Excalibur Autumn 23

OIC’S MESSAGE

By Flt Lt Ford

Welcome to the Autumn(ish) issue of Excalibur! I am writing this this after what has felt like the hottest week of the Summer - just in time for everyone to return to school and work after the disappointment of what will have been a damper than usual break!

Nevertheless, this issue is full of good news stories about Leeming’s people getting out and about: from the success of the Leeming Show to underground in Cantabria and the peaks of the Dolomites. I personally found Mr Lockhart’s ‘Adventure Before Dementia’ challenge seriously impressive; my family are familiar with the paths and trails of the Lakes, Dales and Moors (our own holiday this year actually took us to St Bees as well, albeit

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE...

Editorial Station Commander’s Foreword

New Multi-Faith Centre at RAF Leeming

EDITORIAL TEAM

just for a paddle!) and his accomplishments on the Coast to Coast (especially given the heat) are an inspiration. We also bid farewell this issue to the Station Commander, Gp Capt Gareth Prendergast. On behalf of the current and past Excalibur team, I would like to thank the CO for his support and contribution to our magazine during his tenure – he has set the bar high!

Straight and True.

How the RAF Benevolent Fund supported RAF Leeming in 2022

Victory for the RAF Leeming Catering Team

Leeming Chaplaincy

Met Office News

Exercise SPANCAVE 23

609 (West Riding) Squadron

The RAF unveil their latest Fighter at RIAT 2023

The Greatest Show

RAF Leeming Saddle Club

Adventure before Dementia

YUAS News

NUAS News

RAF Leeming Youth Club

OIC: Flt Lt Ed Ford | Email: Edward.Ford732@mod.gov.uk

EDITOR: Cpl Lenny Austin

MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Mrs Lynn Dunne - BSW HQ - Ext 7281

Submissions for the Autumn 23 issue by 20th October 2023. SUBMISSIONS:

Advertising: Emma Anderson Tel: (01536) 334 221 Email: emma@lancemediagroup.co.uk

Designed by: Jo Glen

FOREWORD

BY STATION COMMANDER GROUP CAPTAIN GARETH PRENDERGAST, BA (HONS), LLM, MSC, RAF

Hello Leeming! What a wonderful, if somewhat wet, summer we have had here. I hope that all of you managed to get the opportunity to take some leave and spend some time with friends and families. I really enjoyed seeing and speaking to so many of you at our Leeming Show and, on behalf of us all, want to thank the organisers of the event for such a tremendous day. The Leeming Show was a clear demonstration of how we take care of each other and the potential that exists to do more for our community here on the Station.

As this is my final article for Excalibur, I wanted to reflect on our achievements and also look toward the future for the Station. Many things have changed internationally, nationally, and locally.

The events of the last few years have demonstrated keenly that change is the only real constant. RAF Leeming is certainly no exception to this. The asks on our people have also continued to evolve. Personnel from the Station continue to support operations in East Europe, from both the home base and through deployments overseas. And this is in addition to the many other detachments

around the world that we support, from the enduring work in the Middle East, to new horizons in the far east and the ad hoc support for crisis and humanitarian assistance. Leeming people are engaged in all of this and more.

During my time here at Leeming I’ve been gratified to see the passion and enthusiasm of the people who go beyond their day-to-day responsibilities and volunteer on Station. The service people, partners and families who worked to bring their neighbours together to celebrate the Jubilee and subsequent coronation of HM King Charles III deepened the bonds of friendship and community here. The work of the Stirling Committee to plan and host events and those who give their time to run clubs and activities improve the life for us all. I also appreciated hearing from all those who attended the Station Commander’s briefings and the many breakfast events I had with people from across the station. By sharing issues and challenges we were able to make real progress in creating the sort of environment that we all want to live, work and thrive in.

The programme to refurbish the airfield is now underway. This will see RAF Leeming in a position to operate with the full range of military aircraft from around the world, increasing our resilience and further committing the RAF to North Yorkshire and the broader North of England. This continued investment into RAF Leeming is a long-term win for us all.

As we move further through the year the station will once again host its regular drumbeat of national and international exercises with some exciting activities and aircraft on the horizon. We must also not forget that we will once again welcome the Swiss Air Force for YORKNITE in November.

As I said at the start, I will be

During my time here at Leeming I’ve been gratified to see the passion and enthusiasm of the people who go beyond their dayto-day responsibilities and volunteer on Station. The service people, partners and families who worked to bring their neighbours together to celebrate the Jubilee and subsequent coronation of HM King Charles III deepened the bonds of friendship and community here.

departing RAF Leeming in September and I would be lying if I didn’t say that it will be hard for Rachel, the boys and I to depart this awesome station and the many friends that we have made here. We really have felt part of the whole force family and appreciate all that you have done for us. I know that you will welcome and treat the new Station Commander, Group Captain Paul Hamilton, just as well as you have me. It will be a bittersweet occasion to hand over the Station to its new Commander but with every transition there is opportunity and I am certain that Paul will work with all of you to take the Station to the next level. With that being said, it has been my pleasure, privilege and honour to command RAF Leeming for the past two years.

’’ Straight and True.

WORLD FAITHS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS VISIT TO RAF LEEMING

A World Faiths Leaders visit day was held at RAF Leeming at the end of May where World faiths and community leaders were invited to the Station to see how service personnel were welcome, accommodated and a growing part of the RAF and forces community.

Following a welcome at the Chaplaincy centre were hear briefs form Station Execs about the role of RAF and Leeming in particular. The sense of breadth and reflection of a multi ethnic community the RAF is. We heard from Officer Commanding Operations, as station executive, of his particular career journey in the RAF as a practicing Muslim. Following the opening of a new World Faiths Prayer Room facility we saw the role that Physical Training Instructors had in enabling a fit and robust community along with the sporting facilities of the station.

Lunch was held in the Junior ranks mess where we were invited to have meals that were prepared in line with our religious customs, a commonplace provision for all service personnel.

The afternoon saw a visit to the Royal Qatar Air Force Squadron who are training pilots at RAF Leeming. A brief in the Squadron Head Quarters was followed by a hanger tour which housed the Hawk jets. We then took a windscreen tour of the station seeing the facilities both residential and technical sites of the Station.

We finally had refreshments and a questions and answer session before departing the station.

It was a good experience and witness how the defence community welcome service personnel into the armed forces and provide facilities to enable their beliefs and practices to be fulfilled.

How the RAF Benevolent Fund supported RAF Leeming in 2022

The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has released its 2022 Impact Report, highlighting how it has continued to support members of the RAF Family in 2022 through practical, emotional and financial support.

The Fund helped over 40,000 members of the RAF Family in 2022, including over 24,000 serving personnel and their families, and over 16,700 veterans and their families, with a huge 96% of beneficiaries saying the Fund improved their quality of life.

One way the Fund supported the RAF Community was through RAF Station grants, where over 10,000 people were helped, including 350 RAF personnel and their families based in RAF Leeming.

In 2022, RAF Leeming were given a £7,000 grant for BenPlay and BenParenting, and in 2023 were awarded a further grant for BenPlay and BenParenting, as well as a Families Day grant which took place in July, and a Wellbeing Area upgrade worth £4,799.

