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


From the Director Editor’s Words Welcome to Alison Foreword by Air Marshal Phil Osborn CBE RAF Why Should YOU Contact the Federation?


Front Cover: Simon Flynn in the Individual Downhill Race.


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


To have your FREE copy delivered quarterly to your home, email enquiries@raf-ff.org. uk or via our website www.raf-ff.org.uk


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


Director: Bill Mahon


Communications Manager: Caroline Woodward


Communications Assistant: Nick Crouch Evidence Manager: Colin Jones Evidence Assistant: Todd Fellows Evidence Assistant (Housing): Stan Brathwaite Evidence Assistant: Alison Serrell-Cooke 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 Email: admin@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.


Photographs courtesy of the MoD (unless otherwise stated). www.raf-ff.org.uk Envoy Winter 2014 3


In the News ..................................................................................................................6 Features


Addicted to Winter ......................................................................................................8 The First World War in the Air ....................................................................................10


REGULARS Federation


Your Evidence Team ...................................................................................................13 Reserves and Single Personnel – we’re here for you too! .............................................14 Housing/Accommodation (does) Matter(s) ...................................................................17 NEM: Introduction of Combined Accommodation Assessment System for Service Family Accommodation (SFA) ................................................................................................18 Changes to intestacy rules .........................................................................................21


Money


New Armed Forces Pension Scheme ...........................................................................22 The Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown ............................................................24


Covenant


Council and Local Businesses show their support for Military Reservists .......................26 Reflections of Buckinghamshire County Council’s work ...............................................28 Choosing a Boarding School ......................................................................................30


Lifestyle


Living on the Other Side… in more ways than one .....................................................32 Running – competitively or for fun .............................................................................34


Family Ways for Children to keep in touch with a parent .......................................................36 The RAF Halton Service Families Fostering Scheme ......................................................37 Storybook Wings .......................................................................................................38 Forces families release balloons in memory of lost loved ones .....................................41


Community


RAF Cosford’s Deployed Operational Training Area… .................................................42 Great work going on for Christmas ............................................................................43


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