Dealing with the death of a family member or close friend is always difficult for those involved, having to deal with the daunting task of probate doesn’t make the circumstances any easier.
Whether you are appointed as the executor or administrator in the Will there are some steps you will need to follow. Karen Woodison, Partner in the Wills, Trusts & Probate team at Blaser Mills Law outlines key steps in the probate process.
1. Identify if there is a Will If there is a Will in place, it will tell you who the executors are and who should be dealing with the estate. It will also outline any wishes and who is to benefit from the estate. If there is no Will there is an intestacy. You will need to look at the intestacy rules to figure out who should deal with the estate and those who will benefit from it.
2. Outline the assets and liabilities
Once you have confirmed who is dealing with the estate the next steps will be to gather information on all the assets and liabilities that are left behind by the deceased.
3. Apply for probate
The next step is to apply for probate. This involves completing an Inheritance Tax (IHT) Return and making an application to the probate registry and HMRC.
4. Collect all assets and pay any debt
Once you have obtained the grant of probate you will need to distribute the assets, prior to doing this you will need to settle any liabilities.
5. Distribute the estate
Make sure all of those who are noted in the Will receive their share of the estate. This task may be as simple as transferring money or may require a more complex process when involving land or property.
How long does the probate process take? Provided there are no complications it usually takes between four to eight weeks to get a grant of probate after you’ve submitted the application. Once granted, the amount of time it takes to complete will depend on the complexity of the estate.
What are the biggest causes of a delayed application?
There can be various reasons why your probate process might be delayed, here are some of the most common:
Missing documents - Some applications are delayed due to missing documents that are required for granting probate. Send out all documents at the same time to reduce the risk of delays.
Missing IHT information - IHT is administered by the HMRC the IHT421 form will need to be sent to process the application.
Missing or tampered Wills - The process can also be delayed if there is a missing Will or one that has been tampered with. Tampering with a will can be seen as fraud.
Although each probate process follows the same general framework, no two probate matters unfold in the same way. In some instances, seeking help from a professional solicitor is the best solution to put your mind at ease.
Get in touch with Blaser Mills Law
At Blaser Mills Law we always offer a quality of service and breadth of expertise that allows our clients to face their challenges with confidence.
To speak to one of our Wills, Trusts and Probate solicitors about a probate matter please contact Karen on 01494 781362 or email klw@blasermills.co.uk
About Karen
Karen is a Partner in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department and is based in the High Wycombe office.
She specialises in Wills, probate and the administration of estates, Lasting Powers of Attorney, including the registration process, and Court of Protection applications. She also advises on estate planning, inheritance tax and Capital Gains tax issues.
Karen communicates with her clients in a friendly and approachable way and is happy to see clients at home, in a hospital or residential home.
For more information, visit: blasermills.co.uk
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Welcome to the Autumn edition of Wycombe World which comes to you with my very best wishes.
Having taken over from Gp Capt Arnold (now Air Cdre) at the start of September, I feel immensely privileged to command a Station that has such a rich history and continues to play such a significant role as home to HQ Air Command, HQ Space Command and to a number of other units. In September we mourned the loss of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that the loss of Her Majesty, our Commanderin-Chief, is deeply felt across
the Royal Air Force and across all of the Armed Forces. Many of you will be aware that a number of our people played key roles in supporting Operation LONDON BRIDGE, the nation’s farewell and final tribute to our Sovereign of 70 years that was played out on a truly Global stage.
One of the things that has struck me over these last few weeks is the very close relationship that the Station enjoys with the local community. The Annual Formal Reception in early September was an opportunity to engage with local dignitaries, politicians, and even pub landlords. More recently, the Naphill Village bonfire and fireworks night provided a wonderful and colourful opportunity to join with and to support our neighbours. Finally, as we commemorated the sacrifice of those men and women who have gone before us over the Remembrance weekend, following a fantastic turnout at the station Muster on the 11 Nov 22 I was privileged to lay wreaths in High Wycombe and at the Naphill Village War Memorial along with many other representatives
of the community, young and old on Remembrance Sunday. I will make sure this vital engagement with the community we serve remains a key element of my role and would encourage all of you to do the same. In terms of our own Station community, we now have a growing social media presence, including a new RAF High Wycombe Station Facebook page, and I encourage you all to follow that. This has been a year of many changes and challenges – and we can be certain that this will continue to the end of this year and beyond. My priority in all of that will be to do all I can to look after the wellbeing of the Whole Force, including the families, who support the Station in all we seek to deliver.