Irene Greenwood, Welfare Programmes Manager at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The grants the Fund provides RAF bases like Leeming are crucial to ensure RAF families have the mental, financial and practical assistance they need.

Some of the initiatives and events we have funded have allowed serving personnel and their families to come together and socialise with others, improving morale and mental health, and reducing isolation. We are thrilled that the Fund is able to make a difference.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, free memberships for Headspace, Airplay youth clubs, and more.

You can view the full Impact Report at: https://www.rafbf.org/about-us/our-publications/ impact-report

VICTORY FOR THE RAF LEEMING CATERING TEAM AT THE RAF CATERING 5’S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

AS1

The team achieved a remarkable victory in this year’s RAF Catering 5’s Football Tournament in this, their inaugural year of participation. This achievement signifies a tremendous success, highlighting their unwavering dedication, strong work ethic, exceptional teamwork, and mutual trust among the team members.

The catering team maintained a consistent training regime, conducting twice weekly sessions to ensure everyone was in peak physical condition. This diligent preparation undeniably bore fruit in the outcome, as every member understood the necessity of rigorous training to secure victory. Remarkably this marked the team’s inaugural year together and they chose to enter their first tournament.

On Friday 04/08/2023 the team convened at RAF Wittering to participate in the annual 5-a-side Football Tournament event. In the initial stage of the tournament, the twelve qualifying teams were divided into four groups, subsequently narrowing down to two groups. Our team

suffered only one defeat in the early rounds, which assured us a spot in the semi-finals. a tense match between RAF Leeming and RAF Odiham ended in a hard fought 1-0 victory for RAF Leeming. The semi-final match was a critical moment with Cpl Sanders played a pivotal role in securing the team’s advancement.

In the final we faced off against RAF Wittering where RAF Leeming emerged victorious with a convincing 3-1 score line. Cpl Sanders delivered yet another exceptional performance, scoring a remarkable hat-trick, his impressive performance through out the competition saw him net a total of six goals, solidifying his position as RAF Leeming’s leading goal scorer.

AS1

AS1 Stains

AS1 Rai

Cpl Sanders

Cpl Lloyd

Cpl McAllister

Cpl Seamore

Pete Ktori

THE SQUAD: Sgt Horner (Manager)

Ktori (Captain)

INTRODUCING PADRE KATE

Kate arrived at Leeming from Coningsby in May. She came late into military life, describing going through the SERE course at Cranwell, aged 49, as something akin to GI Jane meets the Vicar of Dibley. Her first posting was Brize, then she went on Op SHASDER and from there to Coningsby. She regards joining the military as ‘either a mid-life crisis or the call of God. Probably both’.

Prior to joining, Kate taught at Durham University – in a department which trained vicars. She has a background in University Chaplaincy at Durham. Before that she was an English teacher. She enjoys stand-up comedy and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 with 2 other vicars, as ‘White Collar Comedy.’ She’s written a few books.

Asked to explain her understanding of Chaplaincy she writes, ‘Chaplaincy is for everyone – across the Whole Force. Padres offer support to everyone – in terms of time, and a confidential listening ear. People often underestimate the importance of being heard properly. I’ve lost count of the time people have come to me with a story of trauma and pain going back years and when I’ve asked who they have ever told, the answer is, so often, ‘no-one.’ Opening up to another person in a safe space is an absolute game changer, and I’ve seen it many, many times.

Just being able to share the load and know that you have been understood. Sometimes that is enough and can help you see for yourself what you need to do. Other times I will signpost people on to specific specialist help. It’s a mistake to think that you only go to the Padre for religious stuff, although of course you can. We do weddings and baptisms in the Station Church and can signpost to specialists in different faith traditions. We are SMEs on issues relating to bereavement, funerals and memorial events.’

EARLY INTERVENTION

She continues, ‘I often wish people would reach out sooner. There is no shame in making an appointment and coming for a brew and a chat. The Padre team are here for you – Whole Force. We can help people untangle problems and make good decisions. It’s so much better to have that time before things become difficult. Early intervention can avoid a world of pain.’

CHAPLAINCY COURSES

Chaplaincy also run courses. This Autumn look out for courses in Understanding and Developing Listening Skills and Understanding Bereavement and Loss. Kate is also happy to run bespoke sessions for any sections interested. Just ask.

The Padre Team regularly visit around station. Part of our work is understanding the opportunities and pressures playing out across station through listening and talking to people at all ranks and across the Civil Service workforce. We are more than happy to receive specific invitations to come and visit people in the workplace.

Padres listen, support, advocate, welcome, advise when asked, reach-in when needed, and teach. We are a supportive presence outside the chain of command. We are there for the Whole Force.

From mid-September the chaplaincy team will consists of Kate Bruce (full time) JB (Peter Baptiste - FTR – 2 days per week), John Hetherington – 2 days per week, and Sandy Gall (in as required) supported by Jane Landers the Chaplaincy Clerk. To contact us call 01677 457280 – or email jane.landers732@mod. gov.uk

WHAT ARE PADRES FOR?

Met Office

During the last few months at Leeming Met Office we have seen some changes in our team. Firstly, we said a fond farewell to Lauren in June who has left us for a new forecasting job. At a similar time, we welcomed Jake to the team who is working as an Op Met Technician, issuing our weather observations. Also, Callum has joined us for a few months to complete his forecaster training. Joe continues his 50/50 role splitting his time between RAF Leeming and JOMOC (Joint Operations Meteorology and Oceanography Centre).

For a week in July, Bill held the fort at Leeming while Jenny had the exciting opportunity to work at RAF Fairford during the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). She shares her experiences below: “As someone who loves being part of the world of aviation, working at RIAT has always been a goal of mine. This year I was very excited to be chosen to work as part of a Met Office team supporting RIAT. Myself and three colleagues from other defence Met Office teams were based onsite at RAF Fairford from Monday 10th July

until Tuesday 18th July providing forecast advice for the aircraft arrivals and practice displays ahead of the public airshow on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then the aircraft departures afterwards. This made for a very long working week!

