take the man who created the final design of the window down to the church to have his first look at it.

It's a splendid piece of work Clem, something of which we can all be proud. Thank you.