Contact


Telephone: 01780 781650, email: enquiries@raf-ff.org.uk or via the website www.raf-ff.org.uk


A Quarterly Magazine for RAF Personnel and their Families Contents


Editor’s Words From the Director Foreword by Nick Bunting, The RAF Association Secretary General Why Should YOU Contact the Federation? 6 easy ways to get the latest new from your Federation


Emerging Issues ...........................................................................................................6 Features


Cover Photograph – The smiles say it all. ACs Widdison and Mason-Jones at their graduation from RAF Halton, see article on page 32. Photographer: Colin Jones.


Out and About with 901 Expeditionary Air Wing ........................................................ 10 Spanning 100 years .................................................................................................. 12 Meet the Calendar Girls ............................................................................................. 14 Artist in Afghanistan .................................................................................................. 16 Changing Lives ......................................................................................................... 18 Ethical Thinker .......................................................................................................... 20


Envoy – The magazine of the RAF Families Federation, published 4 times a year.


Editor: Ann Dewar RAF Families Federation, 13-15 St Georges Road, Wittering, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE8 6DL 01780 781650


Director: Bill Mahon


Communications Manager: Ann Dewar Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch Evidence Manager: Nicola Dengate Evidence Co-ordinator: Colin Jones Evidence Assistant: Todd Fellows Evidence Assistant (Housing): Stan Brathwaite Office Manager: Ruth McClelland


Published quarterly by Method Publishing, a division of Scottish Provincial Press Limited, on behalf of Envoy


Design and Typography: © Method Publishing 2014 Editorial Matter and Illustrations: © Envoy Printed in Great Britain by: Warners Midlands plc


Advertisement Office (UK): Method Publishing, Sutherland Press House, Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6RA Tel: 01408 633871 Fax: 01408 633876 Advertisement Manager:


Gary Endersby: g.endersby@methodpublishing.co.uk Views expressed in Envoy, unless stated otherwise, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Envoy, the RAF or the Ministry of Defence.


No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in Envoy can be accepted by the Publishers or Printers and advertisements are accepted on the express condition that the advertiser warrants that they in no way contravene the provisions of The Trades Descriptions Act 1968 nor any other prevailing legislation in the United Kingdom.


The Publishers reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any advertisement without stating a reason.


REGULARS NEM


New terms of engagement ........................................................................................22


Federation Quick 6 Survey Results ...............................................................................................24


Covenant


Reaching out to the Armed Forces Community in Gateshead .......................................28 Bounce! ....................................................................................................................29


Education


Education of Service Children Change programme ......................................................31 Halton “Gateway to the RAF” ....................................................................................32


Money For the children .........................................................................................................33


Health NHS England working with Armed Forces Families ......................................................34 Family


Bringing back the Smiles ...........................................................................................36 From wherever you are… Stories ...............................................................................39


Lifestyle Dreaming .................................................................................................................40 Held back by Circumstance ........................................................................................41 Living in the Slipstream .............................................................................................42 Losing friends, Gaining friends ...................................................................................44 Turning the tide on service partner employment .........................................................46


Community For our chosen charity back home ..............................................................................48 Warrant Officer Al Sylvester’s Long Walk ....................................................................49


The RAF Families Federation is an independent organisation parented by The RAF Association.


Patron: Her Majesty the Queen


Registered Charity Number 226686


Scottish Charity Number SCO37673


The RAF Families Federation is supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund.


Registered Charity Number in England and Wales 1081009


and in Scotland SC038109


www.raf-ff.org.uk


Envoy Summer 2014


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