It was my first experience of such a huge event where 253 aircraft were exhibited from 25 nations to a crowd of 147,000 visitors and I loved the buzz of working alongside an army of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. This year’s show celebrated air-toair refuelling through the ages, alongside a large attendance from the Italian Air Force who are celebrating their centenary year. There was no typical day but our time was split between issuing weather observations from USAF’s met building on one side of the airfield and providing forecast products and advice in the Flight Centre building on the showground side of the airfield. We had a front row view of all the aircraft activities from the met building which was very special. The Flight Centre building was a ‘one-stop-shop’ for aircrew and indeed anyone involved in flight operations, with UK Border Force, hotel and transport organisers, flying display directors and operations managers all sat sideby-side with the weather desk. This meant we were in the right place to answer questions about the rather unconducive weather as aircrew prepared for their display slots and departure routes. The weather for the practice displays was typical summer

sunshine and showers not posing too many hazards to arriving aircraft or crews getting their displays signed-off. However, from the start of the week we were able to forecast a change to hazardous wet and windy weather for the show days, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise to the show organisers when the rain started to impact the show weekend. Despite the unseasonably wet and windy conditions on the Friday and Saturday, we were able to advise on weather windows and some aircraft were still able to go ahead with their displays. During Friday, 19.8 mm of rain was recorded and concern quickly turned to the state of all the muddy fields that were being used as car parks. We were able to inform the organisers that further rain was expected for the rest of the show days but in intermittent bursts compared to the persistent rain on Friday and with a decent southerly breeze on Saturday areas of standing water should start to clear. Saturday’s show did go ahead with field car parks just about surviving. The strong southerly winds threatened to exceed the limits of some of

the displays and the integrity of tents and marquees, so we gave live wind gust updates to those concerned. Sunday was the best of the three displays, but we were still kept busy tracking the timings of showers approaching and then clearing the airfield. I was on the early morning shift that day, so I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy the last couple of hours of the show, only getting caught in one heavy shower and taking shelter in the USA’s Hurricane Hunter Weatherbird aircraft! Departures day was an excellent learning experience where we were able to brief over 25 different crews returning to various countries in Europe and beyond. A low pressure system over Scandinavia caused some delays and the extreme heat in Italy was a stark contrast to the UK which was barely reaching 20 C some days!

It was an intense week at RIAT, but I thoroughly enjoyed inputting into the decision making at the world’s largest military airshow. Hopefully we can request some drier weather for next year though!

Met Office Team in the Flight Centre (Jamie, Becky, Eleanor and Jenny)

UAE Al Fursan Display

Hurricane Hunter Weatherbird

Decaying Cumulonimbus Cloud at the end of Departures Day

Quality Golf in North Yorkshire at Bedale Golf Club

In the heart of North Yorkshire, Bedale provides the Golfing Gateway to the Dales.

The course, opened in 1894, has all the anticipated benefits of the Dales countryside combined with easy walking and good natural drainage. It winds through beautiful 18th Century parkland, formerly a deer park, with wide, tree-lined fairways and long range views of the Wensleydale Hills. Water comes into play on seven holes and the course is made more challenging by the prevailing Westerly breeze but will provide all levels of golfer with a challenging and enjoyable day’s golf.

The Club is situated on the outskirts of the thriving Bedale Town Centre, within 3 miles of junction 51 on the A1 and this links to the new A684 relief road which gives golfers a 5-minute journey from the motorway to the club.

SPANCAVE 23 Exercise

by Cpl Lee Thistleton

In May 23, I was invited to instruct Joint Service Mountain Training Wing’s annual International Caving Concentration

Ex SPANCAVE as a guest Instructor. This concentration is held in Cantabria, which is a mountainous region of Northern Spain, world famous for its incredible and extensive cave systems. I have been lucky enough to attend Spancave a number of times in the past, both as a student progressing through the JSAT Caving Scheme and as qualified Military Caving Instructor (CVI). This prior local knowledge of caving in Cantabria was very useful as the scale, complexity, and technical nature of a lot of Spanish caving differs quite significantly from caving in the UK.

The instructing team, mainly comprised of full-time instructors from JSMTW Halton, but including two external instructors like myself, who deployed a week early to set up equipment, conduct recces and ensure that we were fully conversant with all our emergency procedures. Since the pandemic, only one SPANCAVE has been run, so another focus for this week was building upon the organisational knowledge base after a few years off to allow us to deliver safe, quality training once the students arrived in week two.

When the students arrived, our focus moved to delivering

experience trips and JSAT courses at a suitable level to their current experience and qualification level. For me this meant I was teaching the Caving Leader Training (CVT) course, which I had passed on my first SPANCAVE in 2015. It was a very interesting and rewarding experience teaching two very motivated individuals through to the point where they both passed their assessments with a senior instructor towards the end of the exercise. I had passed my CVI qualification in 2017, and at that point at the top of the JSAT Caving qualification ladder you might be tempted to think there’s nothing more to learn. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it is that you never stop learning. Every time I instruct a course or lead groups I learn something new and useful from the experience and the people involved.

At the end of the exercise the students who were there for assessment had all passed their respective courses, and we had conducted a lot of training through some world-class caving trips to expand both student and instructor logbooks and experience. On returning to the UK I was honoured, and pleasantly surprised to be presented with a commemorative CO’s coin by CO JSMTC. This was in recognition

of instructional support I have provided to JSMTC, both in the UK and overseas since I qualified as a CVI.

Having tried many other disciplines, I truly believe that caving is the best AT discipline in the JSAT Scheme. Providing unparalleled controlled exposure to risk and thoroughly delivering on all the developmental aspects of AT. The Yorkshire Dales is the best and most extensive of all the caving regions in the UK, and RAF Leeming is ideally situated to take advantage of this. If you’re in the military and want to try caving, the JSAT Caving Scheme, run by the Army Adventurous Training Group is the best place to start. Courses for the Caving Foundation (CVF) qualification are available through the booking link on Defence Gateway and are run from JSMTW Halton near Lancaster. If your only experience of caving prior to this has been a one-day trip during a multi activity week at a Type 1 Centre, don’t let this cloud your judgement of the sport. Exposure to a “real” caving experience will provide you with a sense of adventure like no other. Once your CVF course is done that could qualify you to attend Ex SPANCAVE, and that’s an amazing experience I would recommend to everybody.

The Yorkshire Dales is the best and most extensive of all the caving regions in the UK, and RAF Leeming is ideally situated to take advantage of this. If you’re in the military and want to try caving, the JSAT Caving Scheme, run by the Army Adventurous Training Group is the best place to start.

https://jive.defencegateway.mod.uk/groups/armyadventurous-training

’’

CRAFTING EXCELLENCE: THE MASONS WAY TO GIN PERFECTION

On World Gin Day in 2013, Cathy and Karl Mason embarked on a journey to create a different gin, not just a different label. The Masons Way is what makes Masons different from the rest. Gin made as it should be, No gimmicks, no shortcuts and absolutely no compromises. For those seeking to unravel the secrets behind Masons’ success, the distillery offers an immersive experience that unveils the art of distillation at Yorkshire’s pioneering gin distillery. You will be welcomed at reception and greeted with a G&T of choice, then walk through to the distilling area to discover the process behind making Masons Yorkshire Gin and learn a brief history in gin’s varied and colourful past. Following the tour, guests will be guided through to the Masons lab where your guide will talk you through the lab and the kind of work that the distilling team do on a day to day basis. Then, guests will be invited to sample a selections of gins whilst being guided on flavour and profile. Finally, guests will go through to the Masons bar area for time to ask any questions to the guide.

“Having attended a few gin tastings before, I have to say the Mason’s experience was exceptionally good. It was great to have the personal insight into the story of Mason’s gin, see how the good stuff is made, and then of course the tasting session. Our host was warm, knowledgeable and I learned plenty about how to enhance my gins with different garnishes.’

Emma. Tripadvisor

Distillery Experiences are held on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays throughout the year.

