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.
Read moreMarathon 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.
Read moreReading 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.
Read moreFor 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.
Read moreBe 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.
Read moreA 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.
Read moreAs 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.
Read moreThe recent appointment of the Loneliness Minister, Tracey Crouch, has once again heightened awareness of the impact of loneliness and isolation on a society of increasing elderly, and those more vulnerable members of our communities.
The adult social care sector is addressing this society-wide challenge head-on, with many tried and tested initiatives underway. This includes the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Princess Marina House, the charity’s flagship care and respite centre on the West Sussex coast.
Read moreThe Rainbow Centre childcare facility at RAF Marham officially opened an extension to the building this week enabling them to care for more children on a day to day basis.
In 2016 it became apparent that the Rainbow Centre would need to have an extension built due to the increased demand following the introduction of increased free childcare funding from 15 hours to 30 hours. The Rainbow Centre, rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, provides full and part time childcare for more than 400 children from RAF Marham and the surrounding area and employs over 70 staff.
Read moreThe RAF Marham Flyers Running Club hosted its annual New Year’s Eve 10k and saw a record turnout of 219 runners. Held in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, donations from fundraisers taking part totalled more than £3,400.
Although there was a lot of surface water on the airfield following the previous day’s record rainfall, the damp, windy conditions did nothing to put off people from taking part to help support the RAF’s leading welfare charity.
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