Finally, as we do turn our minds to the end of this year and to the festive season, I would like to offer my best wishes to you all, with particular thoughts for those who are deployed and their families. I wish you all a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
All articles for the Issue 1 2023 Edition to be sent to the Editor no later than March 2023 to samuel.butler105@mod. gov.uk. Please send all articles as a word document with all photos and images imbedded with in the article.
Good morning and good afternoon,
Cpl Sam Butler here, the latest in a long line of occasionally distinguished and envelope-pushing Wycombe World editors. I just wanted to take this opportunity to firstly introduce myself but also to say a massive thanks to Cpl Nicholas Koppanen who has decided to hang up his editorial red pen. Whilst no definitive reason has been given for his departure from the team, its generally accepted that the journalistic weight of frequent deadlines has begun to turn his hair grey so he’s getting out while he still can. My hairline is receding, so the grey thing won’t be an issue.
Jokes aside, looking at the Wycombe World publications Nick has pushed out over his tenure, I am struck by the friendly and light-hearted tone he has encouraged, with people from across RAF High Wycombe providing entertaining accounts of daring doo. To that note, I’d like to reiterate that if you have something to talk about, or would like to write an article, please do not hesitate to get in touch! All of the articles in this publication are written by, believe it or not, by untrained sources who just happened to have done something interesting. You could be the next one!
Thanks, looking forward to hearing from you,
Coming from an army background, I strongly recommend that serving and retired military personnel consider having a professionally drawn up Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney prepared, and carry out planning for their, and their family’s future. Due to my background, I understand many of the issues that you and your family may be going through, with the various factors and demands of military life.
Coming from an army background, I strongly recommend that serving and retired military personnel consider having a professionally drawn up Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney prepared, and carry out planning for their, and their family's future. Due to my background, I understand many of the issues that you and your family may be going through, with the various factors and demands of military life.
I offer friendly, specialist legal advice on Wills, Estate & Later Life Planning, Succession Planning and Powers of Attorney
I offer friendly, specialist legal advice on Wills, Estate & Later Life Planning, Succession Planning and Powers of Attorney.
I am offering FREE ½ hour Consultations currently in person (such as at your home), or via a video call, to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding Wills, Powers of Attorney, and related matters.
I am offering FREE 1/2 hour Consultations currently in person (such as at your home), or via a video call, to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding Wills, Powers of Attorney, and related matters.
I am pleased to hold a Registered Armed Forces Covenant and provide a
10% discount for any legal advice I provide to all military personnel and their families,
I am pleased to hold a Registered Armed Forces Covenant and provide a
10% discount for any legal advice I provide to all military personnel and their families,
whether serving or retired, and all non-military staff working at RAF High Wycombe.
whether serving or retired, and all non-military staff working at RAF High Wycombe.
If you would like to discuss matters with me at any time, or have any questions, please contact me on iain@wanstallconsulting.co.uk or 01296 415700 or visit my website www.wanstallconsulting.co.uk
Following my first career in the army (The Gordon Highlanders, now The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland), I spent over 20 years as a specialist private client solicitor in law firms across the Home Counties.
Having lived in Wendover with my family since the late ‘90’s, I have recently realised a long-time goal of setting up my own Wills & Estate Planning Consultancy, based here and covering the surrounding areas.
I offer clients friendly and bespoke specialist legal advice, including Wills, estate, later life and succession planning and powers of attorney.
