RAF Odiham Helicon issue 1 2023

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FANCY A HOLIDAY ON YORKSHIRE’S EAST COAST?

Our welfare break gave us the quality time we needed as a family.”

- Al Dyer

Our new holiday home is now available for breaks all year round.

Why not apply to stay in our new holiday home for serving RAF personnel and RAF veterans? Situated only a 15-minute walk from the traditional seaside town of Bridlington.

It’s the ideal destination to visit for a holiday with kids or for some peace and quiet. The four-bedroom chalet bungalow is suitable for wheelchair access, along with a disabled friendly bathroom. A real home from home, with everything you need for a memorable holiday.

To find out more and apply, visit: rafbf.org/thefolly CALL 0300 102 1919

HELICON CONTACTS

OIC

Sqn Ldr Leon Beamish, COS BSW

Editor

Flt Lt Kerry Rapson, MCO Email

Article Submissions

Please send all articles to odi.bsw.helicon@gmail.com

Deadline date for the next issue: 7th August 2023

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL ENTRIES FOR THE NEXT ISSUE NO LATER THAN THE DATE STATED ABOVE.

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

The editor assumes article contributors are aware that the magazine has a wide distribution to both Service and Civilian communities and contributors are ultimately responsible for the vetting of their article submissions. The editor also assumes that the contributor has ensured that personnel included in the photographs they provide are aware and have no objection to these images being used in the magazine. Advice on content or preparation of future articles can be obtained by contacting the editor. To this end the Helicon editorial staff endeavour to ensure all articles are suitable for publication. The Helicon is the magazine of RAF Odiham and its intended audience is Station Personnel and their families. It is not an official document and the opinions expressed within it are not those of the MOD, the RAF or the editorial team.

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RAF Odiham Website www.raf.mod.uk/rafodiham ON THE COVER

Chinooks from RAF Odiham and Puma from RAF Benson in the Kings Coronation Flypast.

STATION COMMANDER’S

FOREWORD

A characteristically busy period for the Station and the Chinook Force as we continue our support to operation SHADER in the Middle East and we were at the forefront of preparation for Sudan evacuation as part of Operation POLAR BEAR. Our busy exercise programme continues in Cyprus and North America.

Against the backdrop of this busy operational tempo, we were honoured to host the daylight rehearsal for the King’s Coronation; 5,000 troops from across the UK and the Commonwealth marching down The Mall (the disused airfield) to a resounding 3 Cheers at the sports pitches – Buckingham Palace Gardens for the day! Despite the gloomy weather, our Chinooks did take part in the Coronation Flypast and the community celebrated in style with a community street party and competition for the best dressed house – congratulations to all those taking part.

Over the past few months we’ve hosted a number of high profile visits from both Air Command and Joint Helicopter Command, and have been able to highlight to them the pressing need for investment at Odiham – as we look forward to the Chinook Sustainment Programme and a continuing busy tempo. This culminated an the Annual Formal Inspection with Air Vice-Marshal Suraya Marshall at a period of great transition for 2Gp as they position themselves well for the future.

In this issue, our sports pages once again highlight the commitment of our people to playing a range of sports across a number of levels and developing others within their field.

In May, we bade farewell to Warrant Officer Ceri Marshman and welcomed WO Curtis Dixon as the new Station Warrant Officer – many of you will have met him already as he gets to know people across the Station and in the community.

This will be my final foreword as Station Commander at RAF Odiham as I hand over in August to Group Captain Matt Roberts. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Odiham, meeting many of you and your families on a number of occasions and I will miss the community spirit on which we all thrive.

Before I go, I look forward to a Families Day that promises to bring the community together once again – I look forward to seeing you there.

Lt Kerry Rapson

Welcome to the first issue of the Helicon Magazine for 2023. As always, it has been a very busy start to the year for the Chinook Force, with our personnel still finding time for fantastic sporting achievements!

Once again, I have enjoyed bringing together the articles for this edition, showcasing what our personnel have been doing both at work and during their spare time. The start of this year has seen RAF Odiham taking part in His Majesty The King’s Coronation, and that involvement has come from both our Service Personnel and their families!

We do hope that you enjoy the first edition of the year, thank you to all who have contributed and please do contact the team if you have any submissions that you would like included in future editions!

Gp Capt Donal McGurk

Flt

Coronation Cake collaboration for RAF Odiham military spouse

Award-winning cake artist Elizabeth Wood, who runs CakeBuds based in Reading, has told of her “absolute honour” at being invited by pladis Global and McVities to collaborate on the design and decoration of their Coronation Cake alongside cake artist Rosalind Miller.

The cake, which took five months to make from design through to decoration, stood at approximately 1.2 metres tall and was presented as a gift at Windsor Castle in commemoration of the Coronation of Their Majesties.

The design of this Coronation cake signals the Carolean age and takes inspiration from the Prince’s Foundation ethos - Respecting the Past, Building the Future. The cake, whilst modern, draws on the majesty of the Coronation with each tier inspired by aspects of historic Coronation regalia.

The bottom tier has matt stone icing reflecting the Stone of Destiny – a symbol used for centuries in the inauguration of Monarchs. The Stone of Destiny travelled from Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey to be placed beneath the Coronation Chair.

The second tier is engraved with the delicate pattern taken from the Anointing spoon, on to which holy oil is poured by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony, before anointing Their Majesties.

The third tier sees marbled stone texture continuing but embossed with gilded detailing from the Coronation Chair, known historically as King Edward’s Chair – one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world. It has been the centrepiece of coronations for over 700 years in British history.

