HONOURS & AWARDS

“RAF Northolt were delighted to welcome Air Commodore ’Chesh’ Cowieson MA MBA MSc BSc RAF yesterday to present the latest Honours and Awards given to its station personnel. Awards included Operational Service Medals – Iraq & Syria with clasp presented to Fg Off Hudson, Sgt Bannister and AS1’s Ludlam, Disney, Lloyd and Huntington. Minus clasp, Cpl Briggs.

Operational Service Medal West Africa to Sqn Ldr Nguyen and AS1 Faseyiki. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to Cpl Bowen.

AOC 2 Gp Commendations to Sgt Sinclair for his outstanding contribution within the Catering trade and his support to local veterans and station life and FS Westmorland, who also received an AOC 22 Gp Commendation.

An A4 Force Commanders Commendation went to Sgt Driscoll and an ISTAR Force Commanders Commendation to AS1 Wilson.

Mr Davies from Vinci received an AO Airbases Commendation for his outstanding direction in preparing RAF Northolt to play its part in the repatriation of Her Late Majesty’s body. This involved activated a vast array of contractors who worked around the clock to ready the station for the glare of the world’s media.

Flt Lt Jamie Wright received the Stn Cdr RAF Northolt Commendation – Op OVERSTUDY, for his command and control of Marine 1 during funeral preparations, both before and after events.

The Stn Cdr RAF Northolt Team Commendation – Op OVERSTUDY went to Flt Lt Owusu, Fg Off Chartres, FS Reynolds and CT Williams for their combined effort in creating an Outside Broadcast Unit so that images of the Late Queen's arrival could be broadcast across the world. No mean feat as it involved 4 Pan-techs, 3 cranes and 3 miles of cable, all while remaining airfield compliant. Flt Lt Gumbrell was also awarded the same honour for support to the station workforce during Op OVERSTUDY. RAF Sports Colours went to L/Cpl Stephens on QCS for RAF Bobsleigh. AS1 Hares and Sgt Kinvig for Armed Forces Golf.

Finally the Polish Air Force Committee Commendation went to Mr Ian Rushforth for his unstinting work in moving the historic RAF Northolt Polish Museum to its new location in the Officers’ Mess.

Air Cdre Cowieson stated:

“I have presented Honours and Awards on many stations but I don’t think I have ever seen such diversity on one station. All of you have performed exceptionally well in your various areas and it gives me great pride to be able to recognise you all today”