The distillery shop, open Monday to Friday, is a treasure trove for gin and Masons enthusiasts, offering the complete range of Masons gins and vodkas, alongside carefully curated gifts and Masons merchandise. Masons of Yorkshire is not just a gin; it’s a philosophy distilled into a bottle. The gin-making process at Masons involves adhering to the timehonoured London Dry method, allowing the flavours of their carefully selected botanicals to shine through the distillation process. What sets Masons apart from the rest, is their point blank refusal to add artificial colours or flavours – a commitment that manifests in the crystal-clear purity and rich flavour of their gins. This commitment to quality hasn’t gone unnoticed. Since its creation, Masons of Yorkshire has garnered an astounding 180 international awards and counting, making it one of the most decorated gins in the world. These accolades are a testament to the dedication, precision, and love that Cathy and Karl pour into every bottle of Masons gin.

609 (West Riding) Squadron

609 Sqn continue to move forward under the guidance of No.2 Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Wing, training more squadron members in the use of ORCUS for mobilisation with 34 Sqn, RAF Regt. While mobilising for current Ops and looking forward at future concepts, 609 Sqn also recognises and celebrates its heritage from when it was once a RAuxAF flying squadron at the forefront of the Battle of Britain, followed by subsequent action in World War II. These have been key aspects of squadron activity since our last article.

As the squadron continues to re-shape itself for its current role, Full Time Reserve Service roles for RAF Police and MT JNCOs have become available, please get in touch with the squadron’s admin cell if these are of interest. Similarly, there are several Part Time Volunteer Positions open for RAF Regt. C-UAS operators; we want to recruit people from civilians with no experience to experienced Gunners leaving the Service so if you have an interest please get in touch.

ORCUS TRAINING

In July, three more 609 Sqn personnel qualified as ORCUS C-UAS operators. The two junior ranks did so in preparation an upcoming operational deployment and the SNCO completed it to begin to set up the sqn’s own ORCUS training capability. This is a real turning point for the squadron as it means Reservists can train on the equipment during their training weekends which will ensure that everyone’s skill level remains high. To complement this, there are already two drone pilots on the squadron so they will be able to fly ‘enemy’ drones against the C-UAS operators.

In the future the sqn hopes to be able to run its own live training at

TRAINEE WEEKEND

Spending the weekend with 609 Sqn conducting Section Battle Drills was an exhilarating and immersive experience. There was a real sense of purpose from the minute we arrived at the training area. The drills tested not only our physical capabilities but also our mental agility and teamwork. The Section Battle Drills conducted over the weekend involved a series of tactical exercises designed to enhance the combat readiness and effectiveness of the unit. They began with a comprehensive briefing which included the mission objectives, enemy

RAF Spadeadam and in time even train ab initio operators during Annual Continuation Training. In doing so, the squadron will then

have true capacity to support various levels of C-UAS training and operations in the UK and overseas.

situation, terrain analysis, and any specific orders or guidelines for the exercise.

The section practiced the fundamentals of fire and manoeuvre in different environments, where one fire team provides covering fire while the other moves forward or changes position. This technique allows for advancing while maintaining fire superiority and minimizing exposure to enemy fire. This coincided with reacting swiftly and effectively to enemy contact. Focus remained on taking cover, returning fire, establishing communication, and manoeuvring to gain a tactical advantage over the enemy.

The section also rehearsed casualty evacuation procedures to ensure injured personnel receive immediate medical attention. This included practicing techniques for providing first aid, calling for medical assistance, and safely extracting wounded individuals from the battlefield.

The RAF Regiment places a strong emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and adherence to standard operating procedures. The goal here was to enhance the section’s

ability to react rapidly and effectively to a variety of combat situations while maintaining a high level of operational readiness.

In between the section battle drills we also learnt the basics of scanning techniques from our Sgt who provided valuable insights and techniques based on his practical experience. We practiced scanning horizontally and vertically, paying attention to details and subtle changes in the environment. Training our eyes to identify irregularities, movement, or any signs of human or animal activity. This included footprints, disturbed vegetation, broken twigs, discarded items, and other indicators. We then practiced identifying and interpreting these signs in a short exercise. We also conducted an exercise to develop our map reading and orientation skills. This exercise included interpreting map features, understanding scales, measuring distances, and using compasses to determine and move between locations based on map coordinates. Map reading proficiency is essential for effective navigation and situational awareness in the field.

FLT LT BARON JEAN DE SELYS LONGCHAMPS DFC

In the modern-day air force, the thought of Sptifires, Hawker Typhoons, and Hurricanes battling against the Nazi Luftwaffe for control of the sky or against Nazi ground forces in France and the Low Countries is barely imaginable. However, this period is rich in history for the RAF and played a huge part in the Service proving its worth. As a Reserve formation, 609 Sqn played a huge part in the battles throughout this time and the squadron continues to remember its forefathers and flying legends whose standards, ethos, and values we have inherited.

During World War II, 609 Sqn received volunteers from many countries including Poland, France, and Belgium and it is from

LEEDS RHINOS

As those who follow 609 Sqn on Facebook will have seen, the squadron was invited to Leeds Rhinos Armed Forces Day match against Leigh Leopards. This was a fantastic opportunity for the squadron to engage with the club and rugby league fans inside the ground. Leeds mascot Ronnie Rhino was first to the recruiting stand which increased public interest and created a

the latter where the legendary character of Flt Lt Baron Jean De Selys Longchamps DFC came from. Amongst all the stories about him, one stands head and shoulders above the rest. When he was returning to RAF Manston, Kent after a sortie over occupied Europe he ordered his wingman to return to base as he was going to carry out some additional actions against the enemy. In contravention of his orders, he flew over Brussels which was occupied by the Nazis and lined himself onto one of the main boulevards which housed the Gestapo HQ at the end of it. Selys Longchamps descended and flew low along the street, strafing the Gestapo building and killing the local commander. It is said that he was so low he almost hit the

building when pulling up. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and then demoted for disobeying orders.

Unfortunately, less than a month after this heroic action, he was killed when his plane crashed when landing at RAF Manston. He is now a local legend in the nearby town of Minster in Thanet and is held in extremely high regards in Belgium. This was evident as four members of 609 Sqn attended his 80th Anniversary Memorial event and spoke with a host of local dignitaries, Belgian royalty, and association members from both sides of the English Channel. There were several speeches but most notably was from Heather Carter – now an

older lady, she still tells a clear tale of having supper with the Baron the night before his final flight. While 609 Sqn moves forward with new capabilities this is part of its important heritage that it celebrates.

stream of people keen to engage. Having close ties with 34 Sqn, RAF Regt, the invitation to attend was extended to them and one of their C-UAS Operators gave a great account of the capability to a receptive audience.

Prior to kick off the military personnel attending marched onto the pitch followed by the players prior to the national

PARLIAMENTARY ARMED FORCES DAY

Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsey Harvey Hoyle invited personnel from all three Services to the House of Commons for a recruitment and engagement event as part of Armed Forces Day on the 21st June.

Flt Sgt Richard Seed who was the lead for RAF Reserve aspect of the event commented:

“Parliamentary Armed Forces Day was such a huge success, there has been huge amount of positive feedback from the event. We certainly impressed the MPs and staff that we spoke to during the day and from the social media twitter response it went very well.”

