Mainpoint Spring 2023

• It’s our free online platform exclusively for RAF personnel and their partners.

• Covering a range of self-directed topics tailored to life in the RAF.

• The course can be accessed anonymously, either as a couple or separately.

• It aims to equip you with the communication skills and strategies to get the best out of your relationships.

We also provide relationship counselling and mediation support.

Find out more and register:

rafbf.relate.org.uk

MAIN RIDE: SAT 13 MAY 2023

Start & finish: The Petwood Hotel, Lincolnshire, home of the Dambusters

Ride to take a heritage route

VIRTUAL RIDE: SAT 20 – SUN 21 MAY 2023

Start & finish: Wherever you want it to be. The ride can be completed anywhere

Enter individually or as a team

Raise vital funds for the RAF Family Exclusive medal and jersey for all riders

Sign up now: rafbf.org/ride

Publishing Team

Gp Capt Garwood

One Team, Training People for Defence

SPRING

IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A TRANSITIONAL TIME BETWEEN FRIGID TEMPERATURES AND BALMY BEACH DAYS.

It's a season of new beginnings, rejuvenation, and rebirth capturing the imagination of writers and poets throughout the centuries. Tolstoy hit the nail on the head when he said that Spring is the time of plans and projects. This very much applies here at Halton as we reconfigure both Ops and Trg Wings to face forthcoming challenges, not least aligning workforce in the latter to engage with Programme PORTAL planning and to better understand what the transition to 2 Group might look like and how it will affect our business. This work takes place under the watchful eye of our new Station Warrant Officer, Dave Iliffe, who most will know from his time in the Finlay gym.

Our routine business of delivering motivated, welltrained warfighters to the frontline continues unabated and has never been more relevant than set against the backdrop of ongoing war in Ukraine. The courage, determination, and resilience that we have seen from the Ukrainian people in defending their country and their shared values of freedom and democracy has been awe inspiring. Their struggle for the future of their country and that of their children has captured the hearts and

minds of the entire free world, whose support for their fight has been unwavering. The Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces have taken a leading role in this international effort, providing vital equipment, training thousands of Ukrainian recruits and reinforcing our commitment to NATO. Specifically the RAF has overseen a huge logistical effort to source equipment and move military aid by air. More than 500 Typhoon sorties have been flown in support of UK and NATO security, and Rivet Joint has flown more than 125 intelligence gathering missions across the High North, Baltic, and Black Seas.

As ever this month's edition offers an insight into the smorgasbord of diverse station activity. What it does not perhaps reflect was the herculean whole force effort which secured an Ofsted assessment of GOOD following their visit immediately upon our return from the Christmas break. With only 48 hours' notice the team descended to assess both the BTRC and DE SNCO courses. Whilst our challenges with infrastructure were quite rightly identified as needing improvement, the Ofsted team were clear that we have high expectations of

recruits and are ambitious for them to succeed: 'staff have a clear vision and mission to train motivated and wellprepared aviators. They are determined to ensure recruits experience an inclusive and fair living and training environment where they feel safe. Recruits are positive about their experience, courses are well planned and ordered so that recruits have enough time to practise new skills'. Specifically our trainers were assessed to have expert subject knowledge and relevant training qualifications, using these effectively to explain information clearly which keeps recruits motivated to listen and contribute. Well done and thank you to everyone involved; the Ofsted assessment accurately reflects that which I have held dear since my arrival last summer: Halton is blessed with great people doing great work.

Welcome to the first edition of Mainpoint for 2023. Despite the apparent quietness of the Stn in Jan and Feb, I am pleased to say that we have a magazine packed with interesting stories for you.

We tell how RAF Halton SATTs have been providing support at RAF Honington as part of their holds, and the role of Halton in training Part Time Voluntary Reservists is also covered. We feature another well-known station building with a huge history - Halton House Officers’ Mess. In other news we cover some amazing community and charity events, with a huge weight lifted in support of Suicide Awareness and some of our SATTs challenged to restore an area at the RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre.

Sporting stories include cross-country and golf… there is a flashback to Christmas to catch up with events from

late December and January. Finally, two long-serving Halton personnel who recently left the RAF give a few details of their varied RAF life and there are 2 familiar faces along with a new face in ‘Meet the New…’

My huge thanks, as always, to all contributors – without you the magazine would not appear. However, I am sad to say that this is my final edition of Mainpoint as Editor – I am handing over to Flt Lt Kate Gale who is eagerly awaiting any new volunteers to join the Mainpoint Team! Good luck Kate and enjoy your time creating a varied magazine which hopefully can be kept in a printed version. I became involved with Mainpoint because I wanted to know what was going on at Halton (I’m nosey!). Whatever your motivation, if you have an interest in helping to produce the magazine or ideas for content, I am sure that Kate would welcome hearing from you!

Ed

EX SUICIDE AWARENESS

On 02 Feb 2023, I set out on a 33-hour weightlifting challenge, lifting 4129kg on the even hours then 1454kg on the odd hours. Why those numbers? In 2021, 4129 males and 1454 females committed suicide in England and Wales, my best friend Stu was one of them. He was 33 years old when he committed suicide and 02 Feb would have been his 35th birthday.

My priorities for this event were to get people talking about Mental Health, especially men. Reduce stigma around suicide, through raising awareness and talking about it, and finally to raise funds for Hectors House, a local suicide prevention charity.

I started the challenge at 0800, starting with deadlifts, 100kg lifts 41 times, finishing with a 30kg dumbbell curl at the end. At 0900 I elected to do bench press for this hour, 50kg lifts 31 times finishing with a 4kg dumbbell curl. Both these lifts didn’t take that long which meant I could then return to near the front door and engage with people as they came in the gym.

As the day progressed, I switched which lifts I would use to try and reduce the fatigue on my body. I primarily used deadlifts, squats or leg press for the 4129kg hour. For the 1454kg I focussed on upper body so doing bench press, bicep curls or triceps extensions.

Some of the highlights of the time I spent in the gym, over 33 hours, was talking to people, especially those on the RRU. Chatting to them about how their injuries had affected them and how they were working through it. What I personally enjoyed was personnel who joined in and helped me through the sets. Individuals who throughout the day lifted over 150,000kg combined!

Special thanks to the only station personnel who came down to cheer me on and help me through. Flt Lt Kearney, WO Jenkins, FS Chrisp, FS Stobbs, CT Mallam, Sgt Martin, Sgt Martini, Sgt Mawdsley, Sgt Wallace, the RAFP personnel and MPGS who checked up on me throughout the night. Particular thanks go to the individuals who brought me a MacDonalds in the depths of the night!

Friday was a difficult day for me, the weights were starting to take effect and I hadn’t eaten properly throughout the night where I was tired. But, when Nadine, my wife and Maxwell my son, popped in it really helped. Having family there supporting and pushing me on was a big morale boost. As the day went on, more people arrived, Stu’s sister, Heather, drove up from Kent and so did Ian (one of the four of our close friendship group), then Hector’s House staff arrived and this helped reinvigorate me for the last set.

The last was completed at 1600 on Friday, this was a 4129kg set. FS Stobbs had arrived to lift with me, my family and friends were there to support me. I selected Hit the Road Jack, Drum and bass remix, as the song for the start of the set. This was particularly emotional as this was the song we played at the end of Stu’s funeral as we exited the crematorium.