The final tier wears a porcelain surround featuring details again taken from the Coronation Chair and is topped by a ceramic interpretation of the Sovereign’s Orb, one of the Crown Jewels. Both elements have been created by Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust scholar, Nico Conti – a ceramicist who specialises in 3D printing porcelain, championing both tradition and technology.

Liz, whose husband is a serving member at RAF Odiham, said “I feel incredibly honoured to have been asked to take part in this amazing team and play a small part in this historical event. It has been one of the hardest secrets I have ever had to keep.”

Chinook ‘One Team’ visit to RAF Odiham

19 April 2023

Personnel from Defence Equipment and Support’s, Chinook Delivery Team and Army HQ’s Combat Aviation Department, recently visited Odiham for a ‘Collaborative Teams’ building event.

The Chinook “One Team” participated in a range of activities, including an aircraft walkaround and equipment demonstrations, briefings from the Front Line crews on Chinook Force activity and a social event to cap the day, all to enhance their teamwork skills and develop their problem-solving abilities, while building better relationships. The visit also included the opportunity of a flight on board the Chinook through London’s Helicopter lanes. Flying down the River Thames, the sortie provided a unique perspective of some of

London’s most iconic landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.

“Training sorties like these are essential for our crews who have recently returned from operational deployments and to maintain their skills and readiness,” said Officer Commanding 27 Squadron, Wing Commander Paul Butler, “But it’s also a great opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Chinook first hand to those DE&S personnel that work so hard to deliver the capability while giving them a unique perspective of London from the sky.”

The visit to Odiham was a unique experience for the participants, many of whom only view the Chinook through technical drawings, as they had the opportunity to interact with members of the RAF and learn more about the military’s teamwork

and problem-solving strategies. “It was a fantastic opportunity for our team to work together in a different environment and learn from the Chinook crews experiences,” said Mr Darren James, the Chinook Delivery Team’s Head of Capability.

Collaborative teamwork is essential to the success of defence acquisition, and it is important for all stakeholders to work together effectively to achieve the best possible outcomes. The team-building exercise at RAF Odiham was part of a wider effort by DE&S and Army to invest in their employees’ development and enhance their teamwork skills.

Professor Stephen Carver, Cranfield University

“Why do most change projects crash-land? The number one reason is communication”

The Chinook Delivery and Combat Aviation “One Team” pictured at RAF Odiham.

Chinook Delivery - Project Manager Combat Aviation Programmes Army HQ

His Majesty The King’s Coronation Flypast

Saturday 6th May 2023 was a moment in British History that few alive today have been privileged to witness before; the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.

For many, the preceding months had been a combination of excitement, hard-work and determination that the day’s events were to be conducted perfectly. This was a sentiment that many at RAF Odiham echoed as the sun began to rise, but sadly the weather had not been given the memo. The bright, almost cloudless skies of the day before had been replaced by deep grey, low clouds, accompanied by a constant combination of strong winds and rain; not ideal conditions for a flypast over Buckingham Palace. The Coronation was highly anticipated and set to culminate with a spectacle of military display, the like of which had not been seen since the Coronation of the Late Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

Despite the weather, for those at RAF Odiham, the day continued as planned. Six Chinooks in total were wheeled out of their dry hangars and positioned on the dispersal. Only three were planned to take part in the flypast, along with a Puma from RAF Benson. However, for an event of this magnitude, contingencies needed to be in place, so each Squadron had provided a spare, just in case.

Engineers from each Squadron had performed their pre-flight checks and ensured all the primary aircraft were airworthy. The pilots, co-pilots and crewmen had completed their pre-flight briefs and weather checks for the day, so now began the waiting game. Speculation was rife - would the weather conditions improve enough for all the RAF

aircraft to take part in the flypast? Would there be a scaled down flypast? Would there even be a flypast at all?

Speculation had to be put aside though, as the clock ticked 12:30 the walk out to the aircraft started. The pilots and crewmen were already on board, waiting for their passengers, rotors turning, anticipating the moment when they would begin their lift into formation. The route had been planned; the first stop was RAF Benson to link up with the rest of the Joint Helicopter Command contingent. It still wasn’t clear if there was going to be a flypast, but at 12:41, three Chinooks manoeuvred off the dispersal into position, turned and lifted into the mizzle.

Transiting across to RAF Benson to link up with the other JHC Helicopters gave an insight into just how difficult the weather conditions were proving to be. Crosswinds and eddying low

clouds buffeted the aircraft on the short journey to Oxfordshire, so it came as no surprise when it was announced over the radio that all other elements of the Flypast, except for the rotary element and the Red Arrows had been cancelled.

It was a momentary stop at Benson, as the helicopters joining the flypast from the Royal Navy, British Army and RAF Shawbury moved into their positions, and the RAF Benson Puma slotted into place behind the Chinooks. This manoeuvre complete, the whole rotary wave lifted as one and moved off towards London. The usually short flight to the Capital was extended by skirting around the north of London, following the route of the M25, before turning in towards the city around Epping. Approaching London from this

angle meant that the flight along The Mall and over Buckingham Palace would be timed and positioned perfectly.

The anticipation inside the aircraft was growing, with cameras at the windows, as those lucky enough to be on the flight hoped to capture a shot of the coronation celebrations from a very unique vantage point. The iconic landscape of central London came into view and the

It was a momentary stop at Benson, as the helicopters joining the flypast from the Royal Navy, British Army and RAF Shawbury moved into their positions, and the RAF Benson Puma slotted into place behind the Chinooks. This manoeuvre complete, the whole rotary wave lifted as one and moved off towards London.

excited crowds around London were just visible in the haze below. The anticipation within the cabin was almost tangible as the crews made their final position adjustments. The Mall came into view below, with the focal point, Buckingham Palace just visible in the distance.

