News

1 September 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force, Royal Events

Diana’s Final Flight

Last month, all eyes were on the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana – the aftermath, how it affected the Royals and those closest to her, as well as the impact on the British public. But what about the people involved behind the scene?

Retired RAF Squadron Leader Graham Laurie spent nearly 20 years flying the Royals as part of The Queen’s Flight and on 31 August, 1997, he was assigned to fly Diana’s body back to London from Paris.

The ambassador for the RAF Benevolent Fund has helped raise over £25,000 for the charity through his talks, ‘The History of Royal Flying’, and below shares his memory of that fateful day, when the RAF was in the world’s spotlight.

23 August 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Children, Community, Grants, RAF, Royal Air Force, Welfare

New play park brings smiles to RAF Shawbury

RAF Shawbury’s new play park was officially unveiled during its Families Day event by Air Vice-Marshal Warren James CBE, Air Officer Commanding 22 (Training) Group. He cut the blue ribbon in front of excited and eager children, who proceeded to test out their new play area.

Shawbury play park opening

The new layout has been designed for children of all ages, replacing one which only catered for toddlers. It was created in consultation with the young people at RAF Shawbury.

23 August 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport

An Oscarordinary Challenge

Sgt Steph Evans of 24 Squadron RAF Brize Norton is taking on a series of challenges like no other: a year of epic fundraising events, which she’s calling ‘An Oscarordinary Challenge’ after her young son, Oscar, who has Goldenhar syndrome, a facial cranium condition.

She aims to raise £20,000 to benefit our charity and others with 12 months of walks, spinathons, decathlons and runs – including Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. She also wants to raise awareness of Oscar’s condition.

16 August 2017

Army Benevolent Fund, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity

Marines, Navy, RAF, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, Royal Navy

Over £35,850 raised for Armed Forces at Royal Ascot this year

A staggering £35,850 was raised on the Friday at Royal Ascot for the three leading Armed Forces charities, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

For the fifth year running military personnel joined racegoers for Royal Ascot’s unofficial Armed Forces Day. In addition to special ticket offers for military personnel, 80 volunteers from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, and Royal Air Force carried out collections for their principal charities.

This year, the generous racegoers donated an incredible £22,103 in just two hours. The sale of 5,499 jugs of Pimms led to a further donation of £13,747 bringing the total to £35,850 for the day.

14 August 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Challenge, Fund-raising, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport

100 marathons to mark RAF centenary for Lossiemouth Corporal

A serving Corporal, based at RAF Lossiemouth, has set himself an ambitious challenge that will see him run 100 official marathons, with his last ever race falling in April 2018 and coinciding with the Royal Air Force centenary.

Jon Ward, a Logistics Mover by trade, ran his first ever marathon back in 2007, when he took on the 26.2 mile race in London, completing it in four hours 56 minutes.

It was two years ago, however, that Jon set his sights on joining the exclusive 100 marathon club.

19 July 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Events, fundraising, RAF, Royal Air Force, Sport

100 marathons to mark RAF centenary for Lossiemouth Corporal

On 29 June, Corporal Jon Ward will take on 11 marathons in 11 days as part of his 100 marathon challenge.

Based at RAF Lossiemouth as a Logistics Mover, Jon’s first ever marathon was back in 2007, when he took on the 26.2 mile race in London, completing it in four hours 56 minutes.

It was two years ago, however, that Jon set his sights on joining the exclusive 100 marathon club. A challenge which would pay homage to his career in the Royal Air Force as he aims to complete his last ever race on the centenary of the RAF.

10 July 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Children, Families, RAF, Royal Air Force

RAF Benevolent Fund Launches Bereavement Programme

4 July 2017 – The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has partnered with Cruse to provide a new bereavement service for those coping with a death.

Launched this month, the confidential service provides RAF veterans, those who are serving, and family members, with free telephone, face-to-face and email support.

Many of the RAF Benevolent Fund’s beneficiaries have placed bereavement as one of the top ten difficulties they have experienced, while for beneficiaries over the age of 65, bereavement was reported within the top five difficulties.

24 May 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Announcements, RAF, Royal Air Force, Support, Veterans, Welfare

Need a lifeline? Phone a friend: RAF Benevolent Fund extends friendship service pilot project

The RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity, has announced the extension of its telephone friendship group service after a successful year-long pilot. The programme, open to ex-serving personnel and their dependants, connects like-minded people together over the phone, providing vital human contact that is often taken for granted.

The pilot scheme began in July 2016 using guests from the RAF Benevolent Fund’s respite home on the south coast, Princess Marina House. The trial involved three groups consisting of up to seven people per group, all of whom were over the age of 65.

27 April 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Events, Media, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force, Serving, Transition, Veterans

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Honours Outstanding Supporters at annual awards ceremony

Award winners at the RAF Benevolent Fund’s fifth annual Awards ceremony held on April 20 at the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Last night the RAF Benevolent Fund held its annual Awards ceremony at the Royal College of Surgeons in London to celebrate and honour its supporters, donors and volunteers for their remarkable contributions.

The Awards, kindly sponsored by Lockheed Martin UK, were compered by famous voiceover artist and aviation enthusiast Peter Dickson.

23 March 2017

Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Benevolence, Care Home, RAF, Remembrance, Royal Air Force, WW2

“Princess Marina House is a wonderful place”

When former rear-gunner Peter Potter was awarded the Legion d’Honneur for his involvement in the liberation of France during WW2, there was only one place he wanted to have his medal presented to him, amongst friends and peers at the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Princess Marina House.

Peter, now aged 91, joined the RAF at just 17, lying about his birthday and saying he was two years older. He began his RAF life as Warrant Officer in 1943, becoming part of Bomber Command’s 626 Squadron.

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