News

22 March 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Anniversary, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force, Veterans

As we approach 1 April and the official launch of the RAF’s centenary celebrations, the RAF Benevolent Fund has shared the story of another incredible centenarian.

Like so many of her generation, Rose doesn’t think her story is worth telling but the 101-year-old WAAF veteran is modestly underplaying her vital role in the D-Day landings and the two honours she received as a result. Here she tells her story…

I joined the RAF when I was 25, in 1941. My fiancé Wilf had been posted to the Middle East so I thought I’d better contribute to the war effort and hopefully get him home sooner!

During the Second World War there were only three trades open to women: MT drivers, cooks and barrage balloon operators.

14 March 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Benevolence, Challenge, Events, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport, Welfare

Running Reverend set to complete Falkland Islands marathon as a penguin

RAF Chaplain, Padre Michael Chatfield has certainly gone the extra mile to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Not only has he decided to run the race in a penguin outfit, he had to extend his time on the Falkland Islands to do it!

Padre Michael is usually found working at RAF Odiham, having been posted there in June 2016, but was deployed for a four-month tour in November. He has chosen to take some of his post-deployment leave on the Falklands so he can compete in the Stanley Marathon and fundraise for the RAF’s leading welfare charity.

9 March 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Benevolence, Families, RAF, Royal Air Force, Serving, Support

‘We would be lost without the help of the RAF Benevolent Fund’

For Sgt Steve Lawrence joining the RAF had been a long held ambition – he’d been dreaming of a career as an Air Force engineer since the age of 14!

Now, aged 42, as he approaches his 23rd year in service, his dedication to his duty has been repaid by the RAF Benevolent Fund, repaying the debt we all owe to those who serve their country.

9 March 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Challenge, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport

RAF personnel scale their own urban mountain

In the first attempt of its kind, four RAF personnel will scale the 837 steps of London’s iconic Gherkin skyscraper 50 times, to match the height of the world’s tallest mountain Mount Everest.

Standing at 180m tall over 38 floors, The Gherkin, officially known as 30 St Mary’s Axe, will double up as the 8,848m high mountain in the gruelling 12-hour challenge, to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

9 March 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Benevolence, Challenge, Funding, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport

Penultimate run for 100 marathon man, fundraising for RAF’s leading welfare charity

Marathon man Jon Ward dons his trainers for his 99th marathon out of 100 this weekend as he lines up to compete in the Scottish Borders Marathon.

Jon, a Corporal in the Royal Air Force, set himself the ambitious target of completing 100 official marathons, to mark the RAF centenary. This weekend will see him take on his 99th race, with his impressive challenge coming to an end in Gravesend on 1 April, 2018, 100 years to the day since the RAF was formed.

22 February 2018

Reading Force, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Children, Collaboration, Education, Families, RAF, Royal Air Force

Reading Force launches partnership with RAF Benevolent Fund at RAF High Wycombe

Reading Force, the shared reading charity for all UK military families, is pleased to announce a pilot to roll out its activity in five RAF Benevolent Fund Ben Clubs, with a special launch at RAF High Wycombe Ben Club this week.

The Reading Force charity encourages military families to share books, whether at home together or separated by deployments or training – in which case books can be read over the phone, Skype or FaceTime.

14 February 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Announcements, Awards, Events, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force

A secret mission to Oman leads to holidays on the South Coast

For former WRAF nurse Ann Simons of Peterborough, a secret mission to Dhofar in Oman, was so covert she had no idea her service meant she should be awarded a medal.

The honour came to light when Ann finally spilled the beans about the top secret trip to lifelong friend and former RAF colleague Squadron Leader Trishia Welsh, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) branch. Trishia investigated further and discovered Ann should have been presented with the General Service Medal, with the Dhofar Clasp.

6 February 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Event, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Veterans, Welfare

The Dam Busters with Dan Snow: A gala screening on the 75th anniversary

Be one of the first audiences to see the newly restored Dam Busters film in amazing 4K definition at a special gala screening on the anniversary of the RAF’s most daring raid.

Historian Dan Snow will host the gala evening at London’s Royal Albert Hall where the newly restored film will be played on a 40ft screen. The commemorative evening, on May 17, the 75th anniversary of the raid, will pay tribute to Wing commander Guy Gibson and his comrades in the legendary 617 Squadron.

6 February 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Event, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force, Veterans, Welfare

WAAF ‘trailblazers’ joined by RAF personnel for centenary celebrations

A team of seven female personnel from RAF Odiham joined former WAAF and WRAF members at a week-long celebration of 100 years of women in the RAF next week at Princess Marina House in Rustington.

The group gave a presentation to the former servicewomen at the care centre run by the RAF Benevolent Fund, before a special gala dinner on Wednesday. The evening was the highlight in a week of activities to celebrate 100 years of women in the Armed Forces, specifically the RAF.

26 January 2018

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Anniversary, Benevolence, Events, Funding, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force

Isle of Man Post Office introduces stamps to mark RAF100

As a tribute to all who have served in the Royal Air Force in the last century, Isle of Man Post Office has commissioned a set of eight commemorative stamps.

The stamps are officially licensed by the Ministry of Defence, highlighting the rich history and legacy of the RAF – the world’s first independent air force, founded on 1 April, 2018.

A unique feature of this stamp collection is the incredible depth of information that each stamp contains in relation to the RAF history.

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