As we started lifting, Heather then challenged me to finish my set before the end of the song, so I lifted the 80kg deadlift 51 times and curled 2 x 15kg dumbbells within 3min 30sec.

It took me 3 days before I could walk without aching, I didn’t manage to get back in the gym due to aches and niggles for 2 weeks. I’m now continuing on my Strongman journey and training for a competition in Apr.

FS Andrew Smith, ACS

FS Smith, 100kg Deadlift.

FS Smith, 50kg Bench Press.

Karyn and Sarah, both from Hector’s House, with FS Smith.

FS Smith and FS Stobbs, set 33 at 1600 on Friday – the Final Set!

Heather Petrie (Stu’s sister) and FS Smith, after the event finish.

FORGING CONNECTIONS – RAF HALTON FUNDRAISING FOR RSPCA BLACKBERRY FARM (QUAINTON)

The RSPCA Blackberry Farm Animal Centre occupies a 10-acre site overlooking the rural villages of Waddesdon and Quainton in Buckinghamshire. The site is just two minutes from the A41 between Aylesbury and Bicester. The centre has 20 rehoming kennels, 34 cat rehoming pens, an intake area and kennels for case animals which sadly stay with them for long periods of time. Dogs in their care can unleash their energy on the exercise field or practice their agility skills in the training barn. They also care for small farm animals and have two stables and a field shelter.

Recently RAF Halton Servicepersonnel Awaiting Trade Training (SATT) decided they would like to support the centre in whatever way they could. After subsequently contacting them with the offer, the centre assigned the SATTs team with the challenging task of revamping their sensory area for dogs. This was situated in a large, grassed field and consisted of a variety of different terrains for the dogs to walk on, ranging from cobblestones, pebbles, slabs and various other loose materials. This area acted as a confidence builder for the dogs by exposing them to numerous textures, environments, and smells, which would have huge benefits to the animals mentally and physically.

Unfortunately, the area had become overgrown, with the cobblestones and pebbles buried under weeds and many areas of the path being dominated by grass and moss. Due to its condition, the animals were not able to make use of this great facility.

Cpl Reading and a group of SATTs visited the sensory garden and began the difficult task of de-weeding and restoring the path back to its former glory. The team all worked extremely hard, making a huge effort to rid the path of all intrusive objects and plants. After an intense morning of hard work and large swathes of the path restored, the RSPCA staff thanked the team by providing them with the opportunity to take a tour of the site. The tour really helped the team grasp what a great job the RSPCA do for the local community and the exemplary level of support they provide their animals. The team got to see this first hand as their animal behaviouralist took them through some dog training with one of their long stay dogs.

The team left the site feeling energised and proud of what they were able to achieve in such a short space of time and the SATT’s felt great that they were giving back to the local community.

A few weeks after the initial task, the RSPCA centre published a Facebook

post asking for additional resources for their animals to help them through the winter. So, Cpl Reading decided to set up and co-ordinate an initiative for the local community and RAF Halton to donate Animal Christmas shoeboxes which could be donated to the Centre. With support from AS1 Presford and Bareham (Station Medical Centre) a huge number of shoeboxes and items began to flood in both from the local community and the station itself. With overwhelming support, we had at least RRP £500+ worth of items to donate to the centre, with some being brand new and others being pre-loved. To all who donated, a huge THANK

YOU from both the centre and Cpl Reading for supporting the great achievement. This influx of supplies certainly helped maintain their output and delivery of care to animals over the Christmas period.

We will continue to support the RSPCA throughout 2023 and I encourage you to investigate opportunities with the centre if you are interested. A quick google search of ‘RSPCA Blackberry Farm’ will allow you to visit their website and look at all the volunteering roles available. Alternatively, if you would like help and support at Station level, for assistance email Richard.Reading100@ mod.gov.uk.

Cpl Richie Reading

THE CHANGES TO THE LAW

• The Government’s Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into effect on 6th April 2022, and now allows for married couples in England and Wales to divorce without assigning blame. This new law also applies to civil partnership dissolution.

• Like in the old law however, they must have been married for at least one year before applying for the divorce.

• Under the old law, a couple had to prove the breakdown of their marriage through e.g. adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion or lived separately for 2 years or more. If they did not reach an agreement to divorce, they had no choice but to wait until they had been living separately for 5 years before they could make the application.

THE NEW LAW

Divorce is now completely digital. Under the new law, there is only one ground for divorce, and that is the irrevocable breakdown of marriage. The changes mean that instead of needing to prove the other party is at fault, there is now no requirement to assign fault when filing for divorce. This also means that you cannot contest the divorce unless you are contesting it on the grounds of validity of the marriage. The new process will allow parties to either make a sole or a joint application (saving on costs!), unlike in the past where only one party could make the divorce application.

There is also a new minimum period of 20 weeks from the beginning of proceedings to the point of the ‘Conditional Order’. This means that 20 weeks must elapse from when the application is filed with the Court before the parties can apply for the Conditional Order. The main purpose for this window is to allow couples a period of ‘meaningful reflection’. If, after that period, the couple still wish to divorce, they must confirm this to the court when they apply for the Final Order, thus making it a minimum of 26 weeks between the initial application and the final order. The new law has made language to be in plain English, for example, changing ‘decree nisi’ to Conditional Order and ‘decree absolute’ to Final Order. The process of filing for the divorce itself is now called Divorce Application as opposed to ‘petition’ which was used in the past. No-fault divorce should reduce conflict, allowing couples to focus on important issues like their children, property and finances.

If you need further advice on this or any other family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact Adaeze.

She offers a 30 minute initial consultation for £60 on family matters. adaeze@dc-kaye.co.uk

•

A LEGEND LEAVES THE JOB

One of the longest serving Aviators in the Royal Air Force retired during January 2023 after 45 years of service in the Regular RAF. Sqn Ldr Neil Hawthorn (64) joined the RAF as an aircraft propulsion fitter in the engineering trades in August 1977, aged 19.

before commissioning in 1996, aged 38, as an engineering officer. During his long career he has served 5 tours at RAF Halton as an AC, SNCO, Flt Lt and Sqn Ldr.

Neil’s last tour of duty was with Central Training School (CTS) at RAF Halton, where he was responsible for running the team that continuously develops the roles of ground engineering and cyber professions, to ensure that the

most wives and children were flown out of the country, but some 33 personnel and their families were captured and used as human shields before later being released. Three of us spent 145 days in hiding before receiving the ‘all clear’ to emerge.”

In total Neil, accompanied by his wife Sheila, has served on five overseas tours. This included RAF Akrotiri in 1981, where he originally met Sheila who was serving in Ops at the RAF HQ.

for which he received the Chief of Defence Material’s Team Commendation.

He has also served in Saudi Arabia for seven and a half years as the RAF Engineering Liaison Officer in HQ Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), reporting directly to a RSAF Brigadier.

Neil’s career has been an inspiration to many who have served alongside him.

“A phenomenal career, it is rare to see such lengthy and distinguished service,” says Wing Commander Phil Poole, Officer in Command of Requirements Analysis Wing at CTS. “I have thoroughly enjoyed Neil’s company and wise counsel”.