My aim is to make the whole legal process of planning for the future as straight forward and convenient as possible. After the Covid 19 restrictions over recent months, I am now seeing clients face to face again, either in person at their own homes or workplace, or via videocall, whichever clients prefer and at a time that suits them.
I am also offering free Wills and Estate Planning Clinics. These will be either held on station (when Covid 19 restrictions allow), or at your home or via videocall, again, whichever you prefer.
I strongly recommend that serving and retired military personnel consider having a professionally drawn up Will prepared and carry out planning for their, and their family’s, future. Due to my background, I understand many of the issues that you, and your family, may well be going through with the various factors and demands of military life. If you need to prepare your Will quickly, such as due to operational or exercise requirements, this will be arranged.
I also strongly recommend Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). There are two types of LPAs which enable you to authorise chosen people (attorneys) to look after your financial and / or your health and welfare affairs should you either wish them to (such as if you are away on operations or training), or should they need to do so.
If you would like to meet (in person or via videocall) to discuss any of the above or related matters, or have any questions, please contact me for a free initial 1/2 hour consultation at any time.
I am pleased to hold a registered Armed Forces Covenant and offer a 10% discount for any legal advice provide to all military personnel and their families, whether serving or retired, and to all staff working at RAF High Wycombe.
Members of ISW SECOS and supporting CIS personnel completed a gruelling 12hour endurance event on the 12th of May in order to raise money for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity set up in dedication for support to children & young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Inspired by the experience of Army widow Nikki Scott following the death of her husband Corporal Lee Scott in Afghanistan in 2009, the charity is currently providing assistance to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people around the UK.
The event also linked in with The Queens Platinum Jubilee. Participants chose a method ranging from
Weightlifting to Running. The targets were based on the monarchs 70 years, 840 months or 25,568 days reign. By the end of the 12-Hours a total of 255,680 kg was Lifted; 250 km Ran; 220 miles Cycled; 70 miles rowed; 1960 Press Ups and 1960 Sit Ups.
The team who completed this mammoth challenge collectively raised £1,980 at the time of writing, so if you feel generous and would like to help push us over the £2,000 mark, please scan the QR code below or go to www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/reps-for-reign.
As you approach the tree lined drive that winds beneath the striking Clock Tower, you’ll be in awe of this immense setting The gleaming, whitewashed exterior of Danesfield House sits overlooking the River Thames between Henley and Marlow and the Chiltern Hills beyond, amongst 65 acres of the most impressive landscaped gardens. Purple wisteria climbs the walls of the building while the wonderful scent of lavender wafts among the grounds Pretty fountains and waterfalls make Danesfield Gardens so quintessentially English while the Italian Garden adds a touch of the Mediterranean
Brimming with history, Danesfield House was once home to the Intelligence Section of the RAF, formerly RAF Medmenham from 1941 and remained in the hands of the RAF until 1977 It first opened its doors as a hotel in 1991.
Danesfield House arguably enjoys the most spectacular country house setting in the UK, which is why it has become such a popular venue for weddings and corporate events There are four imposing rooms available for private dining; whether you want to entertain a large party of 100 or host a more intimate affair of 10 guests, there is an ideal space to accommodate your group
There are 55 stunning rooms and suites to choose from, some with four poster beds or freestanding baths, and some with their own balcony and views across the Thames. There’s a welcome mix of both traditional country house style rooms and more contemporary design to choose from Huge windows capture the mesmerising scenery and luxurious furnishings dress the rooms beautifully
With an award-winning restaurant and luxury spa, facilities at Danesfield House have been designed with guests’ utmost pleasure in mind Whether you prefer to dine in the magnificent Oak Room with its wood panelling, towering ceiling and huge fireplace, or look out onto the terrace and gardens from the Orangery with views to ‘dine’ for, you can enjoy an incredible dining experience at Danesfield House
If you are planning the kind of wedding that’s only seen in fairy tales, you have come to the right place! Danesfield House weddings are magical! There are few settings as enchanting for your big day From a marquee on the lawn or a traditional ceremony in the Versailles Suite, to an elaborate celebration with exclusive use of the entire hotel, there are several options for civil ceremonies and partnerships.