Exactly on time, the flypast passed over His Majesty The King, and Her Majesty The Queen, in celebration of this once in a lifetime event. Joined by members of the Royal Family and an enthusiastic crowd of well-wishers, all turned their faces skyward to watch the procession of helicopters from across JHC as they carried out their commemoration for all those assembled.

Then, less than 30 seconds later, the flypast was complete. All that remained was the short journey home to RAF Odiham, whilst the rest of the helicopter contingent dispersed to their home bases. Touching down at 15:10, the reality of the day had not quite set in. The pride felt by those involved was immense, being able to carry out the flypast in such uncertain conditions, for such a historic occasion was a career highlight.

All that was left to do was to head on home, join the celebrations of family and friends and maybe have a bit of Coronation Quiche.

Flypast viewed from Buckingham Palace

RAF Odiham Chinook and RAF Benson Puma over The Mall in London

Coronation Best Dressed House

To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III on 6th May 2023, along with many other events,  RAF Odiham held a ‘Best dressed house’ competition at the Station and outlying SFA for personnel and their families, with a first prize of a the Royal Families Shop of choice,  Fortnum and Mason Hamper.

The community feeling of British pride, jubilance and celebration was, as always outstanding, with many Union Flags and Red, white and blue adorning Odiham and Burghfield patches, along with Guardsman, crowns and jewels.

The Station SWO and the SCSO, judged both areas on the 5th

May, which were to a very high standard and declared the two houses (pictured right) to be the winners. Thank you to all who entered, and congratulations to the winners.

The ‘icing on the cake’ to the day was a Coronation deployment dinner in the WACC for those who had family members overseas at the time.

Coronation Royal Garden Party

Three members of Service Discipline & Personal Support, RAF Odiham were lucky enough to be invited to the Coronation Royal Garden Party on the 9th May to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation.

Flt Lt McGhee, WO

Tomlinson-Smale and Sgt Richardson had the pleasure of engaging with the Duke of Edinburgh whilst indulging in some tasty Coronation quiche, to which the Duke expressed how highly impressed he was at RAF Odiham’s ability to hold such a great

well done RAF Odiham! Many members of the Royal family attended the Garden Party such as The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Princess Royal, and The Duchess of Edinburgh, quite the guest list. The afternoon consisted of indulging in lots of delicious cake, sipping homemade apple juice from Sandringham Estate,

Op GOLDEN ORB Daylight Rehearsal

By Cpl Thapa, RAF Odiham

WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHAT

On Sunday 30 Apr 23, the Op GOLDEN ORB Daylight Rehearsal (DLR) for the upcoming King’s Coronation was held at RAF Odiham. This was by far the largest contingent of military personnel to have assembled in one place for a long time. My team and I had the privilege to witness what was undoubtedly an exceptionally largescale rehearsal of marching troops.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

RAF Odiham was chosen to cater the rehearsal due to the size of the airfield and the similarities to the dimensions of the Coronation Parade route through London. To ensure the Station was secure enough to host the marching troops there was a large Royal Air Force Police (RAFP) and Royal Military Police (RMP) presence, a small Royal Navy (RN) Service Police contigent, a Hampshire Constabulary contingent, and most importantly let’s not forget the MPGS keeping everyone in check and everything secure!

EARLY DOORS

By 06:20 on a cold, cloudy Sunday morning we opened the crash gate offering the best access from the main road onto the rehearsal area with our very own

Detachment Commander, SSgt Dubey-James providing the Armed Cover Guard. Over the next 2.5hrs the RMP checked in over 100 coaches containing approx. 4500 Service Personnel (SP), all eager to commence 2 full rehearsals of the marching contingent for the big day. To make matters worse each coach required a Foreign Object Debris (FOD) check on the tyres to reduce FOD on the airfield.

AND ALL THE KING’S MEN

In addition, the Military’s Service Chiefs and other high-ranking officers from across all TLBs were in attendance to meet the troops and participate in the afternoon run through. These included the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of General Staff (CGS), Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), and other Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals. To make

it even more interesting, local, National, and International Media were invited along to record and report on this historic rehearsal.

…AND RELAX

At around 20:00 the last coach left via the crash gate, at which time all those involved with the security of this rehearsal could breathe a big collective sigh of relief and congratulate themselves on a very successful day. It was a real treat to not only witness, but to also have been part of such a historic grand scale event; the day could not have gone any smoother.

Notable praise was received from Executive Officers’ from around the establishment, all expressing their appreciation for the hard work, professionalism, and extremely high standards of all those that provided the security.

Combined security personnel, representing all services, at RAF Odiham.

RAF Odiham Football News

Odiham go into the final weeks of the season in a much more modest position than they entered the winter. Having won their opening four games of the London League and cruising to top spot, a couple of defeats have left them in a position where they can’t really afford to drop any points in their final five fixtures. Add to that a cruel RAF Cup exit, they must ensure they finish the task they started so brightly.

With nine points from nine going into November and having negotiated the preliminary round of the RAF Cup, Odiham brushed aside Brize B with three bits of quality.

The first defeat of the campaign, however, came at one of the serious title contenders Benson. A soft early goal from a throw-in and a counterattack in injury time saw Benson run out 2-0 winners. A hard-fought Cup win against Wittering courtesy of a brilliant solo effort led Odiham into another comfortable, if not as emphatic, league victory against High Wycombe.

Without a game then for two months until the start of February, Odiham gave it everything at Digby in the RAF Cup quarter-final, but were eliminated after two hours of football, six goals between them and a deep penalty shootout.