The two representatives from 609 Sqn were AS1 Henderson and

AS1 Clark and they engaged with many MPs from across the political spectrum. Being enthusiastic about their role in the Reserves, they were both forthcoming in interacting with the MPs and employees of the House of Commons who attended throughout the day.

The day was less focused on recruitment and more with interacting with MPs on how the Reservists play a part within the makeup of our armed forces and the positive and vital role they have in supporting the Regular forces. It appeared that the vast majority of people we spoke to did not fully understand or appreciate the significance of the Reserves, especially that we are fully integrated with the Regulars

anthem being played. The game was televised live on Sky Sports so some of us even got a bit of airtime!

For further information on this event and other engagement that the squadron is involved with, head over to our Facebook page ‘609 West Riding Squadron – RAF Reserves’.

and even carry out the same training to enable us to deploy on operations with them. This was something particularly pertinent for AS1 Clark as he had been conducting his pre-deployment training prior to the event. People also seemed surprised about the level of commitment needed to do this along with the added pressures of engaging with our civilian employers to support the Reserves.

From a personal perspective I thoroughly enjoyed the day and at times it seemed a bit surreal to be engaging with people such as Sir Ian Duncan Smith, Rt Hon Tobias Elwood MP Head of the Defence Committee, and Sir Lindsey Hoyle House of Commons speaker, to mention just a few. To cap the day

off we were also give a guided tour of the House of Commons which was an exceptional experience.

THE RAF UNVEIL THEIR LATEST FIGHTER AT RIAT 2023

The 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo will see the first public appearance of the RAF’s newest fighter. But this one has no wings, no weapons and anyone can be the pilot.

The newest addition to the RAF’s fleet is a full rally spec Ford Fiesta ST and is designed to be fighting for victory piloted by RAF personnel in rallies across the UK.

The rally car is an investment in engineering skills, teamwork and competitive spirit and is part of a number of unique recruitment and retention opportunities in the RAF. Wing Commander Craig Teasdale, the project officer explains, “There are so many shared benefits between competitive rallying and the demands of operations in the RAF. Intense teamwork forged by competition with precise engineering, all done under challenging circumstances applies equally to operations and rallying.”

Rallying involves a crew competing against the clock in austere terrain where every second counts and the crew only have their bravery, courage, technical abilities and wits to survive and prevail.

The RAF Rally car, known as the ‘T Car’ is aimed at all RAF personnel who have always wanted to try rallying but have not been able to afford the high start up costs. The T Car enables them to train and develop the skills required through mentoring and eventually compete in a full UK stage rally. The car is excepted to see its first ‘action’ in the tri-service Conningham Cup later in the year.

Donna Sandall Family Law

The

Show! Greatest

In late July the station hosted a familiar yet distinctly different community event –The Leeming Show.

Focussed on Cherishing

Our Community, the day saw over 2,500 people enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly entertainment including everything from Ferris Wheel rides to getting up close and personal with some stunning birds of prey. Face-painted and ice cream laden children revelled in the sunshine, whilst the older kids burnt off some energy on the massive inflatable assault course and rodeo bull.

New for 2023, the axe throwing stall proved incredibly popular as families and friends channelled their inner hunter-gatherer by taking turns hurling weapons at the bullseye target. For those with greater hand-eye coordination the Gaming Van was certainly the place to be.

We welcomed a range of local companies to Leeming, showcasing the best of North Yorkshire in everything from craft beer to outdoor adventure experiences. Some of our community charities were

fundraising in full force too, running raffles and raising awareness of the amazing work they do for us.

Our resident Mountain Rescue Team were on hand to showcase their live-saving equipment alongside other emergency service colleagues from the Fire Service and North Yorkshire Police. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was as impressive as ever, with both the Spitfire and Lancaster displays sending chills down the spine.

As the sun set people simply enjoyed spending quality time together, enjoying tasty treats from the food court and pulling up a deck chair or straw bale to listen to some live music in the marquee.

With enough Yorkshire-themed bunting stocks to see us through the next 100 years, here’s to next year’s event - a huge thank you to the organisers, sponsors and all those who came along to support the day.

RAF Leeming Saddle Club

SUMMER CAMPS

Leeming’s Summer Camp was a great success. Ranging from absolute beginners to those bringing their own horses, the camp held at The Hollies, Richmond, provided the opportunity for everyone to improve their riding skills. Pushed in the flat work and supported through cross country, the three day camp cumulated in a mini competition putting everything learnt into practice.

We also had Cpl Clarke head to a Southern Camp to participate in three days of lessons on flatwork, drill riding to music and her first go around a course of jumps!

DRESSAGE

AS1 Croall and her horse Ronnie have continued to excel within dressage, recently competing in a British Dressage Show. Entering the championship classes at Advanced Medium, they claimed a 1st and 3rd in their tests to place them 2nd overall in the championship and qualified them to ride at the next level up, PSG!

JUMPING

Our OIC, Flt Sgt Polgreen has been leading the way in the cross country discipline, getting out with Colley to demonstrate just how far they’ve come. Competing at the Royal Tournament they came away with rosettes for 3rd and 6th place in the 75 and 85cm respectively. Closer to home she has been representing the RAF at Breckonborough in their One Day Event class.

BRAMHAM

A Leeming contingent headed to

Trials to watch the professionals in the show jumping and Cross Country phases. Some amazing horsemanship was demonstrated on what was a very hot and sunny day.

FAMILIES DAY

Once again we manned our horsebox, handing out rosettes to all those brave enough to make it round our course of jumps and offered encouragement to those who tried the horse shoe throwing! Posters and equipment let people see what we get up to and hopefully we recruited a few more people for the club.

EDUCATION

Congratulations to Sgt MathiesonPybus on completing her British Horse Society Stage 2 qualifications in horse care and lunging. She already judges dressage and is working toward her coaching assessments for teaching.

NEW ARRIVALS

We have several new additions to add to the RAF Leeming Saddle Club family.

We would like to introduce you to our very own mascot, Oscar the dachshund! He is only 6 months old and was a firm favourite, along

with his

trip. We look forward to seeing more of him soon.

Flint, aka Leake Flintstone, is a Connemara cross Warmblood owned by AS1 Croall. She bought him as a foal last year with future aspirations of dressage and show jumping. This year the aim is getting him well handled and out to a few showing shows in preparation for Bramham in 2024.

Perseus belongs to AS1 Shaw and is already 17.1hh (pretty tall) at 2 years old. He is a pure bred Hanoverian and she is bringing him on with future plans of dressage, show jumping and maybe some eventing.