The RAF High Wycombe Mental Health Network is an informal group populated by people from across the station; whether that be service, civilian, contractors or families. We exist to provide a listening ear to you at a time of need. You may be struggling with your own mental health or worried about a colleague, friend or family member. You may just want to have a rant and unload. None of us are medical professionals, we are just a group of likeminded individuals willing to provide a listening ear and sign-post if required. We are always looking for new
members, so please use HWYMentalHealthNetworkGPMail@ mod.gov.uk or use our Teams Site to get in touch. MentalHealthNetworkGPMail@ mod.gov.uk or use our Teams Site to get in touch.
Our Monthly Meets take place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month running from 1200-1300 in the Café 3 Conservatory. Everyone is welcome!
Remember: “If you are too busy to take a couple of minutes of for yourself, then you need an hour”
– Old Zen Saying.
The RAF High Wycombe Mental Health Network is an informal group populated by people from across the station; whether that be service, civilian, contractors or families. We exist to provide a listening ear to you at a time of need. You may be struggling with your own mental health or worried about a colleague, friend or family member. You may just want to have a rant and unload. None of us are medical professionals, we are just a group of likeminded individuals willing to provide a listening ear and sign-post if required. We are always looking for new
members, so please use HWYMentalHealthNetworkGPMail@ mod.gov.uk or use our Teams Site to get in touch. MentalHealthNetworkGPMail@ mod.gov.uk or use our Teams Site to get in touch.
Our Monthly Meets take place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month running from 1200-1300 in the Café 3 Conservatory. Everyone is welcome!
Remember: “If you are too busy to take a couple of minutes of for yourself, then you need an hour”
– Old Zen Saying.
As I began to write this article, it occurred to me that I must have clocked up 100 days since arriving at RAF High Wycombe and decided to reflect on my first few months here.
RAF High Wycombe has come to me after six years of serving on two 22 Gp stations (Cosford and Cranwell) which has naturally meant having met many who have been going through training. On our (my husband and I) first night we went to the mess and shared in some frivolity with those who I had spend time with at previous unit. It had the odd feeling of ‘coming home’ in many ways.
Soon, the real work of a chaplain begun as Padre Chrissy handed the reigns over to me. I was so very grateful to receive a church building in good condition. Then meeting the Hive, CDO, SSAFA and PS staff which soon became the team in which I found a place of belonging.
I have been trying to do as many station visits as possible, and I have found a good number of people coming forward for conversations about life events, whatever they may be. Seeing people for oneto-one conversations is an important part of the life of this station, however, I often
find myself in conversations and not getting as far with people as I would of hoped to have got.
With working routines now settling down, I’d like to highlight the delivery of various courses which help with those one-to-one conversations.
Spiritual Resilience, Listening Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Stress Awareness, Loss and Bereavement, The Five Languages of Appreciation
These are in addition to the recall day. If you’d like to come on any of these courses, please take a look at the TDF SharePoint site where you can sign on to do one or many of them, all are welcome. Likewise, if you’d like to arrange a conversation with myself, the chaplains clerk and my contact details are below. In short, I am happy to be here, enjoying the local area and making new friends as I go. Look forward to meeting you soon.
With every Blessing Andi Chapman – Stn Chaplain
Chaplains Clerk: Anita Daly, Ext: 7831 Email/S4B: anita. daly101@mod.gov.uk
Chaplain: Andi Chapman, Ext: 4469, Email/S4B: andrew. chapman107@mod.gov.uk
In the moment, signing up seemed like a great thing to do... although I later had a few “what on earth am I doing?!" moments!! In memory of my late Dad, an Arctic Survival Challenge with the Royal British Legion – little did I know just how much of an adventure it would be. Even though I have been back three weeks at the time of writing this post, it continues to help me push boundaries proving that things I thought would be impossible whilst having a disability are absolutely possible! On Monday the 28th of March 2022, I stepped on to a plane that would take myself, my husband and 11 others to a place in Northern Sweden called Raftälven, where we would embark on adventure of a lifetime.
survival phase. Once we were out of the cabin, it was locked and would not be re-opened until the challenge was over.