A limp defeat to their other title rivals Brize A meant that Odiham fall to fourth in the table, with three of the remaining five fixtures against the teams above them. All five remaining fixtures are now at home, so its vital they make Odiham (Hartley Wintney or North Warnborough, or wherever else they are forced to play) a fortress.

A pitch very typical of November hosted this RAF Cup 1st Round tie between two talented sides, which was decided by a stunner very typical of Max Brans. Football was valiantly attempted by both teams, and neither could help the game descending into a scrap, but Wittering will feel this was a great opportunity for progression spurned.

Odiham are a footballing side that can be physical. Wittering are a physical side that can play football, and to their credit, they did. A narrow bog of a surface, however, set the game up to be no more than two-touch for anyone that valued possession. Within minutes, Wittering’s bullet of a long throw was utilised, hiding in the low sun on their left-hand side in the first half and turning the penalty area into a complete guessing game. On a couple of occasions, a Wittering head whizzed the ball just wide when it could have gone anywhere, but for the most part Odiham managed them with conviction.

Odiham possess an abundance of talent in their attacking ranks, but the pitch and the intensity of their opposition gave them little chance to exhibit it, often choosing to play into corners with a deliberately compact diamond formation.

Connor Read at Right Back, eventual Man of the Match, careered into the corner on the overlap and fizzed a ball across goal but Wittering’s covering Full Back did enough to put off Brans.

Wittering’s best chance came after some lovely link-up play on the left, with a couple of onetwos between the Left Winger and Centre Forward, ending with former stabbing straight at Lofthouse.

Midway through the period, Ikhlaq went steaming into a 50-50 and was met by a probably unintentional, albeit nasty, challenge from his opposite Central Midfielder. The referee was keen to let things slide on this afternoon but made a controversial call in only booking the offender, whose challenge forced Ikhlaq off.

Jones and Naylor also departed with knocks, leaving Odiham without the opportunity for a substitution for the final hour of the game, with a midfield very different from how it started.

Owain Gwilliams, first at Left Back replacing Naylor and then in front of the back four upon Ikhlaq’s departure, was phenomenal.

Seldom did he lose a first or second contact, and his efficiency with the ball was superb. The third Odiham Left-Back of the day, Callum Stewart, was nigh-on faultless too.

Houston raced through for Odiham and finished with aplomb but had long been called offside before Brans also found himself with just the keeper to beat. He did, receiving a clip on the ankles in the process, but he chose to stay on his feet and roll towards goal and the shot was cut out for a corner.

Half-time came around and Odiham manager Evans went to a flat 4-4-2, with substitute Pitson and Tait tasked with the doggies of the wide players.

Wittering’s use of the long throw, this time most dangerous from their right, continued but was similarly fruitless. At the other end, their two Centre Backs defied any misgivings that they were simply big lumps who lived to cut out long balls, and often started the attacks. A risky tactic given the conditions, Odiham’s quality up

front, and their biggest threat being the direct runs of their Left Winger. He was frequently thwarted by Dickie and Read, and even Lofthouse on two occasions where he was otherwise clean through.

The winning goal characterised this cup tie perfectly. A loose ball on the halfway line was aggressively contested, with Houston coming out on top and leaving his opponent on the floor claiming a foul – perhaps any other day, not with this referee. Houston advanced and slipped in Brans on the right, but he still had to make space on the edge of the box to get a shot away. That he did with the help of a very welltimed bobble, taking the net off with his right foot with the keeper somehow miles away despite it hitting the middle of the goal.

Twice in the Odiham box, the ball fell dangerously close to a Wittering man, but the hosts stayed on their feet and managed to clear their lines. They were, however, fortunate to see a twenty-yard effort whistle a yard wide.

Brans was unlucky not to double his tally, picking up Houston’s cutback eight yards out and firing at goal on the turn, the keeper getting down very well to deflect it onto the post.

Tait found himself in a good position on the inside left under enough pressure to be forced into a shot, which spun quite comfortably wide. Brans made room on the left and cut onto his right foot to curl much closer to goal, but with ultimately the same result.

A late attempt by Wittering to force a mistake by going with four up top probably came five or ten minutes too late, and in truth Odiham didn’t look any more like conceding at this point, if anything they were more likely to get a second than at any time since the goal.

Odiham held on for an ugly and satisfying victory and await the draw to see their next round opponents.

All articles by Ryan McMenamin

RAF Odiham 1-0 RAF Wittering (RAF Cup 1st Round at North Warnborough FC)

Benson goals at either end of the game ended Odiham’s run of four consecutive league wins. An early lapse in concentration from a throw-in led to a tap-in for ex-Odiham man Brodie Gray, and a desperate push forward in injury time to equalise left the visitors exposed at the back and they were punished on the counter attack from a corner.

Benson’s opener, although disappointing from Odiham’s point of view, was nonetheless well worked. A throw-in on the right landed at the Centre Forward’s feet, and after holding off his man he slipped his Right Midfielder in to square for Gray to bundle home from six yards. That was about as close as Benson got for a while. Odiham’s midfield three controlled proceedings as per, using the width to bypass the monstrous Central Defensive partnership, but often being denied by resilient lastthird defending.

Max Brans’ curling effort from the left had to be dealt with by the keeper, before first half substitute Sullivan-Jones on the right of the front three was unlucky not to put Odiham ahead. Brans’ deep cross flew over the Left Back and Sullivan-Jones only had to plant a head on it, but he was denied by a superb reflex save. From the resulting corner, Scott Naylor headed against the bar.

Benson, although not in control, were never out of it. Gray’s position behind the striker would

often leave Odiham thinking they had everything under control only for him to pop up next to a wide man to double up on the Full Backs. At one point he ran at McMenamin in the right channel but blazed off target.