Busy as usual! RAF Leeming Saddle Club has activities suitable for everyone despite your experience. With plenty planned for the next few months, here is a look at what we have been up to recently:

Flt Sgt Polgreen and Colley, Royal Tournament Sqn Ldr Blackett and Ash

Cpl Clarke and Maggie

RAF Leeming Families Day

Bramham International Horse

AS1 Croall and Ronnie at BD Show

Flt Sgt Polgreen at the Royal Tournament

Flt Sgt Polgreen and Colley, Breckonborough ODE

owner AS1 Blake, on our Leeming Camp and Bramham

Oscar, Bramham International Horse Trials

AS1 Croall and Flint

AS1 Shaw and Perseus on the lunge

Adventure Before Dementia Junior Ranks Accommodation Cell

Since leaving the military in 2007, life seemed to be the same old, same old with going to work, family holidays, and the odd weekend in the hills trying to forget modern life. I’ve always liked walking and wild camping, but nothing really of any great distance so decided to challenge myself to a decent adventure for charity. My eyes came across an advertisement for the Coast to Coast walk from St Bees on the Cumbrian Coast to Robin Hood’s Bay on the Yorkshire Coast, and that was the adventure born.

Iset myself a goal of 10 days unsupported walking and wild camping to achieve the crossing - 4 days quicker than the average time advertised to complete. The training started with a mixture of terrain work with weight on my back - something not too unfamiliar to me after serving 24 years in the Army. My body had forgotten it all after 16 years of being out, and to say it was occasionally uncomfortable is an understatement. Things did get easier, to a point where I averaged 20 miles in under 9 hours with 15kgs of weight on my back.

The charity I had chose was The

Alzheimer’s Society. This is a cause close to my heart, after seeing some old military friends going through struggles with Dementia. I was out of my comfort zone asking people for money - I found this harder than the actual walking itself. Nevertheless I set myself a target of achieving £500, so I was committed. Thanks to the generosity of work colleagues, service personnel from RAF Leeming and RAF Odiham, family and friends the target of £500 was surpassed!

3rd June was set as the step off date. Friends and colleagues will poke fun as I don’t own a mobile

phone (I can’t abide modern technology), so I borrowed my wife’s mobile phone to allow me to communicate throughout my adventure. This was to keep her informed of my whereabouts, as my trek was closely being followed by her and the team at Force Protection Training Flight where she works.

Four weeks prior to stepping off, disaster struck. During a family holiday in Italy, I rolled my ankle on cobbles. After an uncomfortable few hours, the doctors said I had damaged ligaments and would need injections into my ankle to ease the pain and aid recovery. I paid the €500 to get the treatmenthow lucky we are to have the NHS. I couldn’t complete my final preparations as my ankle was in pain after a mile or so - I genuinely thought I would have to postpone the whole thing. However, thanks to the kindness of Sgt Greg Symons at FPTF, a cryo cuff compression boot was given to me which aided the healing process and I decided with only 2 days left before stepping off - I was going!

After dipping my toes in the Irish Sea and collecting my pebble from the beach (a tradition completed by everyone walking the trail), I stepped off from St

Bees to start the Coast to Coast at 1100hrs on 3rd June - intent on reaching Ennerdale Water before darkness. The first few miles were great as a breeze was coming in off the sea, but the temperatures were set to rise as the day went on and I wasn’t looking forward to that - especially in the mountains over the coming days.

I was astonished at the variety of people on the trail. I found people from Australia, New Zealand, USA and Belgium all doing what I was doing. It was great to see so many nationalities all striving for the same outcome. I also bumped into another Army veteran called Chris, and we decided that we would team up and walk some parts together, although the majority would be a solo effort. With temperatures reaching above 21 degrees, and away from the coast, there was no breeze. The miles felt longer and my ankle began to get sore, and it was almost 7.30pm when I entered Ennerdale Bridge after conquering Dent hill and Nannycatch Valley. With 5 miles to go I needed a rest; so stopped off at a pub - I was just glad to sit down and digest a pint!

The walk around Ennerdale Water was pleasant, as the sun had dipped away behind the mountains and it wasn’t long before I identified my wild camp.

The midges were out in force, so I had to get set up as fast as I could but no matter how much repellent I put on, they found a way of penetrating somewhere. My aim throughout was to get up at 0600hrs, have a coffee, be walking by 0700hrs and then take a breakfast half hour after 4 or 5 miles along the trail. The plan was 20 miles average per day, or a 12 hour walking window and camp wherever I could. However, I hadn’t factored how hot it was! With soaring temperatures, I was awake at 0500hrs and walking by 0545hrs - I was now into the mountains proper, and the heat was intense.

The Cumbrian mountains didn’t turn out the way I had planned. Heat and exhausting ascents and descents took their toll. I stopped at almost at every water source to take on as much as I could, and I was constantly wet trying to cool down under my hat. In a single day I drank 14 litres of water and still couldn’t hydrate - food became an afterthought. The muesli and milk mix I normally have first thing was making me sick, so I decided to change tactics and cook myself pasta for breakfast that I had with me for emergency use. I was rather relieved to climb down from Kidsty Pike for the final descent

in the Lakes, and to start heading to Shap, where I knew I could resupply and sort myself out. My first proper meal was delicious fish and chips from the infamous Shap chip shop and a couple of pints. The Lake District National Park welcomed me in with open arms, then swallowed me up, threw everything it could at me and spat me out a physical wreck. Looking back, my hill training was sufficient, but the hot weather had a lot to answer for. I was now almost a day and a half behind schedule.

One national park down, it was time to hit the second of three that I would walk through and the one I knew best; the Yorkshire Dales. The map was thrown into the pack and after resupplying my food I headed for Kirby Stephen and the gradual slopes beyond with new vigour.

On two consecutive days I managed to achieve 24 miles walking before the 12-hour window. The weather had decreased in temperature, and there were no hills to contend with - I was back in my happy place again. At one point on the trail I ended up knee deep in a bog, but laughed it off. My sense of humour and strength were back, but my ankle by this time

Eagle Crag Camp

was in pain and I had to resort to the Army’s cure-all…… Ibuprofen! A godsend were the farms with honesty boxes - specifically aimed at walkers on the coast to coast. One oasis had a shed placed by the farm gates, filled with all the niceties you could imagine: freshly made sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, crisps, chocolates… the list goes on and on for walkers with an honesty box payment in their pockets.

I was close to home and if there would be a time I thought of quitting, this was going to be it. That evening, I chatted to my wife, who told me that the team from Waste Management at RAF Leeming would meet me the next morning, hoping to walk some of the trail with me. That cheered me up and a rendezvous was agreed. I had to get up early next morning, and as I descended the hill, all I could see was Chris, Paul and Roger doing a Mexican Wave - a sight that will stay with me for years to come.

The next half hour over my pasta breakfast was spent catching up on events and various questions about my health and kit. Paul, an ex-RAF WO, was fascinated with my water filter and how I could dip it into any running streams and safely drink from the other end - an item I could not have done without in the Lakes. Entering Richmond, someone suggested Wetherspoon’s for a proper breakfast. How could I refuse? Especially as they said they would pay for it!

We parted company and I continued onto the flat expanse between the Yorkshire Dales and Moors. Best foot forward (I was really struggling with my ankle now), I was relying on my walking poles. This was my time to try and regain lost time by hammering out the miles, and I hoped that

I wouldn’t do any real damage to my ankle. I found many of the sections overgrown, and had to fight my way through the sides of fields, which slowed me down but I was making up lost time.

The next challenge was crossing the A19. It was playing chicken with cars but after an eternity, I found a break in traffic and hurried across. I pitched camp in a pub beer garden - I had no strength left for the long climb up the moors and I really wanted some refreshment! At this point, I estimated that I would make the end in 2.5 days, which just happened to be my 56th birthday!