Night 1
Nordic tents – COLD! The first survival night was to sleep in Nordic tents. There was a stove but, as explained to the team prior to starting the survival phase, it was for light and morale rather than heat. We had to take sentry duty in order to watch out for our teammates and ensure everyone made it through the night.
Hearing aids survived. Contact lenses froze!! (although my spares didn’t! Phew!). Feet nice and toasty!
The final nights temperature dropped to -12.
The cabin we stayed in had no electricity or running water. Light in the evening would be from candles or head torches. Water for washing would be collected from the stream and heated by fire. Drinking water was shipped in. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing will know that low lighting levels can cause challenges when trying to hear people speak. This proved true for me, and we hadn’t even got to the survival stage yet. Before then we had 3 days of excitement; cross country skiing, Husky sledding, and a snowmobile adventure. Temperatures were ranging from -6 to -20 during the day.
On day four we gathered everything we needed for the
Night 1 temperature: -22 degrees.
Hearing aids survived. Contact lenses survived. Feet survived (just! I have Raynaud’s and this is a whole other story!!)
Night 2
Natural shelter. We spent the day constructing a natural shelter from trees, big enough for all 13 people. One of the biggest challenges here was ensuring we all fit in, including those team members that were over 6ft. Another stove in the middle – again for morale and not for heat. The day was spent taking shifts, not only had we a shelter to build but we needed to collect and melt snow for drinking water (and cooking our ration packs). We also had to find and chop down standing deadwood trees in order to maintain a fire. I found the natural shelter warmer, perhaps it was the lower ceiling, who knows! Temperatures dropped to -14.6 during the night.
Night 3 Quinzhee building. Today was the most dangerous part of the challenge. The Quinzhee took us nine hours to build (a combination of the snow melting and refreezing during the week meant it was like trying to dig out concrete). We had to ensure the snow was the same thickness throughout and had tools to do this. We did manage to put a hole in the quinzhee at one point which almost meant game over (damaging the integrity of the shelter could lead to it collapsing while we were sleeping in there so needed assessing carefully)! However, after an inspection from the experts, it was agreed we could carry on. It was the most exhausting day of the three. The quinzhee was finished just before we lost daylight. Half the team in each quinzhee. We all managed to fit in, even with the two tallest people in ours. A candle was kept lit all night. It is important to keep watch, if the candle goes out and cannot be relit everyone needs to decamp sharp! Thankfully this didn’t happen and the quinzhee didn’t collapse, despite our little sunroof.
Hearing loss is isolating, and I thought I was prepared practically for this on our Swedish adventure - I had boxes of batteries and a way to insulate my hearing aids from the extreme temperatures at night. That wasn’t what I struggled with. Instead it was being the only hard of hearing person in the team and not wanting to be “that person”. I did not ask for the support I needed from my teammates. This led to me feeling like an outsider, not part of the team and alone. Would I do the adventure again? ABSOLUTELY, in a heartbeat. What would I do differently? I’d ask for what I need for me to feel equal, something that I believe is important in any situation, from adventures to the workplace, and that is open conversations and teamwork.
I’m blogging about my adventures and how my disability makes me stronger – Rebecca Bockett-Pugh if you would like to read more.
For CS and Serving personnel who would like support with any disability please look for the RAF Disability and Carers Network on MODnet.
Crown House Preparatory School in High Wycombe provides an outstanding education for girls and boys aged three to 11 years, priding itself on its close-knit community and nurturing environment. The school, named by the Sunday Times as the best performing independent co-educational school in Buckinghamshire in 2021, encourages all pupils to develop a lifelong love of learning through a rich and broad curriculum, where activities are characterised by a sense of fun and challenge to ensure that all pupils flourish.