Things continued in much the same vein in the second half and for much of it, it looked like a matter of time until the game was levelled. Charlie Nicholas got a flick on a long Doggett throw and it trickled against the post, before Odiham were denied a penalty when the ball rolled up a Benson arm.

At the other end, an in-swinging Benson corner bounced straight off the bar and down, but nobody was on hand to convert.

With minutes remaining, McMenamin’s clearance was poorly judged by the hitherto faultless Benson Man of the Match in Central Defence, leaving substitute Cartwright to hare towards goal, where he opted to square to Sullivan-Jones but overhit the pass, resulting in a goal kick.

Having missed that golden chance, Odiham committed men forward for a free kick and after some pinball in the middle after it was cleared, Benson’s Left Winger off the bench raced through on goal. Takin- g the shot early from way outside the box, the ball floated agonisingly into the top corner to seal three points for Benson.

Odiham moved up to 2nd in the London League with a routine victory at High Wycombe. Owain Gwilliams volleyed the visitors ahead early on but the hosts quickly replied, before Billy Eade tapped home at the end of the first half and Archie Cartwright sealed it with his third goal off the bench this season.

The last few games have seen conditions, at every given venue, predictably worsen. Defenders would be well-advised to not put their midfielders under pressure on the undulating deck, and instead go long, which both sides were often forced to do.

The first goal came via yet another Charlie Nicholas setpiece. Although it came in from deep on the left, High Wycombe inexplicably allowed Gwilliams to run onto it ten yards out and side foot the ball into the corner on the full.

High Wycombe’s captain in the middle of the park lashed a free kick over the bar prior to Gwilliams’ goal, and it was barely two minutes after opener that he volleyed in the equaliser from the edge of Odiham’s box after they failed to clear a throw in.

The game had quickly descended into a battle, which Odiham were quite comfortable competing in, even if their abundance of creativity was hampered.

Sullivan-Jones, in his first start for Odiham, won the ball on the right-hand side and fed Houston in the box, the striker beating his man to the byline and squaring to Eade for a tap-in.

Houston was almost on the scoresheet himself, picking up ten yards into High Wycombe’s half on the left and charging well into the box before rolling straight at the keeper.

The home skipper was at the centre of most of what his side created, on one occasion skipping past two challenges on the left before squaring to his midfield partner on the edge of the box, but Lofthouse was equal to the volley at goal.

High Wycombe’s right winger robbed Naylor when he received the ball under pressure, but he fired straight at Lofthouse.

In the second half, a high line by Odiham allowed High Wycombe’s striker into the box, where he couldn’t get decent contact on it and Lofthouse saved easily.

From the resulting phase of play, Dickie lofted into the right channel for Cartwright to run onto and his early shot flew right through the keeper.

Odiham are now two points behind leaders Brize Norton B with three games in hand, however, Brize A and Benson are hot on their tails.

A very evenly matched game saw chances at both ends, however Brize Norton took an early foothold with numerous set pieces. The pacey left winger was causing Odiham serious problems and, after 20 minutes having charged down the flank, a corner was conceded. Poor marking from Odiham allowed Brize Norton’s centre-half to score with a towering header, leaving Lofthouse helpless in the goal.

With Brize’s wings causing constant issues and Nash isolated up front for Odiham, a change of formation

was required. Moving from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 nullified Brize Norton’s attack and offered more support to Odiham’s strike force. On the stroke of half time Odiham’s pressure was starting to pay dividends, and a late run in the box by Bill Eade saw him draw a foul. Up stepped Jones to take the penalty, but it was saved and it remained 1-0 at the break.

The second half saw numerous chances with Brize’s keeper forced into several saves. With Odiham committing players forward in search of an equaliser, similarly

to the defeat at Benson in November, they were vulnerable to a counter attack. A mix up between Lofthouse and Cunniffe saw a scrappy goal conceded against the run of play. What should’ve been an Odiham victory, or at worst a score draw, saw them leave empty-handed.

Lofthouse, Naylor, Dickie, Cunniffe, Emery, Riley, Jones, Nicholas, Houston, Nash, Eade.

Subs: Hayward, Finlan, Ikhlaq, McLeod, Pitson

RAF Benson 2-0 RAF Odiham (RAF London League)

RAF High Wycombe 1-3 RAF Odiham (RAF London League)

RAF Brize Norton A 2-0 RAF Odiham (RAF London League)

Cross Country News

Odiham’s 22/23 Cross Country season started with a home fixture where eight stations from around the south of the UK were invited to race around Odiham Common.

The start line included 35 runners, lower than previous years but not a bad start to the league. The course was running fast and very dry for Odiham, Max Hazel (Benson) took the male win, while Catherine Pollit (Northolt) to the ladies win. Team Odiham had good numbers but unfortunately lacked a few of their top runners and managed to finish in 3rd place, Halton took second, while Benson claimed the top spot.

The second fixture was hosted by Brize Norton, traditionally known as the turkey trot and mince pies were provided for all! Freezing conditions and a river crossing added to the excitement of this race. Alex Gibb (Brize Norton) took the individual male honours and Phillipa Baxter won the Ladies’ race. Odiham’s managed to finish second on the day just behind Brize Norton, while Halton took the 3rd spot.

Halton hosted the third league fixture which consisted of a joint match between the RAF, Civil Service, Police and Fire Service. The led to a very high-quality field and higher numbers than the usual league events. Unfortunately, Odiham only managed to field one runner to this event. Max Hazel (Benson) was the highest place RAF runner finishing in 4th Place while Helena Schofield (Waddington) took the win. The Civil Service male team claimed victory on the day with the RAF team finishing in 2nd, while the RAF Ladies’ team took the top spot and beat out the other services.

