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EVENTS Dear Members The Annual Autumn Luncheon took place at the RAF
Club, London on Thursday 20th September 2007. The guest speaker was Sqn Ldr Geoffrey
Wellum, a Battle of Britain fighter pilot. The Luncheon was attended by 66
members and guests. As we move into 2008 we have sadly two deaths to
report. Lady Daphne Maynard, the wife of the first BBAA President the late
Sir Nigel Maynard has died. Her funeral was on Thursday the 10th
January at Piddington Church, Oxfordshire. Also, on the 2nd January 2008 the BBAA
Chairman Squadron Leader Frank Stillwell died in his sleep. Frank was
co-founder in 1994 of the BBAA, along with our first Chairman, Capt Alan D.B.
Smith. Frank was the Association’s first Secretary/Treasurer. His funeral took place in the Hampden Chapel,
Amersham Chilterns Crematorium at 1.15pm on Thursday 24th January
2008. Many BBAA members were present including the BBAA Standard Bearer,
David Hildred and Escorts Dennis King and John Perkins. Donations, if desired
to the RAF Benevolent Fund. You may send donations via the BBAA to William
Campbell, Pine Ledge, The Buckholt, Monmouth NP25 5RJ, Great Britain. Cheques
to be made payable to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Frank will be sadly missed by
all who knew him. After the funeral a buffet reception was held at
the Red Lion Public House in the nearby village of Coleshill. Another recent death is that of the Reverend Peter
Furness, who was the first Padre to the BBAA. Peter died on the 25th
January 2008. He served at RAF Gatow in Berlin on the Airlift as Secretary to
the Station Commander, Group Captain B.C.Yarde. The Autumn Luncheon for 2008 will at the RAF Club, London on Thursday the 25th September The 60th
Anniversary of the start of the Berlin Airlift: A 60th Anniversary commemoration weekend was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Peterborough, UK from Thursday the 26th to Sunday the 29th June 2008. On Friday the 27th June as part of the commemorations the IWM Duxford held a Berlin Airlift Veterans Day. A Gala Dinner and ‘Big Band’ Airlift Tribute Concert at the Cresset Theatre, Bretton Centre, Peterborough was held on Saturday the 28th June. Music for the concert was by the Johnny Harris Orchestra. On Sunday the 29th June a March Past was held in the City of Peterborough. The RAF Wyton Voluntary Band led the parade of BBAA Veterans followed by Standards from local Associations, contingents from RAF Wittering, USAF Alconbury and local ATC Squadrons. The March Past finished at St John’s Parish Church in Peterborough city centre with a commemorative service in the church conducted by Canon Gordon Steele and BBAA Padre the Rev Bill Edwards. Music for the service was by the City of Peterborough Concert Band. Refuelling Flights: Unfortunately we have not been able to organise a refuelling flight
with 101 Squadron at the moment. It has become obvious that there is little
chance of another visit at the present time. |
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e-mail geoffsmith@supanet.com |
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