Crown House has a reputation for dedicated and passionate staff who nurture and inspire the pupils in their care, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. The school knows that confidence, a sense of security and warmth is fundamental to success, so teachers work hard to create a secure and welcoming environment. At Crown House, every child is supported with individualised attention throughout their journey at the school.
Crown House pupils are encouraged to question, discuss and reason across all areas of the curriculum. Experienced staff encourage curiosity and perseverance to develop enquiring minds, and this approach, along with a challenging curriculum and small class sizes, ensures Crown House pupils achieve consistently high results.
Sport is an integral part of school life at Crown House and children enjoy playing different games with each other, learning the meaning of teamwork, patience, fair play and resilience. The school has timetabled PE and games lessons that start in reception, and in the prep school all pupils participate and represent the school in a wide range of sports including cross country, tag-rugby, netball, football, hockey, rounders, cricket and athletics. The school also takes part in many regional and national tournaments.
Crown House consistently achieves a 90 per cent 11+ pass rate, and year six leavers go on to a range of local grammar and independent schools, including Wycombe High School, Beaconsfield School and Dr Challoner’s School. The headteacher and senior leadership team start to meet with parents from years four and five to discuss the best options and fit for the next stage in their child’s education and this approach, coupled with teachers’ excellent knowledge of the 11+, means that year six pupils achieve excellent results and usually get into their first-choice school.
Pupil happiness and wellbeing are at the heart of the Crown House ethos, and this combined with small class sizes and an individualised learning environment ensures that children are given the attention and support they deserve to excel and have an exceptional education. Crown House children find their passion and reach their full potential.
To find out more, see crownhouseschool.co.uk, and to organise visits, email office@crownhouseschool.co.uk, or call 01494 529927.
The Nepalese greeting ‘Ghar Jastai Thannu Hola’ could not be more fitting here. It means ‘make yourself at home,’ and this is exactly how personnel at RAF High Wycombe were made to feel at the launch of the new Nepalese Community Heritage Centre on the 28th of July. In a blaze of colour and excitement, an old theatre club meeting room was transformed into a centre that will preserve the culture and traditions of a proud people.
To cheers of ‘Namaste,’ guests were given a traditional welcome of brightly coloured scarves – brought from Nepal - as a symbol of good luck and support. The plaque unveiling commemorating the opening was performed by Gp Capt Arnold to rousing applause. The elder of the group also presented him with a Kukri knife. Serving a dual purpose as a weapon and a cutting tool, the Kukri knife had its earliest recorded use in the seventh century and is traditionally associated with Nepalispeaking Gurkhas.
Although the centre was completed in a mere four weeks, the journey to get to this auspicious opening was far from smooth.
The idea of a centre just for the Nepalese community at RAF High Wycombe was
first mooted over eight years ago. “The Nepalese were very few then. But we wanted to let the station know that we were a family and an acknowledgement that we were here,” said Sgt Lal Gurung of MPSG 4 Sect Comd and a leading light in getting the project off the ground. “The costs to build a new centre were deemed too high and things went silent for a few years.”
With the appointment of Gp Capt Phillip Arnold as Stn Cdr two years ago, everything changed. Passionate to ensure that something would be done during his tenure, the Gp Capt invited Sgt Gurung and his colleagues into his office to help him understand more about Nepalese culture. Several places were considered, including sites by Greenwood, the nursery school, the barn and the station church. The old theatre club room was chosen for its good access to the Oakeshott Centre after prayers and meditation. Crucially, it had room to house cabinets to display an array of arts, crafts and religious artefacts.
The design and eventual build of the centre was a team effort. “We had a WhatsApp group to discuss and decide on various issues, then we all came to an agreement. There was no committee. It was definitely
a team effort,” commented Sgt Gurung. Assistance came from a variety of sources including the Station Communities Officer, Daniel Boyle who was able to raise £300 for paint, a new door, and carpets. The rest was sheer elbow grease!