A few weeks later it the team travelled to Halton once again for the RAF Championships. The familiar fields and woodland

trails had the team hopeful of challenging for the podium. Rob Wood was just outside the top in 4th Place, Phil Dennis 26th, Jack Savage 40th and Jonathan Richards completing the team in 43rd. This event also served as the main selection for the upcoming Inter Service XC Championships.

Next up was High Wycombe and their brutally hilly course around the local woodland. Kyle Hurst (Halton) was first male and Kim Adams (Brize) first lady. Odiham’s runners secured a joint 2nd place on the day leaving them sitting in 4th place in the league overall.

Selections were made to represent the RAF against the Navy and Army at the upcoming Interservice championships. The Army hosted event took place at Tidworth Garrison on a fast and relatively flat course. The Ladies were first up, the field was quickly strung out and a pack of 4 runners broke away from the main group. The Army took the

team win on the day with the RAF in second place. Next up the men took to the course, a more cautious start saw a big group looking at each other before the race started to split up on the 2nd lap. By the 3rd lap, three runners were clear with Rob Wood (Odiham) making a break up the final hill to take the individual win closely followed by Max Hazel (Benson) in 4th. Luke Williams (Odiham) managed to hold on for 3rd place in the U23

competition. The RAF Senior and Vet men retained the team titles while unfortunately the Juniors finished a very close 2nd to the Navy being tied on points and having to go to count back!

With just a few fixtures left of the XC season the team is looking forward to some warmer weather and moving on to the road and track season over the next few months.

News

Ryan McMenamin with Katie Witting

RAF Badminton Tournament

The RAF Open badminton tournament took place at RAF Halton from 6th-10th February 2023, to determine the best players in the RAF at Singles, Doubles, Mixed and also Station Pairs.

Odiham had 6 players attend the tournament:

• Chf Tech David Witting

• Sgt James Bellinger-Brown

• Cpl Harrison St John

• AS1(T) Katie Witting

• AS1(T) Thomas Gill

• AS1(T) Sarah Hughes

There was a novice singles tournament that enabled people to compete without coming up against any RAF Representative players. Also, anyone who lost their first game in any competition went into the consolation draw and contested the Plate prize.

Results:

AS1(T) Katie Witting

• Ladies’ Singles – Winner

• Ladies’ Doubles – Winner

• Mixed Doubles – Winner

• Station Pairs – Plate Finalist (with Sgt James Bellinger-Brown)

Sgt James Bellinger-Brown

• Station Pairs – Plate Finalist (with AS1(T) Katie Witting)

• Mixed Doubles – Plate Quarter-Finalist with AS1(T) Sarah Hughes)

• Men’s Novice Singles – Plate QuarterFinalist

AS1(T) Thomas Gill

• Men’s Novice Singles – Quarter-Finalist

• Mixed Doubles – Plate Semi-Finalist

AS1(T) Sarah Hughes

• Ladies’ Doubles – Plate Winner

• Ladies’ Singles – Plate Semi-Finalist

• Ladies’ Novice Singles – Semi-Finalist

• Mixed Doubles – Plate Quarter-Finalist (with Sgt James Bellinger-Brown)

Squash News

In Nov (23-25) three personnel represented Odiham at the RAF Inter Station Cup which includes time for coaching and grading competition. We had all three reach the Grade A competition with Cpl Tom Dally 4th, FS Roger Copeman 5th and Cpl Dai Selway 6th in the order of merit from a field of 30. All levels were catered for and was an extremely well-run event open to anyone interested, from beginner to higher level standards.

RAF Odiham hosted 78 Sqn Swanwick on the 14th Dec as part of some arranged Inter Station friendlies. Odiham took the victory 4-1 with Swanwick fielding the RAF Championship 2023 runner up at String 1. They could most certainly field a stronger team but it was a great introduction to match squash for both Odiham and Swanwick personnel. There will be upcoming friendlies against Benson, Brize and Corsham in the coming months.

Finally, five personnel from Odiham competed at this year’s RAF Championship, the most the station has been represented by several years. There were tough levels of competition throughout with personnel able to compete in the RAF Open, Women’s, Under 25’s, Master over 40’s and Racket ball.

It was three days of tough squash with plenty of exciting games on offer. The draw could have been kinder with Cpl Selway facing the number 3 seed in the first round.

Cpl Dally fell in the second round to the current holder and No 1 seed with FS Copeman losing to the number 2 seed. With a MONRAD system being used all were able to

play every round to end up with an order of merit. Overall, a great showing with Cpl Dally finishing just outside the top 10 and FS Copeman ending up in 15th.

The station still has Tuesdays as club night @1630 – 1830 and currently two internal leagues. With new arrivals to station playing at good levels of Squash, the club is on the up.

Ryan McMenamin with FS Roger Copeman

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YOU USE, YOU LOSE

What could happen if I am found guilty of possession of controlled drugs?

Possession of Class A drugs - 7 years prison, a fine, or both.

Possession of Class B drugs - 5 years prison, a fine, or both.

Possession of Class C drugs - 2 years prison, a fine, or both.

What could happen if I am found guilty of supply of controlled drugs?

Supply of Class A — life in prison, a fine, or both.

Supply of Class B — 14 years in prison, a fine, or both.

Supply of Class C— 14 years in prison, a fine, or both.

What could I lose if I am found guilty of a drugs offence?

Relationships, pension, accommodation (UK Average Rent Costs PCM is £969), health, free medical care, income and career (how many jobs can you apply for with a criminal record?)

What about supplements?