Winding my way through the villages of Glaisdale and Egton Bridge, I was looking forward to reaching Grosmont to look around the village station, which is renowned for its steam trains. On walking down into the village, a noticeable police presence was evident for some reason, so I erred on caution I continued through. I opted to camp at Intake Farm, 10 miles short of the finish line. I was

soon stood on the lawn of the farmhouse, erecting my tent and was confronted with a tall cold drink, steaming hot coffee and a homemade flapjack on a tray. Now that’s what I call a greeting! A bag full of ice was given to me by my hostess, who had specially went out and bought it to help my ankle injury. I am truly grateful for this act of kindness. I enquired about the heavy police presence earlier in the day at Grosmont and she informed me that the King had visited - unfortunately I had missed him!

On my nightly call home, I found out that the FPTF had hired a minibus and were heading to form a welcome party at the finish. I was embarrassed but also proud that they’d taken interest in what I was doing. I can’t thank FPTF enough for all the encouragement and help.

The final 10 miles were more of a saunter and it wasn’t long before I glimpsed of the North Sea and Whitby Abbey in the distance. The final mile downhill was cool as the sea breeze returned, something that I hadn’t felt since over 192 miles ago.

Unfortunately, my welcoming party had been delayed in traffic, so I finished the walk in relative peace. I dipped my toes in the North Sea and dug out the pebble I had picked from the beach in St Bees and threw it into the sea.

As I sat quietly afterwards, I made some calculations -

Total time for the 192 miles crossing: 10 days and 22 hours

3 National Parks transited Zero blisters or hot spots

One ankle that will need some medical attention

29,000 ft of elevation Gained, 2,600ft per day averaged out. 55,000 ft total elevation Gained and lost.

433,541 individual steps.

All that was left for me to do was sign the official crossing book which is stored in the Bay Hotel. It happens to be held behind the bar, so an excellent excuse to have a pint of cider at the same time which I have to say didn’t even touch the sides on its way downafter all I think I had earned it and it was my birthday!

The final total once I closed the JustGiving page was £1450 raised for Alzheimer’s Society. I had annihilated my £500 target thanks to everyone who had contributed. Adventure before Dementia.

What’s next?

Mr George Lockhart –Accommodation Cell

£1450 raised for Alzheimer’s Society

Yorkshire UAS News

Throughout the exam season, Yorkshire Universities Air Sqn (YUAS) has had a busy summer term with camps and expeditions, and students have been enjoying a range of training throughout the university holidays.

At the beginning of July, all staff and students attended YUAS’ principal summer exercise LeadEx, where YUAS deployed into a field environment to learn leadership and practical skills. This ex is unique to YUAS and we were grateful for the support by 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, who provided helpful pre-deployment training such as conducting vehicle and personnel searches and different attack formations in preparation for the five days spent in the field.

On deployment to Catterick, students were put into a scenario where they received intelligence briefs as well as some basic SERE training. Students then took turns leading small sections or the overall group to complete various tasks assigned to them. LeadEx proved to be a successful exercise, providing valuable leadership, communication and resilience training and was enjoyed by all.

YUAS have also volunteered at RAF Cosford Airshow and the Royal International Air Tattoo over summer, engaging with other UAS’ and RAF units, developing students’ air power knowledge. Around their work hosting pilots and crew, students were able to visit aircraft around the showground and watch flying displays.

Adventurous Training has been a highlight of our summer activity. Away from the July rain in Yorkshire, students spent a week in the Dolomites in Italy. Over five days, students completed via ferrata routes such as Col Rosa, with varied exposure and climbing techniques. They also visited sites such as WW1 field hospitals in the national park and hiked the same routes then taken by soldiers. Off the hill, students prepared and delivered presentations on topics such as the Dolomites’ geology.

At the end of June, YUAS conducted a flying camp at Leeming for keen fliers to make

quick progress through the EFT syllabus. Despite some poor weather and technical issues with the ac, students enjoyed AEF sorties such as formation flying, studied ground subjects, develop their airmanship and understand the importance of so many moving parts including but not exclusively to engineers, Ops, ATC and Flt Safety in making flying possible.

A deployment to RAF St Mawgan allowed 15 students to fly from unfamiliar surroundings and try a range of AT activities such as coasteering, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, and hillwalking. Students have enjoyed flying over the scenic county and although the weather was not onside some days, everyone flew least once with some help from Bristol UAS. Organising the logistics of

deploying to a far away base also gave an insight to the students to the more operational side of the RAF.

The ethos of the RAF is also important to us and an Air Power Educational Exercise to Malta in June saw ten students visit military and historical sites of the island, studying its strategic involvement in the Second World War, and subsequent RAF operations which were conducted there until 1979. Malta’s location made it strategically important to both powers for the North African Campaign, and it was heavily bombed in 1942. Presentations

delivered by the students at each site were on topics such as the development of armaments since WW1 and the annexation of Malta. The Malta Aviation Museum and Lascaris War Rooms, used to plan Operation Husky, were highlights of the sites visited.

YUAS remain very proud of the range of activities they offer to the students and use opportunities such as the St Mawgan flying camp and LeadEx as vehicles to develop the students and sqn cohesion. They are involved in all sorts of planning, delivery, public speaking and the degree to which the staff witness the development of both hard and soft skills through these activities and mentoring, whilst still having to balance a full time degree is impressive. Having just had our leaving ceremony for graduating students next week, attended by some ex YUAS students reminds us that once YUAS, always YUAS, and the opportunity UAS gives to future RAF Officers and NCOs. Thanks to all at Leeming that have helped us over the last year and we look forward to more station visits, collaboration with other RAF Leeming lodger units, annual recruitment and the commencement of our Training Nights from Oct onwards.

Summer on NUAS

Summer on NUAS is always very busy and this year has been no different. The past month has been particularly busy for many students with back-to-back trips and activities. This time of year is also when we see a number of students leave the squadron to go onto new things after graduation, with a new intake being brought in in October. This year, a handful of those leaving will be starting MIOT, whilst others will go onto various other jobs and activities.

FLYING

Flying is a big part of what students do on NUAS, with the opportunity to work through the Elementary Flying Training syllabus or for those who do not want to commit to the syllabus whilst doing their studies, there is the option to get air time through Air Experience Flying. Students have been making the most of the summer weather (where possible!) and have been making great progress with their flying training. Congratulations to Off Cdts Rogers and Garner for recently completing their first solo flights, and Off Cdt Baldwin for completing solo sector recce.

AFD RUGBY MATCH

NUAS were thrilled to be able to take part in the Armed Forces celebrations by attending the Military vs Cancer rugby event at Kingston Park on 24 June. Students helped the event staff where required, as well as running a recruitment stall and speaking to potential future recruits about everything NUAS has to offer. The event ended with £35,000+ raised for a great charity.

CO’S CUP SPORTS DAY

NUAS came 1st place in the June event of the Leeming CO’s Cup! On 29th June, 8 teams took part in a sports day, with activities such as welly throwing, relay race, and shuttle runs. The team of 8 students representing NUAS came out victorious, winning the tug of war to decide between 1st and 2nd position.