So, what will the centre be used for? “Apart from preserving our culture and passing on our traditions to the next generation, it will be used as a multi-faith room and to mark our festivities,” said Sgt Gurung. Did you know that Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of religion, with the two main faiths being Hinduism and Buddhism? There is a tradition for every one of the 365 days in the year.
The centre is likely to hold main prayer meetings at least twice a month. Although primarily for the Nepalese community, anyone can use the room for praying and meditation. When not in use the centre will be locked, but keys can be obtained from the guardroom.
Not only is the opening of the centre a proud moment for the Nepalese community, it also places RAF High Wycombe in the record books. Although there are temples for serving Gurkha soldiers around the United Kingdom, High Wycombe is the first base in the
Personnel from all sites were invited to join the Nepalese community in a sumptuous curry after the ceremony, served alfresco next to Smithy’s Bar. The event raised £1157 which will go towards buying articles for use in the centre.
There is an old proverb that says ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ And arguably this has been a journey. The opening ceremony was a very emotional time; “We didn’t believe it would happen.....It means everything to us and we are very thankful to the Stn Cdr,” said Sgt Gurung as he welcomed people into the centre for the first time.
For being a true trailblazer, well done RAF High Wycombe!
country to have a Nepalese Community Heritage Centre. The first of many in the country? You never know!“We didn’t believe it would happen...”
With the issues at major airports around the UK cancelling hundreds of flights per day, the Force Development trip to Gibraltar felt a little uncertain. However, we were lucky as there were no issues with the flight times or even the arrival of our luggage. We shared our flight with the Physical Training Corps rugby team, only to have our MT stolen by them on arrival in Gibraltar.
Fortunately, the beautiful weather meant that we spent half an hour acclimatising to the heat, whilst awaiting our replacement transport. The rest of the first day was spent settling into our accommodation at Devil’s Tower Camp and exploring the local eateries and drinking establishments.
The following day we met our guide Pete Jackson, who was stationed in Gibraltar 25 years ago with the British Army and ended up never leaving ‘the rock’. His knowledge and passion for Gibraltar’s history was second to none. The day's activities consisted of a walking tour through casemates, the lower tunnels of ‘the rock’ and the World War 2 tunnels.
At various
locations throughout the day people held stands ranging from topics on the ‘The Great Sortie’, the King’s Bastion and Pete’s beloved 100 tonne gun. A little surprise for all involved was the physicality of the walking, which was described at the beginning of the day as a “7-mile bimble”, but in reality, was 235,000 steps, nearly all uphill. Despite the
arduous exercise, the views were excellent and even the packed lunches were edible!
On the Wednesday, there were some sore ankles and legs and maybe even some sore heads. The majority of the group walked up the Mediterranean steps. The more sensible members of the team took a cable car ride to the top of ‘the rock’, where Pete then showed us around the World War I defences and his lovingly restored mounted guns. Following lunch, the
group went caving in St Michael’s cave, which tested the bravado of even the most confident, but everyone came out of the experience with a smile (and no broken limbs).
For the final day of activities, Pete took the group to ‘Project C’ which was a series of tunnels created to house and protect fuel for ships and aircraft during World War II. Unfortunately, some children had broken into the complex
in 2021 and set fire to some of the infrastructure, but, the majority of it had just been abandoned. Pete’s enthusiasm and knowledge of Gibraltar added significant value to the trip, and I hope his endeavours to maintain and protect the heritage of the country is recognised and gains support.
On the Friday, it was time to pack up our belongings and return to the UK. We were unfortunately delayed by two hours due to the luggage loader breaking, but it could have been worse!
For those considering going on the next iteration of Exercise Gibraltar Rock, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Just make sure you bring a decent pair of walking shoes!
Thank you to James, Brian and Hilly for your organisation of the trip, the administration and the local knowledge of where to find good food.
RAF High Wycombe Golf held its 2022 Station Golf Championships at Harleyford Golf Club in Marlow. 16 players, from all areas of the station, came together to play in the main golf competition of the year.