Group Captain Dave Melmoth, Commandant CTS said:

He spent 19 years as an airman and NCO, rising to the rank of Chief Technician

training provided remains up to date with new functions, equipment and technology.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career in the RAF and the opportunities that it has offered me, although there have been challenging times,” explains Neil who has served abroad for much of his career including in Kuwait when the Iraqis invaded in August 1990.

“We watched their tanks come into Kuwait City from the roof of our flat, we had to hide quickly, fortunately,

She later accompanied him to Germany where he served on an exchange tour with the Luftwaffe on Tornados as a junior engineering officer (JEngO) between 2002 and 2006. “This was one of my favourite tours,” says Neil. “I absolutely loved working with the Germans, and the RAF paid me to learn a second language.”

He later served at Paxtuxent River Naval Air Station in the USA where, as Acting Wing Commander, he was the UK lead for the 4-Nation Harrier Joint Programme between 2010 and 2012. During this time, he undertook the role of programme manager, coordinating the transfer of the entire fleet to the US Marine Corps, a task

“Recently, Sqn Ldr Neil Hawthorn has finished his incredible career and departed from the Central Training School, 22 Gp, after over 45 years of Regular RAF Service as a professional Aircraft Engineer.  His contribution and commitment have been staggering and our Service is in a great place to ensure effective and efficient training as a result of his efforts”.

Sqn Ldr Meg Robins, COS CTS

As a Sgt escorting the Queen’s Colour of No 1 SofTT whilst at Halton (for the 2nd time) in 1987.

On Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell in 1996 – hard work at the age of 38.

Sqn Ldr Hawthorn with his wife Shelia at IOT Graduation at RAF Cranwell in 1996.

Receiving his Long Service Good Conduct 3rd Clasp during November 2022 (Photo credit- Fiona Trevitt © UK MOD Crown Copyright 2022).

Sqn Ldr Hawthorn with his wife Sheila at Halton House Officers’ Mess in 2022 - Sheila is a practice nurse in the Medical Centre at RAF Halton.

On exchange with the Luftwaffe in 2003.

HALTON HOUSE

Drive along the B4009 from Tring Hill to Wendover and halfway along there are signs to ‘Halton House’. What is it? How does one see it, how many inquisitive people drive down the narrow road, over the vicious sleeping policeman and find that it is Ministry of Defence property, they are not supposed to be there, and just manage to glimpse rather a grand House? Then disappear down the track and wonder.

Well hidden from the road, Halton House is unknown except to a few local people. I have met a lady, who has lived in Wendover for over 20 years and never knew the House was there, Halton House is now the Officers Mess for Royal Air Force Halton, a rather grand Grade 2* listed building. The House was the home of Alfred de Rothschild, a well-known banker during the Victorian era. He was a member of the Rothschild family, whose history goes back to the Jewish Ghetto in Frankfurt and the five sons of Mayer

Amschel Rothschild. One son stayed in Frankfurt and the other four emigrated to cities in Europe to start finance houses. The family had seven country Houses in the Vale of Aylesbury, also having houses in London.

Halton House was newly built, between 1880 and 1884, a party House and a weekend residence for Alfred de Rothschild to entertain his guests for the weekend, in a style now unimaginable. The House was one of the first with electricity and had under floor heating in many of the ground floor rooms. The grilles are very evident when walking around the House. The first party was in January 1884, the description for which filled a whole page of the Bucks Herald for that week. His guests included the Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VII in 1901, at the death of his mother Queen Victoria. Edward and Alfred had met at Cambridge and had become firm friends. Other guests would have filled the social pages for the era, aristocrats, politicians,

foreign diplomats, both British and European royalty and singers. An example is Nellie Melba, the opera singer; she was a frequent visitor as was Arthur Sullivan from the Gilbert and Sullivan duo. Examples of comments about the House when it was first built included ‘an exaggerated nightmare of gorgeousness and senseless and ill-applied magnificence’, and another ‘I have seldom seen anything more terribly vulgar, outside it is a combination of a French chateau and a gambling house. Inside it is badly

planned, gaudily decorated but the hideousness of everything, the showiness, the sense of lavish wealth thrust up your nose, the course mouldings, the heavy gilding always in the wrong place, the colour of the silk hangings! Eye hath not seen nor pen can write the ghastly coarseness of the sight. There are other comments about the House; these two are the most outrageous. As far as I can gather, people vied to receive invitations to the weekend parties and from the ‘Visitors Book’ we can see many names that are frequent visitors.

For these weekend parties there were rooms for up to 25 people, and we know that Alfred’s room is now the VIP suite. The dining room, now the bar, could seat 25. The photograph we have shows the room set up in quiet magnificence, laid with pristine white tablecloths, all china, glass and cutlery with the AR inscribed on them. The tables were decorated with sprays of Orchids, an expensive flower at that time, possibly grown in one of Alfred’s 45 greenhouses.

The main reception rooms are on the ground floor, the entrance hall as you enter is rather plain, close to Alfred’s office (now called

Trixie Brabner, Halton House Archivist and Tour Coordinator

Rear of Halton around 1884.

Halton House.

the Red Room), however original photographs show a room, with a large desk, the walls covered with expensive paintings.

The original desk probably used by Alfred de Rothschild on which to write his invitations and his Estate Manager also used the room to keep up to date with Alfred’s requirements. The original desk in the room went to Exbury on the sale of the house in 1918; it was sold on at some time and then appeared at Sotheby’s in 2017 and sold for £149,000.

The Entrance Hall leads to the Main Salon, a very large room, almost like a ballroom, however never used as such as far as we know. The photographs we have show the room more as a large drawing room. Full of furniture, chairs, a round sofa in the middle of the room under the chandelier, and small tables, where we believe the guests would gather in the evening before dinner.

Going back to the entrance, on the other side to Alfred’s Office is the Smoking Room, a smallish room, in the popular style of the period. Also called the ‘Alhambra Room’, because of its Moorish decoration. The walls are now nearly bare of this decoration; however the whole ceiling has a design of pineapples and is Gold Leaf. It is believed it took two men six months to decorate the ceiling at a cost of £25,000, at that time. This room is where the gentlemen visitors spent time talking and smoking their large cigars.

Next door to the Smoking Room is the Billiard Room, a substantial room with wood paneling and a parquet floor. The billiard table used to be in the middle of the room and the floor was covered with expensive carpets. There were chairs dotted around for those who would have watched anyone playing.

The Billiard table, now in the Boudoir, is the original table and left in the House

when it was sold, it was too large to move. The cues and stands are the originals, refurbished at some point as has been the Billiard table.

Outside the Billiard Room is the grand staircase, the decoration of the stairs includes the five arrows that represent the five brothers who started the banks around Europe. The ribbon around the arrows denotes the closeness and united strength of the family. Alfred’s initials intersperse with the Arrows. The stairs can be seen in the ‘Bridgerton’ series, ‘The World is Not Enough’ and other films and TV programmes. The best view of the staircase in a film (The Queen) is of Helen Mirren as the late Queen walking down the stairs with the Corgis to meet Tony Blair standing at the bottom.

The dining room is now the bar; there are some examples on the ceiling of the original decoration, showing various elements of food, eg, fish, lobsters, and game. The painting on the wall is of ‘Lady Bamfylde’ by Joshua Reynolds. This is a copy of the original which is nine foot high and hung where the bar is now. Alfred left the painting to the National Gallery - it is now in the Tate Gallery store in Elephant and Castle in London. Behind the bar is the Bar Store. The room was the library, a small room with a desk, a cabinet, in which we believe fossils were held, book shelves and at the time a very well stocked library.