Take special care if taking these. There is a risk of contamination with substances that will give a positive drugs test, including steroids. The ’Informed Sport’ website lists supplements screened for contamination. However, the process cannot offer a 100% guarantee that sourced supplements are free of steroid contamination.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS

What is the legal alcohol limit in Great Britain? 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath (22mg in Scotland)

What about drugs?

It is illegal to drive if you have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood (even if they are not affecting your driving) or you are unfit to drive so because you are on legal or illegal drugs. If in doubt about whether your prescription or over-the-counter medication will affect your driving check with your doctor of pharmacist.

What could happen to me if I am found guilty of DUI?

Criminal record, up to 6 months in prison, unlimited fine, driving ban of at least 1 year, 11 year endorsement on your driving licence, increased insurance costs, difficulty travelling to certain countries e.g. USA.

IF YOU WISH TO REPORT ANY ISSUE OF CONCERN TO THE RAF POLICE, WE CAN BE CONTACTED ON EXT 7296. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN ANONYMOUSLY FILL OUT THE CONFIDENTIAL CRIME REPORTING TOOL BY USING THE QR CODE BELOW:

Odiham Climbing Club Reaching New Heights

On June 13th personnel from RAF Odiham took part in in a Rock Climbing Single-Pitch Foundation Course (RSF) delivered by Flt Lt Richardson and supported by Cpl Fillingham-Doyle, OiC and 2iC of the newly founded RAF Odiham Climbing Club.

The undertaking was blessed by unusually dry and sunny weather for the climate of North Wales and this was taken full advantage of. One of the benefits of undertaking a RSF with a unit instructor like Flt Lt Richardson rather than the albeit expertly run and well worth while JSAT Centre courses is that you instructor is accommodated with you.

Evenings were spent at the local pub talking over climbing techniques and theory while the opportunity to exploit the beautiful

sunny days was fully taken on board, after a hearty breakfast provided by the excellent staff at Capel Curig Training Centre, students found themselves on the crag by 0900 and climbing until they were forced to retreat to make meal timings.

The variety of North Wales meant that every day was a different location, from the beautifully foreboding Ogwen valley under the shadow of Tryfan to the picturesque sea views from Holyhead mountain, each presenting their own learning points, challenges and enjoyment. Punctuated by the occasional diversion such as a dip in the shallows of Llyn Cwellyn, the week was a worthwhile and challenging endeavour, leaving the students at a standard and confidence of climbing that saw them easily achieve the RSF requirements and put them in a good place to further their climbing qualifications and experience at JSAT centres in the future.

For the 2023 year, Flt Lt Richardson and his trusty 2iC, Cpl Fillingham-Doyle intend to organise an identical endeavour, so for those who might be interested please contact either individual or attend the Climbing Club in the Stn Gym.

RAF Bouldering Championships

On Jan 18th, 17 service personnel from RAF Odiham participated at the RAF Bouldering Champs in Swindon, competing against over 150 climbers from across the three services.

This event saw the most challenging route setting seen this year, with every individual being pushed to their climbing limits. Overcoming the competition and demonstrating their personal skill, the team from RAF Odiham did exceptionally well with podium places in three of the Men’s categories and placing in the top ten in others. Particular congratulations go to;

Flt Lt Scarlett – 2nd Masters

(Over 35)

Cpl Stock – 2nd Men’s Open (25-35)

AS1 Hall – 1st Men’s Under 25s

AS1(T) Waller – 3rd Men’s Under 25s

The fantastic showing from the club puts us in good stead for the RAF Lead Climbing Champs this May, a fantastic event that proceeds a weekend of mountaineering/ climbing in the Peak District, where we are hoping to put in a strong team at all levels of ability and be competitive for the Stn award.

The RAF Odiham Climbing Club aims to introduce RAF Odiham personnel to the challenges and excitement of indoor and outdoor rock climbing. On Tuesdays we

meet at a local climbing wall to focus on development and progression of climbing skills and strength. On Thursdays we run instructional sessions on the

Odiham climbing wall specifically aimed at novices where you can learn the fundamentals of climbing in a safe environment. Ever fancied rock climbing but been too intimidated

or scared by the technical requirements? Contact either Flt Lt Joshua Richardson or Cpl Sam Fillingham-Doyle and come and have a go at a worthwhile and exhilarating sport!

Ever fancied rock climbing but been too intimidated or scared by the technical requirements? Contact either Flt Lt Joshua Richardson or Cpl Sam Fillingham-Doyle and come and have a go at a worthwhile and exhilarating sport!

RAF Odiham Motorcycle Club

Ryan McMenamin with FS Gary Baker

The RAF Odiham Motorcycle Club (OMCC) has grown over the last 20 years to become the largest and most active of its kind across the UK armed forces. We are a friendly community of motorcyclists from freshly qualified beginners through to club racers and round-the-world adventurers, and membership is FREE to serving personnel. Over the last 12 months our members have enjoyed plenty of events at Odiham and around the country, honing their riding skills, raising over £8000 for charity and having a terrific time on two wheels. Here’s a flavour of what we’ve been up to...

Airfield Riding Days

Every year the OMCC aims to run three Airfield Riding Days (ARDs) here at RAF Odiham. Motorcycling is a complex skill, and the ARD gives members an opportunity to develop their riding abilities in a safe environment, free from traffic, road obstacles and (of course) speed limits. On a Friday evening the airfield is transformed

into a high-speed circuit, and Charlie dispersal into a pit area ready for the event. Supporting vendors such as Tyres 4 Bikes, R&G, Love Life and Ride (sellers of the excellent Helite airbag vests) and of course, the Big Tasty food van also set up shop.

