The Flyer
Red Letter Day at RAF Honington
she was especially surprised that the
Station Commander didn’t have his own
driver anymore. When she was asked
to give her Service Number she quickly
responded:
RAF Honington gave a warm welcome
to residents of Davers Court Residential
Home today as the Station celebrated
the graduation of its newest RAF
Regiment Gunners. Former Second World
War Aircraft Woman Brenda Barden
celebrated her Red-Letter day with the
help of her fellow resident and former
National Serviceman David Sane as they
helped mark the graduation of the next
generation of RAF Regiment Gunners at
RAF Honington.
Brenda (94), served from 1942-47 as
a Driver Mechanical Transport. She
proudly displayed the Cap Badge that
she wore during her time in uniform
as she watched the Graduation Parade
whilst tapping her feet to the music
of the RAF Regiment Band. After
some spectacular drill performed by
the graduates, she joked with Station
Warrant Offi cer Mac MacDonald how
much she had enjoyed the visit and said
cheekily: ‘’They were very good but not
quite as good as we were’’.
Brenda, who had driven in the Victory
Parade in York at the end of the War, had
ferried many VIPs around in her Staff Car
including the likes of Ivor Novello, and
‘‘2132940 Sir’’, almost as if she was
standing in the queue to pick up her
war-time pay. This time, though, she
was rewarded with a pint-size mug of
tea reminiscent of the days with the
NAAFI wagon. Enjoying the experience
alongside Brenda was David Stone who
joined the RAF to do his National Service
at 17 and enjoyed it so much he stayed
a further 4 years working in Air Traffi c
Control.
David, who ended his service just down
the road at RAF Wattisham, eagerly eyed
up the Air Traffi c Control Tower. Now
80 years old, he said: ’I could still get
up that Tower’. As with Brenda, David
followed with:’’5057684’’ almost as
being evicted from the Station would
be the consequence of not knowing it.
Carer, Jane Bailey, who joined the group,
also had a link with RAF Honington and
had been a Kennel Maid to the RAF
Police Dogs in 1992 when the Station
was still a Tornado base.
The graduating Gunners from Salalah
Flight have completed 20 weeks of
gruelling training to prepare them to
go out into front-line postings with
the potential to serve anywhere in
the world as Defence Specialists. The
RAF Honington Station Commander,
Group Captain Matt Radnall, the last
RAF person to leave Camp Bastion
in Afghanistan in 2014, told the
Graduation:
‘’Be proud of what you have achieved
and the organisation that you now
serve’’.
Letters to the Editor
Send your club news, reports, events and
articles to News desk, The Flyer, Flyer House,
Bridge Road, Felixstowe IP11 7SL or email
newsdesk@fl yeronline.co.uk
District leaders support
call for Government
Rural Strategy
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District
Council leaders are supporting the
demands of the Rural Service Network
for central government to recognise
the needs of rural communities
and develop a Rural Strategy. The
needs of communities in rural areas,
which accounts for 17% of the UK
population, are different from those
in urban areas and are often not
considered in central government
decision making in the setting of
fi nancial grants or introduction of
policies.
Councillor John Ward, Babergh
Council leader said: “It is time that
central government acknowledges
the challenges faced by district and
parish councils, in trying to develop
sustainable communities and thriving
business economies but are hindered
by polices that undermine the work we
are trying to do. We’re often the poor
relations in grant funding compared to
urban area authorities.”
Councillor Nick Gowley, Mid Suffolk
Council Leader said: “The needs of
our communities are key in the work
that we do, and we need the support
of central government to enable us to
offer suitable and sustainable services
and practices across our district. It
is time that rural districts are given
proper consideration and funding to
meet those needs and offer the right
level of service. Allocation of funds
must be done on a fairer footing.”
The Rural Service Network is the
national champion for rural services,
ensuring that people in rural areas
have a strong voice - fi ghting for a
fairer deal for rural communities to
maintain their social and economic
viability for the benefi t of the nation
L LYDDIATT
PAINTING & DECORATING
Professional Advice
Interior/Exterior
Domestic/Commercial
Free Estimates
07958 609502
[email protected]
P le a s e m e n t i o n ‘ T h e F l yer ’ wh en r esp o n d in g t o ad ver t isements
T H E FLY E R | A P R IL 2 0 1 9
17