Along from the bar, through the Salon is the Boudoir, a small room which was the ladies ‘own’. The fireplace in here is reputed to be French and from one of Marie Antoinette’s houses. The original room had a Gainsborough painting, ‘Mrs Ford’ which is now in the Cincinnati Art Museum, left to the museum in perpetuity, by the purchaser.

Moving further along is the Ante Room which divides the North and South Drawing

Rooms, both rather bare now. In Alfred’s day you probably couldn’t move for the amount of furniture in there. In the South drawing Room, by the far window, is a photograph of Alfred sitting in that corner, supposedly his favorite spot in the House.

need or want Halton, and in fact apparently said, that he didn’t like the House. There were discussions between Lionel and various interested government individuals and Halton House and the estate were finally sold to the then War Office in 1918. The sum paid was £112,000.

This is a very short description of Halton House, now the Officers Mess for RAF Halton. A stately home, a reminder of a past era. How did the House become the Officers Mess?

At the beginning of the First World War, Alfred, a very patriotic man, and a friend of Lord Kitchener, and Alfred offered Kitchener the Halton Estate as land where the new soldiers could be trained. The arrangement being, ‘please return the Estate as it now when the war is over’. At the time everyone believed that would be by Christmas 1914. As the war progressed buildings were put up and in 1917 the Royal Flying Corps arrived.

At the end of January 1918, Alfred died. He left Halton House and the whole estate to his nephew, Lionel. Lionel had a house and estate that we now know as Exbury in Hampshire, therefore he didn’t

The contents of the House were either sold, given as instructed in Alfred’s will to friends and relatives or left to Lionel, who took many items to Exbury and his London House. A large number of items were also left to Alfred’s illegitimate daughter Almina, (who had married the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, of Tutankhamun fame). Almina also received Alfred’s London house and its contents.

The House became the Officers Mess, when it is not certain, however an interesting read are the Minutes of the Halton House Mess Committee which start in 1923.

It is believed by many that Halton House has at some point to be returned to the Rothschild family. This is not the case as the whole estate was purchased in 1918. Over the years parts of the original estate have been sold off, the remainder as it is now belongs to the Ministry of Defence. In the archives we have a copy of the original letter that records the receipt of the cheque for £112,000.

What the future holds, we wait and see.

The Entrance to Halton House before 1935.

AIRFIELD ACTION!

Flt Lt Sarah Hindley

FIRST HOLDIE FLIES IN…

In Dec 22, one of our former Halton Airfield Holding Officers landed at Halton Airfield for the first time. Flying a Juno helicopter from 60 Sqn, 9 Regt AAC, 1 FTS, RAF Shawbury, Flt Lt Connor Frampton flew in support of the DE SNCO Graduation on 15 Dec 22. Following the flypast the Juno landed for trg purposes and Flt Lt Frampton (far right) is pictured with Sgt Youngs (currently holding at the airfield), the Airfield Manager, Mr Mark Devlin (who was in post during Connor’s Hold) and the aircraft captain, Maj Tom Fineman.

Connor left his hold at Halton in Apr 17 to carry out Elementary Flying Training on the Tutor and Prefect.

He then undertook Basic Rotary Training on the Juno followed by Advanced Rotary Training on the same aircraft. Then followed the Maritime Ops course at RAF Valley also on the Juno before returning to Shawbury as a Staff Pilot while he awaits the Puma OCU. His role involves flying the Rearcrew, both instructors and students as they complete their course and this is done as a solo captain which is quite rare for his stage of training.

It’s great to finally see those who have held here, some for up to 2 years, flying back in. Hopefully this will happen more frequently as the Holdies become part of various flying squadrons.

(L to R)- Sgt Martin Youngs, Mr Mark Devlin, Maj Tom Fineman and Flt Lt Connor Frampton.

CHILTERN GLIDING CLUB

Adrian Lake, CGC

You have probably seen the gliders flying over the camp as they take advantage of the soaring conditions that the Chiltern Ridge provides when the wind is blowing from the right direction. As members of the RAF, we all have a passion for aviation and all that goes to support it. Have you ever gazed skywards and thought that you would like to experience the thrill of soaring like a bird through a cloud speckled sky? Well, what is stopping you? The RAF Gliding and Soaring Association exists to give all servicemen, civilian MOD employees, and their families, the opportunity to experience the adventurous sport of gliding and Chilterns Gliding Club is your very local branch. Whether you just want an experience flight with one of our qualified instructors or want to take the challenge further and learn to fly solo in one of our state-of-the- art gliders, Chilterns Gliding Club can meet your aspirations.

We have a very active club at Halton airfield that meets every weekend, and if conditions allow we fly midweek also. If you would like to give gliding a try, come down to the airfield and meet us. If you are looking for an activity to share with colleagues as a Force Development Day, why not come gliding? Just give us a call, we can accommodate most requests with enough notice. There is a cost associated with flying, but it’s a lot more reasonable than you may think, service pers can currently experience two flights for £36, which will create more memories than a round of beers at the pub! I hope you are tempted, so have a look at the last two issues of Mainpoint for more details of what we achieved last year, and what YOU could be a part of this year, and check out our website at www.chilternsgc.co.uk

Following on from our successful winter expedition to Aboyne, Scotland, we

have a spring expedition to the Black Mountains in Monmouthshire Wales to look forward to. Our training programme is progressing well with our junior members giving a presentation to the December AGM of the Joystick Club, a charity based at White Waltham, whose aim is to introduce and encourage

youngsters into the world of aviation, giving bursaries towards flying fees. One of those juniors, Dan, used that training to great effect, achieving his first solo flight on 4 Feb. Two other members, Arthur and Tony, have passed their Bronze flight test, to become qualified glider pilots. Well done all.

Dan and Amy address the Joystick Club at White Waltham.

Instructor Bryan congratulates Dan following his first solo with proud dad looking on.

Our Discus glider soars under alto stratus.

Halton camp from the air.

ANOTHER ROUND OF SATTS SUCCESSFULLY HOLD AT ARMAMENT ENGINEERING FLIGHT (AEF), RAF HONINGTON RTS

Armament Engineering

Flight (AEF) at RAF Honington has now successfully developed, mentored and supported 50 Servicepeople Awaiting Trade Training (SATTs) since beginning the process in February 2021.

Warrant Officer Danks who has led this scheme at Honington, said; “Having the ability to employ SATTs within my area has undoubtably increased the level of support provided by AEF to the Force Protection Force. Identifying numerous engineering, and nonengineering-based tasks that SATTs can complete, has not only directly assisted with AEFs high volume and technical workload, but has also enabled the opportunity to expose the most junior members of the Royal Air Force to day to day life in the Service, encompassing all areas that will soon be the norm, after they all finish their trade training and are assigned on their first posting. Having accommodated Aircraft

Mechanical, Avionic and Weapons trades, the Flt have also actively employed RAF Police, RAF Regt, General Engineering trades and

Computer based specialists within the Flt since Feb 21. Having now wished the best of luck to the latest batch of SATTs, I’m already in the process of engaging with Halton requesting additional SATTs to come to RAF Honington.”