Players handicaps ranged from Scratch up to 22, and Harleyford provided a tough test of ability with extremely fast greens and rock-hard unforgiving fairways that could reward an excellent shot with an unpredictable bounce into the deep rough. Conditions were extremely hot, in full sun and with very little wind. The key to playing well was keeping it on the fairways and mastering the slick greens, some of which sported almost impossible pin positions where achieving a par was a true demonstration of the old Ben Hogan adage ‘‘drive for show – putt for dough’. The conditions were extremely stamina testing – especially so during the afternoon round where temperatures peaked around 36 degrees! However, all made it successfully round and an excellent day was had by all.
There were some noteworthy performances over the 18 holes with Sgt Storey and Al Smith winning nearest the pin, MACR Reynolds and WO Semmence winning the longest drives and WO Gail Lawrence and Luke Slaney nearest the pin in 2 shots. The Championships were played as a Stableford competition, with two trophies up for grabs: best gross score and best net score. The winner of the net prize was Mr Luke Slaney, scoring
a very respectable 68 points. Best gross score and RAF High Wycombe Champion Golfer of the Year went to Wg Cdr Jamie Nickless, who scored 63 points for both rounds and an excellent 1-over-gross on the second round which was an outstanding score given the demanding conditions.
The Golf Committee would like to thank everyone who played and for getting involved with Station Golf; without the support of its members these competitions would not be the success they are. We would also like to thank the Station Gym for their support to RAF High Wycombe Golf over the year, facilitating the all the admin and providing assistance with funding. Thanks also goes to Sqn Ldr Sharpe, who organised the event and WO Athol Semmence who assisted with the ‘on the day’ pre-play admin. Finally, thanks must go to Sam Clapham and the team at Harleyford for their hospitality and allowing us to play an excellent course in such good condition.
If you are interested in getting involved with Station Golf, playing in our local training events or representing the Station in the Chiltern League or in RAF events then please visit our SharePoint page (under the High Wycombe Community tab) to sign up and to also find out further information on forthcoming events.
After the disappointment of cancelling the volleyball tournament way back in March, the CO’s Cup returned with some friendly dodgeball. On 27th of June, 3 teams battled for bragging rights of being named dodgeball champions. After playing each other twice through JFAC was crowned as the winner, 2nd place where ISW and 3rd place where FDS. Look out on station announcements, PEd Facebook page, and Gym noticeboards to get your section involved in future events.
Over April the gym set a MyZone challenge to be the first user to reach 3000 MEPs. Across the facility 16 people managed to reach the impressive target. First to the goal was CalumF!
Using a MyZone is a great way to track workouts, increase your effort, and get competitive in the gym. Please speak with PEd staff for more information if you are interested in getting one.
On 17th May over 50 career management attended a section sports day hosted by the gym. This was a great opportunity for people to get together after a long period of working from home. Teams were put together and enjoyed a picnic alongside games of rounders, French cricket, and old-school sports day games. Events like this are great to improve moral, teamwork, and competitive spirit- try and get your own sections involved in the CO’s Cup and other station events for a bit of fun and team building!
The Station Football team made it to the RAF Plate Final on the 12th of June. It was a tough fought match, losing in the last kick of the game. Final score: RAF High Wycombe 2: RAF Digby 3
A joint RAF High WycombeHalton team won the Hockey Inter-Stations in May. After winning 3 group games, they qualified straight to the final to play RAF Brize Norton; the team who had won the trophy every year for the last 10. HWY/HAL won 3-2 to win the tournament and will go on to compete in the Tri-Service Cup against the winners of the Army and Navy Inter-Stations.
Personnel from High Wycombe represented the station at the swimming inter-stations. The women’s team came 3rd overall.
Gym Tips:
If you are unsure of what to do for a session or need some inspiration to get to the gym, take a look at the whiteboards positioned around the sports hall. Photos of these can also be found on our Facebook page. They contain the circuits that we deliver each week and can be easily repeated on your own or with a workout partner - a great option if you can’t make it to our timetabled circuits. Just ask if you are unsure of any of the exercise.
There are some great examples below:
• 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.