EX VIA DOLOMITE

Via Ferrata - Iron Path: In June, 7 NUAS students travelled to Italy for Exercise Via Dolomite. The Dolomites was the origin of Via Ferrata when mountain guides installed the first iron steps and cable in 1880 to make traversing the steep terrain easier. Since then it has become a popular activity across Europe and falls somewhere in between rock climbing and scrambling. Massive exposure and extended periods of technical scrambling up rock, iron pegs and ladders makes it an adrenaline inducing and exciting sport. Bravery, teamwork and technical ability was tested throughout the week and all on the trip had a fantastic experience.

WIMBLEDON SERVICE STEWARDS

Between 02 and 16 Jul, a group of NUAS students volunteered as stewards at The Wimbledon Championships 2023. The students worked in various roles around the grounds, such as managing gangways on Centre Court and No.1 Court, working on the corridors, and assisting guests, alongside personnel from the RAF, the Royal Navy, and the Army, as well as the London Fire Brigade. Service stewards have helped at The Championships for over 70 years and NUAS students feel honoured to have the chance to be involved in the running of the oldest and one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world each year.

AFD Rugby

AFD Rugby

CO’s Cup Sports Day

Wimbledon

Flying

RIAT23

A group of NUAS students were delighted to have the opportunity to work at RIAT23. The students helped with various different tasks at the event, met lots of interesting people, and enjoyed watching the airshow!

RAF BRIZE NORTON STATION VISIT

In July, 11 students from NUAS attended a station visit at RAF Brize Norton, the home of the RAF’s Air Mobility Force. Students had a tour of both 70 sqn and 206 sqn, as well as being given a tour of an Airbus A400M aircraft. For the aspiring aircrew in the group, this was an excellent opportunity to meet with A400M crew, ask questions and discuss the aircraft’s capabilities. Students also completed AT at a nearby water sports centre.

EX PINK TALON

Between 22 and 30 July, NUAS visited RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Force Development activities began early each day due to the high temperatures, with options including having a guided tour of the Nicosia Green Line, and hiking at Troodos Peak. A highlight of the trip for many was the morning of watersports, where students had the chance to do some waterskiing and stand up paddleboarding, as well as being taken on a boat tour of the area. Meeting personnel from around the station and learning about what they do in Cyprus was very interesting and valuable to everybody. The week was a great success and has left everyone looking forward to the new academic year for more FD trips!

AUF WIEDERSEHEN

To bid farewell to those leaving the squadron this year, NUAS students organised a week-long camp from 01 August involving various activities. Such activities included visits to ATC, Intelligence, and Operations, Via Ferrata in the Lake District, and lots of sports. The week finished with the presentation of awards, and the handover of responsibilities from the former student leadership team, to the new team for the new academic year. The 4 new APOs are looking forward to travelling to RAF Cranwell to complete the APO Course in September, before NUAS’ academic year begins, and the new intake of students arrives.

EX

Wimbledon

Ex PINK TALON

RAF LEEMING YOUTH CLUB

We are mid-way through an amazing summer holiday programme in Youth Club. This year so far we have cooked a meal from scratch for the Community Team, learnt new Circus skills, created splash art with balloons full of paint, been to Ninja Warrior, Tie-dyed tshirts and the teenagers went out for dinner without their very uncool parents, to name a few!

However, the highlight so far must be the RAF wide 3-day residential trip to Shrewsbury. Funded by the RAF Benevolent Fund, 21 young people and 2 brave adults set off for an unforgettable adventure. The Airplay Airbreak event brought together nearly 200 young people from across the UK who enjoyed outdoor adventures and the excitement of new friends, dorm rooms and very little sleep.

I really liked the kayaking, climbing and more. I liked being with my friends, sharing a room with them, being in the same group, but also meeting more people and becoming friends with some. This was a really fun trip to go on and the staff were really nice. I loved the activities they set up in the evening and the food was amazing. I would love to go back there again.

Poppy S aged 11.

My girls have just come back from a 3 day residential which they have loved. It’s the first time they have been away on their own but loved being with Mel and Becki and all the other youth workers. They enjoyed all the activities they did whilst they were there, they came back exhausted but would go back in a heartbeat. On top of this we have almost completed an amazing youth club throughout the summer holidays including a trip to Washington Wetlands, Tie Dye, Art Splat, Circus skills- which was incredible. It is an amazing resource at Leeming and I am so proud to be a part of it.

Youth club – Cheryl B

I absolutely loved the youth club residential at JCA Condover Hall. I made lots of new friends. My favourite activity was kayaking I had so much fun and would love to go on the next one.

Amy W – age 10

I love the youth club and I love Mel and the other staff. I went on the residential trip to Condover Hall, I was a bit worried about being away from home but I knew Id be fine with my friends, Mel and Becki. My favourite activity was kayaking. I have also loved youth club all the sessions but especially the summer holiday programme. I have just done circus skills and it was incredible.

Lucy W – Age 8

QUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGIATE BECOMES THE FIRST SCHOOL TO ENTER THE STUDENT MOTORSPORT CHALLENGE

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate is driving forward new and exciting extra-curricular opportunities for its students, as it is the first ever school to participate in the Student Motorsport Challenge, which until now, had seen only universities and colleges compete.

The Student Motorsport Challenge was launched at QE by JP from Student Motorsport alongside a team from Oxford Brookes University, who visited with a kit to prepare the car and coordinated a “Pit Stop Challenge” to demonstrate what is involved in building a race car. From there, Year 12 students and QE staff worked alongside Race Engineer, Will Snuggs from WJS Motorsport Engineering & Trackside, to transform the standard Citroen C1 into a race-ready contender.

Within three weekends, students had already helped strip the car in preparation for fitting new race parts. The car was built in time to compete in the BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship at Croft Circuit, where the QE Motorsport Team managed a ground-

breaking weekend, placing 2nd in Class in the team’s first ever race, and 4th place in both the second and third races. QE Motorsport Team Principal, Helen Snuggs, said that “The enthusiastic student team have worked hard with our driver and have performed amazingly, experiencing everything from building a car to race meeting procedures, live pit wall timings and scrutineering. As the first – and only – school competing, we have broken records never been done before. Our driver, Arthur Simondet, has been so engaging and he consistently won the fastest lap for the SMC (Novice) category in our car. Now, we are looking forward to competing at Anglesey and the other four race weekends.”

Matt Clayton, Head of Co-Curricular at QE, believes that “The Student Motorsport Challenge is a marvellous opportunity for students and has become a fantastic addition to QE’s large co-curricular programme, which is always expanding. I’m thrilled with how the whole team has embraced the experience with a real sense of camaraderie and collaboration and to see a second place in our first ever race of our first ever championship is outstanding.”

To find out more about QE Motorsport, the school, and its co-curricular options, follow @queenethelburgas on Instagram. Or, if you would like to sponsor the Team QE Motorsport Team, please email motorsport@ qe.org.

Within three weekends, students had already helped strip the car in preparation for fitting new race parts.

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