OC RTS; ‘It is a real source of ‘wider RAF’ exposure to us to be able to provide these opportunities to the SATT – opportunities their peers who go straight to Ph2 will not immediately have. Along those same lines, it also gets them away from the Ph1 establishment of RAF Halton into areas where they can gain very real firsthand experience of how the RAF works – the cogs and mechanisms of how we deliver both on home base & on Ops.

Holds are designed to give SATTs meaningful employment whilst they await their specialist training. A hold such as this one at HON evidently goes above and beyond that by developing their GSK and maintains their motivation to serve a military career during what can be a challenging ‘waiting period’ in their career.

The success of this scheme relies entirely on the generosity, time & effort expended by the receiving Unit to provide the best possible experience to the SATT therefore my thanks too in return to RAF Honington. Without LMs such as WO Danks to ensure not just that the SCD oversight is maintained for the SATTs, but that the SATTs gain RAF engineering experience within such a critical training establishment as HON, this hold programme would not experience the success it has.’

Air Specialists Threlfall and Wright (Aircraft Engineers) and Dabski (Non-commissioned aircrew) have just departed AEF, Honington after a very productive period of ‘holding’. AR Threlfall said: “Working in the Armoury as a SATT was a worthwhile experience. I was able to get a first-hand

experience of how life in the RAF is. Working in the Armoury has helped me gain some transferrable skills that I will be able to use in further training. Thoroughly enjoyed myself during my time here at RAF Honington.”

AR Wright said: “I have had a great time at RAF Honington on hold, this experience has given me an insight of the real Airforce and what to expect after training. It has been amazing to not only get hands on experience with different types of rifles, but to have met and worked with great hardworking people, as well as taking part and doing jobs, which I wouldn’t be able to do outside of RAF Honington.”

AR Dabski said: “Got a valuable insight into RAF work as well as RAF life, I have taken part in organised sport by taking part in Jujitsu. Played football of an evening with other members of AEF. I have experienced my social function and was able to be a part of a visit from AOC 2 Group. My time at Honington has kept me motivated and interested while on a longer holding period. Also as a future SNCO I got to see different management styles and how to apply them to a real RAF workplace. I have developed workshop experience, hand & tool skills, problem solving and independence.”

Flt Lt Stephen Andor, ADF

DON’T LET THE BEETLES GET YOU DOWN

Cpl McMullen IFPT

Terry Robinson Stn Workshop

Sgt Charity IFPT

AS1 Hoekstra SMS

Mrs Trixie Brabner HHOM

Mrs Laura Wilson SMS

Sgt Glenister IFPT

Cpl Hands-Jordan IFPT

AS1 Bareham Med Centre

STN CDR’S COINS BURNS NIGHT

The Warrant Officers’ and Sgts’ Mess and Halton House Officers’ Mess celebrated a braw combined Dining In Night for Burns Night to celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns.

Affectionately known as Rabbie, Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in a village in Ayrshire in Scotland. He was born on a farm, and as he grew up, he discovered a love of reading and writing. He published his first collection of poems in the summer of 1786 and published many more famous rhymes including ‘To a Mouse’, ‘Address to a

Haggis’ and ‘Selkirk Grace’. He died in 1796, aged just 37 years old, however left behind a huge legacy and is considered to be Scotland’s national poet, or to use the term known in medieval Celtic culture as a storyteller, verse maker and composer: ‘Bard’.

Traditional speeches were delivered throughout the Burns Supper of haggis, tatties and neeps including Selkirk Grace by Rev’d (Sqn Ldr) Michael McCormick and Address to the Haggis by Sgt Paul Topping. Supper was followed by traditional Ceilidh dancing which carried on into the late, late evening.

Padre Mitchell

On the slope of Long’s Peak in Colorado, lies the ruin of a gigantic tree. Scientists tell us that it had stood there for over four hundred years. It was a mere sapling when Christopher Columbus left Spain and crossed the Atlantic in 1493. It was only half grown when the Pilgrims Fathers arrived in the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

During the course of its long life this tree was struck by lightning on no less than fourteen occasions. It was engulfed by innumerable avalanches, descending from the mountain tops. Being in a valley it experienced a great many storms, which thundered past in its four centuries of life.

But such was its resilience and its inner strength, that it survived them all. In the end however, the tree’s undoing was far less significant. An army of beetles attacked the tree and levelled it to the ground. The insects ate

their way through the bark and gradually destroyed the inner strength of the tree, by their tiny, but incessant attacks.

So a giant forest tree in Colorado which age had not withered, nor lightning blasted, nor avalanches ripped down, nor storms subdued. Fell at it’s last, before beetles so small that a person could crush them, between their forefinger and their thumb.

Aren’t we all like that battling giant of the forest? Don’t we manage somehow to survive the rare storms and avalanches and lightning blasts of life, only to let our hearts be eaten out by little beetles of worry— little beetles that could be crushed between a finger and a thumb?

Let’s not allow ourselves to be upset by small things, which threaten to invade our consciousness, but let us remember, “Life is too short to be little”as former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said. Live for today, for it is the only day that we can live.

Fg Off Young, Flt Lt Down, Flt Lt Nye and Amelia Abrol.

Guests enjoy the Ceilidh dancing.

Graduation

Round Up

All Images: UK MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED 2020 Station Photography Section.

RESERVISTS – PART OF OUR WHOLE-FORCE!

Sgt “Jock” Charity SNCO Osborne Flt, IFPT

The RAF Part Time Voluntary Reservists (PTVR), conduct their Basic Recruit Phase 1 Training in two parts. Part 1 is conducted on their Sqns where they learn drill, have inspections, and conduct all their mandatory Trg such as D & I, Security, Fire Trg & the RAF Fitness Test to mention but a few areas. Once that is completed and they have passed all elements required they then get loaded onto the Part 2 course by their Sqns via High Wycombe. This element is held here at RAF Halton under RTS – IFPT, running for 15 straight days with 6 courses run over the training year, and two shadow courses in case of course cancellations or an increase in numbers. This element of the Trg starts with the recruits arriving on the Friday, prior to the course starting on the Saturday, to conduct all the arrivals process delivered by the SNCO & JNCO’s of Osborne Flt. It includes checking that their GSR, Webbing & Helmets all fit correctly, which is conducted by the JNCOs. That is followed by the SNCO’s arrivals brief.

The course then has an early start on the Saturday at 0630, when they are met by one of the Trg teams JNCO’s at Barrack Block 15 and taken to breakfast, given a familiarisation of the Henderson site pointing

out areas that they need to be aware of including what we have in place for Welfare and Support. They are also shown areas around the station itself as they are marched down to IFPT.

starts off relaxed with 2 days of First Aid. Then its 3 days of CBRN Trg which includes their initial exposure to CS, which some are fine with and don’t display many symptoms,

concurrently to the range is Deployment Skills which is learning Force Protection Fundamentals, Report Formats and Radio Communication Voice Procedure (VP),

Once down at IFPT they have a Dress & Deportment inspection by the SNCO, are shown where to put all their Kit & Equipment and how to lay it out correctly on their Flt lines, then they are then given a familiarisation of IFPT itself. It’s then final paperwork check & collection to ensure they have the correct documentation and have passed the relevant modules to allow them to be here. We then begin the Trg which

but others certainly won’t be forthcoming to do it again!