Riders are separated into Novice, Intermediate and Advanced groups. With free expert tuition on

hand from our instructors, riders see a marked improvement in their riding, making them faster on the racetrack and safer on the road, as well as enjoying a terrific day out. In 2022 ARDs ran in April, July and October, assisted as ever by volunteers from the station, who man the marshal points, as well as pitching in with the setup and teardown of the circuit. Without these fantastic people the events

simply can’t run, so thank you all who pitched in during 2022 to make the magic happen.

Those interested in getting involved visit www.omcc.co.uk to find out more. Money raised from the ARDs funds the bulk of OMCC’s charity donations, which are shared between station charities and those selected by the OMCC committee.

Off-roading

Not all OMCC events are confined to the racetrack of course. In May an intrepid group of novice offroaders from the club travelled to Wales for a two day adventure with Trail Riding Rhyadar.

Subsidised by the club, it was an inexpensive but immersive introduction to off-road riding against the awesome backdrop of the Wye valley and the Welsh hills, where all members learned a great deal about riding in the dirt and had a fantastic time. Bikes and all riding gear were provided, so all our members had to do was turn up and twist the throttle! OMCC’s head of off-roading Mark Rayner also laid on two days with the excellent Champions Flat Track School in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Again, aimed at novice flat track riders, Champions laid on the bikes, kit and lunch to ensure a complete experience learning to race a motorcycle sideways.

More off-road events are planned for 2023, including more trail riding, another Flat Track extravaganza with the Royal Enfield Slide School and even a partnership with DIO to gain access to local MOD training areas for off-road riding on weekends.

So, if you like your motorcycle experience a bit muddier, join up at www.omcc.co.uk to get involved!

Charity Events

The OMCC also ran an array of events to support charitable causes in 2022, including the now infamous “Mopedathon”. Held on an extended layout of the RAF Odiham kart track, the Mopedathon pits scooter vs scooter in a six-hour (noncompetitive…ish) endurance event for 50cc twist & go machines. With prizes awarded for best fancy dress, some teams really went for it with costumes for both themselves and their 50cc stallions. With over 100 attendees the 2022 event was the biggest yet, raising money for Combat Stress, as well as the

Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. By popular demand, this year the OMCC will run two Mopedathons, so if you and three mates from your section feel up to the challenge, get hold of a fixerupper moped on the cheap and get stuck in!

Close to the hearts of the committee and membership for many years now is the Children’s Ward at Basingstoke Hospital. In the past year the OMCC committee and membership organised an Easter Egg run for patients stuck on the ward at what should be such a happy time

of year, as well as a Christmas present drop for those who were unwell during the festive season. These are permanent fixtures in the OMCC calendar, made possible by the club’s community spirit. This year the OMCC will also participate in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a sharply dressed rideout on classic and classic-styled bikes (smoking pipe optional but encouraged) to raise money for The Movember Foundation.

To get involved, don your best tweed jacket and visit: www.omcc.co.uk

Mopedathon 2022

RAF

Helicon

Track Events

2022 also saw the OMCC run two-day club-only track events at Cadwell Park and Snetterton racing circuits. Run in conjunction with circuit owner MSV, these events gave our members all the thrills of a commercial track day, but for a much-reduced price and with all the community spirit of the OMCC thrown in (and a hog roast of course!). These were, as ever, a roaring success and both venues have been rebooked for the 2023 season.

The club also entered a team into the Freetech 125cc Endurance Racing series.

Possibly the easiest and least daunting way to get into motorcycle racing, OMCC entered its own Honda CBR125R, ridden by members who had applied to get involved (no racing experience required, just a sense of fun!). Organised through the year by Cpl Dean Pyle, a team of ever-changing faces competed at venues from Mallory Park, to Wilton Mill, Rowrah, Pembrey and Teesside Autodrome, in races ranging from 6 to a full 24 hours. The team will race again in 2023, and race slots are available to all members (find out more at www.omcc.co.uk).

Wheelie School

For those who enjoy a bit of hooliganism when off-duty, OMCC arranged a full day “Wheelie School” at North Weald airfield, laid on by the professional nutters at Stunt Asylum. Members learned to hoist the front wheel on a set of specially prepared

What’s coming up...?

This year will see an even more ambitious calendar than last, including the post-covid return of the OMCC’s overseas tour. This year we will head to Morocco for a week of exploring along the stunning North African coast, again subsidised by the club to reduce costs. So, if you have an adventure bike but no adventure to ride it on, join the

Get involved

Yamaha FZR600s. The bikes cleverly cut power to the ignition if the wheelie angle gets too high, ensuring even the bravest OMCC members didn’t “loop” their machines. Great fun had by all, but no practicing on the road of course!

club and come ride Africa with us! For the track fiends, this year the club will rent the Andalucía race circuit in Spain for a Euro track event like no other! Including transport of bikes and kit as well as accommodation, the OMCC overseas track-attack represents far better value than commercial euro track days, with the added bonus of enjoying it with an all-OMCC rider line-up.

If any of the above sounds like a good day out to you, we’d love to see you at one of our monthly club meetings! Held on the first Wednesday of every month at the RAF Odiham Families’ Club at 20:00, there is money behind the bar and plenty of like-minded bikers to meet. You’ll also get early access to club events as they go live on the website.

To get involved, get in touch with FS Gary Baker (OiC; gary. baker150@mod.gov.uk ) or Flt Lt Seán Ahearne (2iC; sean. ahearne100@mod.gov.uk), or join up for free at www.omcc.co.uk. Don’t forget our RAF Odiham Motorcycle Club SharePoint page as well! We hope to ride with you soon!

www.omcc.co.uk

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