C o m m u n i t y
Girls! Girls! Girls! F
or all those who think the concept of a Ladies’ Luncheon Club for Officers’ wives only, is a little outdated, take a
look at the all-new Valley Girls’ Social Club. Report by Jo Saunders
When I first arrived at Valley I didn’t think there was much going on for the girls on base – particularly for those who didn’t boast an abundance of darling (or devilish) offspring. Without the foolproof ‘Mums & Tots’ method of making friends, it seemed life would be pretty quiet for a while.
Even now, I’ve been here just over eight months and only know eight or nine of the girls on base – not nearly as many friends as I have back home, and we usually end up defaulting to a meal at the local pub. But, thanks to officers’ wife San Downs, all this was about to change...
Alongside a small committee, San has launched an all-new Valley Girls’ Social Club. VGSC is open to all ladies age eighteen and over who are associated with RAF Valley, including partners and female family members, RAF Personnel, Civil Servants and Contractors. Whether you’re a busy Mum juggling the kids and house, or a ‘nine-to-fiver’ like me, looking for a little time out with friends, you’re sure to fit into the VGSC’s mould.
From cocktail parties to fundraising events, shopping trips to dinners out, the Club is looking to provide an ideal setting for women to get to know each other, away from the formal structures of the military environment – and more importantly, allows us all to have some child-free, husband-free fun!
Earlier this Summer we celebrated the launch of VGSC, over fifty ladies from all ranks and sectors of RAF Valley dressed up in their summer finery and enjoyed a drinks and canapé reception in the Sergeants’ Mess whilst
finding out more about the Valley Girls’ Club and getting to know each other.
“It was a great opportunity
to meet up with the girls in a different setting and enjoy some drinks together” said one of the ladies. “And as well as catching up with friends, I was able to meet some new people and visit the Sergeants’ Mess for the first time. It was a lovely evening.”
Club-creator, San Downs agreed, “My favourite part of the evening was meeting lots of lovely ladies from all over the base who I had never met before, and listening to their interesting stories about their involvement with RAF Valley”.
A great achievement for all involved, Club Chairman, Rose Simpson commented that “The evening was a resounding success thanks to the support and positive attitude of all the ladies that attended. It was extremely encouraging to see so many like- minded people gathered together enjoying themselves. As a club we aim to build on the success of the launch and really make this new club work for the benefit of the ladies here at RAF Valley”.
Of course, alongside the wives and girlfriends based at Valley, the club is also a fantastic way to introduce serving women to other ladies on the base – two groups who might not know each other otherwise.
“It’s easy to mix with women of a similar age and in similar personal circumstances to you as a serving woman – most of us know most of the other serving women on base, for example – but there are fewer opportunities to get to know female partners, contractors
and civil servants unless you have direct contact with them” said Wing Commander Sophy Gardner. “VGSC is there to break down those artificial barriers and give us the opportunity to get to know each other better. The launch party was great – I actually had time to socialise with lots of people I see around the base but often don’t have the opportunity to chat to. There was a good turnout from serving women although not so many junior ranks, who I really hope will come along and get involved as well.”
“On behalf of all the committee members I am really proud to say that we were all overjoyed by the support of all the ladies who showed up on the night. We now have about 60 members; it’s just a great beginning” said San.
Many thanks to Chairman Rose Simpson and committee member Jacqui Griggs who offered the guests a little more insight into the creation of the club with their fantastic speeches; and thanks to Jess Hunter and Claire Wigglesworth, we now have some fantastic photographs in our online gallery to remind us of our very first event.
For more information about the club and their forthcoming events go to: www.
valleygirlsclub.com
44
Autumn 2010
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56