Moving onto the Skill at Arms (SAA) phase which is 4 days of rifle Trg including carrying out their Weapon Handling Test and if successful will move straight into the DCCT to conduct Live Firing (LF)1, which is firing in the prone position. The next 2 days is spent doing all the other LF shoots finishing off with Rifle Practice 1. Running

Vehicle & Personnel Search, Vehicle Check Points (VCP’s), Rules of Engagement (ROE) and many more topics. After the SAA phase and the range is complete, we then move into the final stages where we finish the Trg with a 2-day Exercise (Ex) called Ex Capuccini Warrior, this is conducted on the Airfield Trg area and involves bivvying out in the woods for a night. This is very good 5-star accommodation, and this

is where the previous two weeks Trg is consolidated with a small Round Robin Ex which includes Individual Fire & Manoeuvre, Reaction to Effective Enemy Fire, Casualty

Evacuation, VCP’s & the 4 C’s as well as other lessons.

The graduation is on the final Friday, where a Reviewing Officer, usually a Gp Capt or Air Rank Reservist, attends their parade to inspect the Reservists and present the winners of the 2 trophies, which are the LAC Osborne Trophy for the Course Top Recruit and the SAC Gary Thompson Memorial Trophy for the course Top Shot.

It is a fast-paced course but very rewarding when they are stood on parade knowing that they have graduated and are now fully fledged members of the RAF and the RAF Reserves.

I PROMISE THAT I WILL DO MY BEST…

Victoria Seanor, Brownie Leader

2nd Halton (RAF Station) Brownies held their first meeting on 9th September 1960 and have continued to meet ever since. During lockdown the Brownies met online and activities were sent home to continue the wonderful tradition of Girlguiding from their own homes, earning new skills and plenty of badges along the way. We even joined in with an online District sleepover, with the girls camping out in their own gardens or living rooms. The Brownie Pack has been hosted by RAF Halton in different meeting places over the years and we feel very lucky nowadays to have use of the Youth Activity Centre for our meetings, giving the girls plenty of space to create, play and have fun, including use of a superb new kitchen where we are now able to enjoy cookery activities.

Brownies join from the age of 7 until 10 and our pack has a lovely mix of both RAF and local girls. We are always ready to welcome girls who have moved from another base and have had to leave their old Brownie Pack behind. The link with the RAF doesn’t stop there though. At the moment we are very happy to count three serving personnel amongst our Leadership team. Volunteering with Girlguiding is fun, rewarding and a lovely way to spend a couple of hours once a week with lively and enthusiastic girls who never

cease to amaze us with their creativeness and enthusiasm.

Since 2018 Girlguiding has followed six main themes and each term we plan a varied program of activities to enable the girls to earn badges. Girls love badges and we love handing them out! Over time they gain a Theme Award for each

strand and when a Brownie has all six Theme Awards she finishes her Brownie journey by working for the Brownie Gold Award which is an achievement to be proud of. There are Bronze and Silver Awards along the way but most of our Brownies have also left with their Brownie Gold, with 10 awarded so far to the 11 girls who have been able to stay with us until age 10, including Brownies who continued online during lockdown. Brownies promise to do their best and these girls really did excel themselves.

There are plenty of outings too. Every December we go to the Odeon for an exclusive Girlguiding showing of a new film. Last year it was Matilda, before that Encanto. In recent years we have had picnics and fun at Waddesdon Manor, a mystery outing (a superb day of fun and games in the grounds at Stowe with Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from the whole District), activity evenings at Phasels Wood Scout Camp, a weekend sleepover at Paccar Scout Camp, a Saturday

trip to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital with the Brownies meeting the animals up close and another adventure by train from Wendover to London for an activity day in Girlguiding Headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road.

On Remembrance Sunday we join the RAF and the 1st Halton (RAF) Scout Groups at the service at St. Michael’s, Halton where the Brownies are very proud to lay their wreath.

Due to high demand locally we are in the process of opening the 2nd Halton (RAF Station) Rainbow Unit, meeting for the first time in April and welcoming girls from the age of 4. When the girls are 7 they will be ready to continue their Girlguiding journey in our Brownie Pack.

If you would like more information about enrolling your daughter or volunteering to join our team please do contact us on either 2haltonbrownies@gmail. com or 2haltonrainbows@ gmail.com

Mary, Victoria, Tash, Georgie and Bex

TIME FOR TEE…

Sgt Dale Wallace, ACS

RAF Halton has a very healthy golf society that compete in monthly medals and the RAF Chiltern Golf league, however the cost to practice the sport or have a membership at a club is very expensive especially in the current climate. This puts a sport that is designed to be social and inclusive for all abilities out of reach for those that cannot afford it. The RAF Halton Golf Committee identified that a Golf Simulator would not only establish a first-class practice but would also provide the opportunity for beginners to come and try the sport without having to invest in golf equipment or pay expensive driving range and course fees.

I approached the Unit and The Central Fund, receiving amazing financial and infrastructure support towards

the project. The facility was installed in Jan 23 and is open to all serving personnel, civil servants, contractors and their dependants. The facility is free for dependants between the ages of 8-18 and is half price for dependants if the serving person is a full member. Membership is £30 per year, £20 for 6 months and £15 for 3 months. This membership fee covers the cost of consumables such as hitting screens, mats and projector bulbs. If personnel are not interested in becoming members but would like to have a go, they can contact the Golf Simulator committee to organise a hosted session. The committee member will then set up the equipment and run the session for them for a small rental fee.

The system is called Foresight GC3 and is a premium launch monitor and golf simulator. We currently have

12 PGA courses, driving range function and foresight fairgrounds software that allows you to play fairground games such as skeeball, target shooting, strength test, ten pin bowling etc. The fairground software is fun for any ability and is ideal for a team day/night out. The facility has a set of clubs for all to use but feel free to bring your own.

Gp Capt Garwood officially opened the facility on 06 Feb 23. The Stn Cdr took on the SWO in a one-hole challenge and played out a very sporting draw.

If you are interested in becoming a member or would like to organise a hosted session, please contact Sgt Dale Wallace dale. wallace498@mod.gov.uk or WO John Sanderson john. sanderson629@mod.gov.uk

HIGHFLIERS RECOGNISED IN HALTON HOUSE HONOURS AND AWARDS CEREMONY

Long Service and Good Conduct

The Long Service and Good Conduct Medals. The Long Service and Good Conduct medal is awarded to those personnel who have completed 15 years reckonable service with an unblemished disciplinary record.

Flight Lieutenant Ferguson

Flight Sergeant Gammon Sergeant Wallace

Operational Service Medal (Iraq and Syria) Operational Service Medal for Iraq and Syria, which is the first Operational Service Medal to be created since 2003. It is a fitting recognition of those who have contributed to the fight against Daesh in Operation SHADER, which is the name of the UK Military contribution to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

Sergeant Burton - Sgt Burton deployed to Al Udeid Air Base on Op KIPION from April to October 2022 in support of Op SHADER as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Counterintelligence Field Team.

Station Commander and Team Commendations

The Station Commanders Commendation is awarded to those individuals, service and civilian, in the Royal Air Force, who are considered to have demonstrated consistently high levels of excellence and effort, in the performance of all their duties in support of Royal Air Force Halton.

Fg Off Young - Flying Officer Young’s dedication and hard work has significantly enhanced Recruit Training Squadron delivery. Moreover, she has been instrumental in promoting a positive and professional RTS reputation.

