RAF BENSON MILITARY WIVES CHOIR

News Update

The choir have had a really busy Autumn 2022 season.

October saw us perform at a community memorial concert in the beautiful church of St Mary’s in Sydenham. We sang in partnership with the church choir, honouring their long-time choir member who sadly passed away during covid. The concert was very upbeat in memory of her joyful personality, and we were totally spoiled by the local residents – who definitely understand the proper meaning of refreshments! While in November we partnered with the amazing Wantage Silver Band for a really emotive remembrance concert in our local village church, St Helen’s Benson. We would like to thank Sqn Ldr. McNeillie who came to support us by doing a reading and were thrilled to help raise over £400 for the Royal British Legion.

The Christmas season saw us back in St Helen’s for a festive concert where our regular, beautiful soloist Amber Shankland joined us to sing the classic Pie Jesu and help out with all the high notes! The audience enjoyed singing along to carols, a bit of ABBA and Sweet Caroline to finish. We snuck in two social establishment visits as well – leading the carol singing at the cosy Barley Mow in Clifton Hampden and of course our Christmas meal at the White Hart in Dorchester, who we thank for being very generous hosts.

We’re back now rehearsing some new songs (including some from Les Mis, Wicked and The Greatest Showman) in the Station church, every Wednesday from 7pm. We are open to all females with an association with the military, either through job (serving personnel and contractors) or family (mums, daughters, wives, etc). We’d love to see some new members join us so please come along and try it out! No auditions, just fun singing and tea and coffee afterwards. Please look up Military Wives Choir Benson on Facebook or email Benson@militarywiveschoirs.org for more information.

Fiona Amstutz

HIVE – The HIVE Information Officer, Mrs Janine Ansty-Bridges is situated between in the Community Centre where a warm welcome awaits you. The RAF Benson HIVE Service supports the Chain of Command and tri-Service community through the provision of up to date and relevant information.

RAF HIVE Information Officer can provide an extensive range of information on relocation, local facilities, schools and further education, housing, healthcare facilities, employment and training opportunities. Information on future relocations is one of the key areas of information support and is available either in advance or on arrival at the receiving unit. RAF HIVE staff are also involved in providing Operational deployment support, including distributing deployment support resources.

If you would like to contact me, please email BEN-BSW-HIO@mod. gov.uk or call 01491 827213.

Community Support Team

Community Support Officer – Meg Wickett – BEN-BSW-CDO@mod.gov.uk

Station Community Support Officer – WO Phil Withey – BEN-BSW-SCSO@mod.gov.uk

Padre 1 Rev (Sqn Ldr) Paul Stephens – paul.stephens104@mod.gov.uk

Padre 2 Revd (Sqn Ldr) Philip Wilson - Philip.Wilson126@mod.gov.uk

Chaplaincy Clk – Mrs Sharon Waters –sharon.waters934@mod.gov.uk

Stn Youth Worker – Hannah Wilson –Hannah.Wilson@oneymca.org

Deborah Wise (Personal and Family Support Worker) - Deborah.wise@ssafa.org.uk

Faye Grant (Personal and Family Support Worker) - Faye.grant@ssafa.org.uk

Kathy Porat (Welfare Administrator) - Kathy.porat@ssafa.org.uk

Amy Suttling (Social Work Team Lead) - Amy.suttling@ssafa.org.uk

Joanne Harper (Social Work Regional Manager) - Joanne.harper@ssafa.org.uk

Welcome to RAF Benson Gathering the Common Room, right hand side of the Shuttleworth Mess for a free coffee and followed by a windscreen tour of the Station. Open to everyone.

The Community Support Team will be there every 1st Wednesday of every month from 1000 – 1130.

We look forward to meeting you all soon.

Weekly Clinics

Mortgage Advice Clinic – Appointments held fortnightly on Thursdays with representatives of Lexion Financial Services.

Solicitor Clinic - Appointments held every alternate Wednesdays with Richard Rodway from the Head Partnership in Henley. To book an appointment, please contact the HIVE Information Officer on Ext 7213 or email: BEN-BSW-HIO@mod.gov.uk

Community Support Weekly Planner Stn Church Morning Prayer every Mon – Fri 0830 – 0900, every Thursday Catalyst Christian Bible Group from 1800 – 1930.

For more information email: BEN-BSW-Chaplaincy@mod.gov.uk

Playgroups

Little Cherubs Structured Playgroup

– Sessions run every Monday & Thursday morning from 0930 – 1130 in the Soft Play Area, Community Centre.

Oxfordshire Play Association – Sessions run every Tuesday 1000 -1200 in the Soft Play Area, Community Centre and Saturdads runs every other Saturday. For more information email: BEN-BSW-HIO@mod.gov.uk

Airplay Groups

Ben Club – Session run every Tuesday from 1615 – 1730 for children aged 5 – 8 years.

For more information regarding these groups, email: Hannah.Wilson@oneymca.org

Scouting Groups

Cubs – Group runs every Monday from 1830 -2000 for children aged 8 – 10.5 years. Beavers – Group runs every Tuesday from 1800 – 1930 for children aged 6 – 8 years. Scouts – Group runs every Wednesday from 1830 – 2030 for children aged 10.5 – 14 years.

Explorers – Group runs every Friday from 1900 – 2100 for children aged 14 – 18 years. For more information about scouting, email: Raf-benson@thameschilternscouts.org.uk

Girlguiding Groups

Rainbows – 1700 – 1815

Brownies – 1800 – 1930

Guides – 1800 – 1930

Groups runs every Thursday, for more details email: yvetteandduncan@btinternet.com

Station Cinema

Friday - 1930 – Adults Only

Saturday - 1000 – Open to all Sunday 1400 – Open to all

For more information email: BEN-CinemaClub@mod.gov.uk

Thrift Shop

Monday – 0930 – 1130

Tuesday 0830 – 1030

Wednesday 0930 – 1130

First Saturday of every month – 1000 – 12-00 For more information email: Simon.Bird869@mod.gov.uk

Ceramics Club – Monday 1830 – 20.30, email: Jennifer.brown323@mod.gov.uk

Oxfordshire Mind – Tuesday 0830 – 1630, email: RAFBENSON@oxfordshiremind.org.uk

BROGA – Tuesday - 1200 – 1300, Bookings through the Myzone App via the gym.

Military Wives Choir – Wednesday 1900 – 2045 held in the church –benson@militarywiveschoir.org

– Are you newly arrived into station and want to meet the Station Community Support Team? Why not pop along to

Inters Youth Club – Session runs every Tuesday 1800 – 2000 for children aged 12+ Airplay Juniors – Session runs every Wednesday from 1630 – 1800 for children aged 8 – 10 years. Airplay Forum – Session runs every Wednesday from 1830 – 1930.