Consistently delivering high standards, Young has been tested at almost every graduation, where her judgment, intellect, and ability to quickly problem solve have been exceptional.

Accounts Flight (Flight Lieutenant Down, Miss LaBorde and Miss Stoker)

- Unfortunately, a very late Independent Examiners report led to a delay in closing the FY20-21 accounts which set the team up badly for FY21-22. With only 8 weeks to go before the planned Independent Examination at the end of November, the team mapped out the requirement, working many evenings and weekends, and managed to successfully complete all the data entry and critical reconciliations for FY21-22.

Safety Centre Commendation Safety Centre

Commendations are award to those who display the

capacity and attention to detail that could ultimately save lives.

Mr Devlin - Mr Devlin’s actions on several occasions have potentially avoided aircraft collisions or have resulted in a prompt response reducing any damage to aircraft or infrastructure. For his enduring commitment to flight safety, and the numerous interventions carried out, Mr Mark Devlin is awarded a Royal Air Force Safety Centre Commendation.

RAF Safety Centre ‘Well Done’ Award

The RAF Safety Centre

‘Well Done’ Award when the outcome of a safety incident is unlikely to have been immediately hazardous but could have developed without timely intervention. It is often awarded for activity where perseverance and / or in-depth investigation

identified a latent issue which is corrected to prevent a serious occurrence.

Mr Brown - As part of his pre-flight routine, Mr Brown conducted ‘full and free’ checks on the control surfaces from the exterior of the aircraft. During this procedure, he noticed a slight restriction during movement of the ailerons. He curtailed the sortie and awaited a quieter moment on the noisy apron to conduct further investigation. From inside the cockpit, he noticed a slight ‘click’ when the ailerons were moved and subsequently removed an interior panel in the vicinity of the noise. This revealed the swaged-end of the aileron control cable fouling on an oversized screw which held an exterior panel in place. Further analysis revealed that long hardware and short hardware had been transposed during rectification work and was causing the fouling.

Recipients with their awards presented by the Station Commander.

AIR COMM CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPS AT HALTON

Cpl Carl Tucker

With the RAF and Inter Services Cross Country Championships taking place in Jan/Feb 23, the Air Comm Cross Country Championships provided an ideal opportunity for the men’s and women’s teams to compete against their NATO allies.  The championships were hosted at RAF Halton and comprised teams from Belgium, Poland, US Air Forces in Europe, Netherlands, UK and Germany.

The event was opened by Air Commodore Rich Fogden, Director of RAF Sports (DRS), with the nations marching onto the Maitland Parade Square with music provided by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. The teams then enjoyed a cultural visit to London to do some inter-nation socializing.

The race was held on Thursday over the traditional RAF Cross Country course consisting of a small lap and two large laps for both Male and Female (female course being slightly different from the males). The male course was approx. 10km and the ladies 7km. The weather was kind in that there was no rain, but it was very cold with soup type fog that restricted spectator viewing of which the course is normally good. The ground was firm considering the amount of rain recently.

The Polish had brought some of their best runners, including some Internationals! Undeterred, the other nations were enthusiastic and eager to get the race under

way. Cpl Gemma Holloway battled with the Polish team for the first half of the race and she was first home in the ladies race for the RAF, running a fantastic time.  Having prevented the Polish gaining too much ground, she finished 6th overall and was closely followed by Cpl Helena Schofield, in fine form, finishing in 7th. Next home was Cpl Chloe Tyler, with AS1 Laura Kaye the 4th team member to count. AS1 Phillipa Baxter and Cpl Sarah Toms were hot on Laura’s heels, both running well to keep other competitors at bay and meaning the RAF women's team finished in 2nd place overall, behind the Polish Air Force.

A great achievement for a strong ladies team.

The Polish also submitted a strong male team, with their top man being another international runner. The race started off swiftly with a break within the first 400m fragmenting the field from the outset. Flt Lt Jack Hindle trying hard to mingle with leaders but not quite managing to sustain the strong pace. The Polish team

took the lead with 3 runners but only by a short distance Sgt Rob Wood ran alongside the top 3 Polish athletes, with AS1 Max Hazell not too far behind with one more Polish separating our next four athletes: Cpl Connor Pacey, AS1 Simon Birch, Cpl Adam Baker. The RAF packed well and made it clear they would secure second team position, as Fg Off Ryan Jones and Flt Lt Alex Gibb all ran away from the rest of the Nations. Sgt Matt Blunden and Cpl Will

Gardner ran as guests, mixing it in with the team.

The men’s team finished a close second to the Polish by only 5 points 38 to 43. The UK team all came in within 1 min of each other and our lead runners only 14 seconds behind the Polish runners.

Overall, it was a great performance from both teams against a class field. A fantastic experience was had by all, with the Polish Air Force pulling out all the stops to win. RAF Halton’s very own Cpl Carl Tucker organized this event and without him, it would not have been the success it was. A big thanks also goes to Sports Board and Sqn Ldr Heather Ratnage-Black for putting this event on.

If you’d like to see the full results, please visit: https:// chiptimingsolutions.com/ results/result.html?race=326

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FAREWELL TO WO HAMMOND Station

In January, the RAF Halton bid farewell to WO Sarah-Louise Hammond after she retired from the Royal Air Force after over 35 years’ service. WO Hammond tells her story:

"On 27 Aug 87 (having already attested into the Royal Air Force), I boarded the train from Carlisle Citadel Railway Station to Newark Northgate to begin the biggest adventure of my life. Originally signing on for 9 years in Regular Service plus a further 6 years in Reserve Service; little did I know that I would be still serving 35 years later and be the last of my phase 1 intake and phase 2 training intake to leave the RAF.

I have served all over the country, beginning at RAF Swinderby, Aldershot for basic training and phase 2 trade training in Logistics Catering at St Omer Barracks in Aldershot. I then met her future husband, Andy, who was serving as a Chef at RAF Brampton. Further postings were to RAF Machrihanish, RAF Marham, RAF Odiham, RAF Coltishall, RAF Waddington, RAF Aldergrove, RAF Halton (RAF School of Catering), MOD Worthy Down, RAF Leeming and finally back to RAF Halton: firstly as a 22 Gp RAW TG 19 Analyst and completing my final tour as the Station Catering Liaison Officer. My best posting was RAF Halton (2nd & 3rd time) working as the TG 19 analyst helping shape the future of TG 19 training and as the SCLO, making sure that the troops received the CRL services required.

Throughout this lively career, I have undertaken numerous detachments including two tours in the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Decimomannou, Iraq, UAE and two tours

in Oman plus various detachments in support of 3 Mobile Catering Support Unit (as it was known) and even a cheeky one to Carlisle Airport. I’ve had a varied and interesting career that has also included serving the senior Royal Family including the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, heads of the British Armed Forces in MOD London, numerous politicians and the Head of the US Air Force. My best det was Iraq, especially undertaking vehicle escort duties and going out on search duties with the RAF Regiment - it was bit worrying getting shot at, but they missed!!

I have gained my teaching qualifications and NVQ Assessors award whilst at MOD Worthy Down which stands me in good stead for gaining a teaching appointment in civvy street. I have had the benefit of undertaking lots of education (gaining a HND in Hospitality Management), CPD & Station representative sport (in my younger days), also undertaking and supporting RAF Ceremonial Duties for the past 13 years. I encourage all to take advantage of these opportunities as well as the secondary duties available. On an end note, grab every opportunity you can to make yourself a better person and be able to influence those around you whilst having the moral courage to admit you can be wrong regardless of who you are… Pe Ardua Ad Astra"

Following an interview with the Group Captain Garwood, RAF Halton Station Commander, WO Hammond was presented with a white trilby hat as a personalised

alternative to the traditional bowler hat signifying her retirement from military life and the beginning of

her civilian life. RAF Halton wish you all the luck in the world WO Hammond!

Sarah’s graduation (1987).

WO Sarah-Louise Hammond

Deployed to Iraq in 2004.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN’S BEHIND YOU!

OH NO HE’S NOT, OH YES HE IS!

January 2023 saw Halton's Amateur Theatre Society (HATS) back on stage for Pantomime season. This year’s Pantomime was ‘Rumpelstiltskin’, it was chosen by the director Jane Stokes, as she wanted to produce a very different type of show to the traditional pantomime. The author of the script is a local writer, Gavyn Lugsden, he and his family were invited to one of the performances so he could see his script brought to life. He spoke with some of the crew and cast afterwards, saying that he thoroughly enjoyed it and had been very impressed with all the acting and music, he especially liked the set designs.

The director, Jane, has been part of HATS for over 30 years and has directed numerous pantomimes and plays over the years. This production faced some of the usual but also some unforeseeable challenges, Jane said she was extremely proud of the cast and crew for getting it all together in time for opening night. Over the two weekends, over 460 tickets were sold across eight performances, watched by audiences of all ages. Everyone who came to see the pantomime enjoyed not only the show but the audience participation aspects as well, they are already looking forward to HATS 2024 Pantomime which will be ‘1001 Arabian Nights’.

Luka Waycott, Stn Photographic Supervisor

Sgt Baz Michel, RTS

On the evening of Tuesday 6th December, by kind permission of the Stn Cdr, RAF Halton hosted its annual Christmas Concert at St George’s Church.

Led by the RAF Halton Voluntary Band and Halton Military Wives Choir, an audience of around 100 people from the Station and surrounding villages were treated to a rousing programme of music that included traditional arrangements, modern classics, and seasonal favourites. Mince pies and mulled wine, kindly donated by Sodexo, added to the festive atmosphere, and ensured all were primed to join in singing a few traditional carols.

Held in aid of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, the

Stephen Hearn

event raised a staggering £535 which will be used to support their invaluable work within the local Service community.

Many thanks to everyone who generously invested their time, energy, or finances to make this such an enjoyable and successful event. We hope to see you all next year.

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Community

TCC – CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Gemma Hough, HIVE Information Officer

In December the RAF Halton Community Support Team held the annual Station Children’s Christmas Party at the Trinity Community Centre. Tickets were very popular and went within two days of release!

Christmas cake decorated for the TCC party.

New for this Christmas we had a Fantastic Santa’s Grotto in our Breakaway Hall. Each family attending had a private time allocated to visit the

On arrival everyone was greeted by fake snow falling over the entrance to the Community Centre which the Children absolutely loved. All our guests were welcomed by the Community Support Team with biscuits and juice for the children and a little warming Mulled Wine for the adults. In the hall Louise from ‘Party Poppers’ entertained the children with games, dancing and a lot of balloons!

After some dancing and games, everyone tucked into and enjoyed Turkey and Gammon rolls with Christmas Nibbles, followed by a lovely

grotto, meet Father Christmas and receive a gift.

The Children & Parents were over the moon to see Father Christmas and we are so grateful to him for coming to visit us and allowing the children to have their photo taken.

To see the Children’s smiles and excitement is amazing and it gives us the Community Support Team such pleasure seeing them so happy.

As you know these events take an awful lot of time and

planning, and without our amazing volunteers and staff we would not be to put on these events. Our thanks go to Jan Holdsworth, Megan Inkley, Cpl Victoria Taylor & Mandi Masters.

Keep your eyes out for upcoming events.

Community and Charityt

MEET THE NEW...

ROLE SUMMARY

Arbiter on unit discipline and standards and to inform the Stn Cdr on all matters affecting the smooth running of RAF Halton.

ABOUT YOU

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR THE MILITARY?

27 Years

BEST JOB YOU’VE DONE?

Mentoring in Iraq

WHAT WOULD YOU BE IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE MILITARY? Physiotherapist

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

It’s better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS…

Happy, patient, competitive.

ASK YOUR PARTNER TO DESCRIBE YOU IN 3 WORDS…

Competitive, know-it-all, caring

TALENT/SKILL/AMAZING FACT ABOUT YOU WHICH PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW?

Serial gameshow winner! Million Pound

Drop and Tipping Point…

HOBBIES AND PASTIMES

Football, skiing, golf

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE…

FILM: Gladiator

BOOK: The stranger beside me

MUSICAL ARTIST/BAND: The Killers

PLACE: Noosa Heads, Australia

TAKEAWAY: Chinese

SUBJECT AT SCHOOL: Physical Education

QUICK QUESTIONS…

WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU WATCHED?

Avatar 2

IF YOU COULD TIME TRAVEL, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

Back 66 million years to when dinosaurs inhabited the earth.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?

Go on holiday, play golf.

WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY?

Brian Cox, Tom Cruise, Malala Yousafzai.

WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON YOU HAVE EVER MET?

The Queen

WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? A canoe.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? Retire

STATION ADJUTANT / VISITS AND PROTOCOL OFFICER, FG OFF ADAM ROSBOTTOM.

ROLE SUMMARY

Station Adjutant: Supporting and coordinating the daily running of Station activity.

Visits and Protocol Officer: The main POC for all visits/functions/ events organisation at RAF Halton.

ABOUT YOU

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE MILITARY?

8 Years 7 Months. I attested into the RAF on the 9 Jul 14 as a RAF Musician, playing the trumpet..

BEST JOB YOU’VE DONE?

Performing with Sir Tom Jones at the Royal Albert Hall with the RAF Squadronaires as part of the Festival of Remembrance in 2018.

WHAT WOULD YOU BE IF YOU WEREN’T IN THE MILITARY? Perhaps a professional ice hockey player, professional musician or an accountant.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

If you don’t do anything, nothing will change!

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS… Motivated, calm, committed.

ASK YOUR PARTNER TO DESCRIBE YOU IN 3 WORDS… Driven, funny, composed.

TALENT/SKILL/AMAZING FACT ABOUT YOU WHICH PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW? Performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games with the Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE…

BOOK: Can’t Hurt Me – David Goggins

MUSICAL ARTIST/BAND: Currently enjoying listening to the Zac Brown Band.

PLACE: Doncaster, Yorkshire – its home!

TAKEAWAY:Chicken shish kebab with chips… it’s a good postgame meal!

SUBJECT AT SCHOOL: Music

QUICK QUESTIONS…

WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU WATCHED? Slap Shot

WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX? Drink a nice dram of whisky! WHO WOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY? (CAN BE DEAD/ALIVE & REAL/FICTIONAL PEOPLE) Elon Musk, David Goggins and Roy Hargrove.

WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON YOU HAVE EVER MET? Chris Martin - Coldplay

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? Go on an across-America holiday/tour with my family… then maybe buy an ice rink!

SWO, WO DAVE ILIFFE.