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The <strong>Lookout</strong> The<br />
Magazine of RAF Boulmer Issue 3 - 2015
The <strong>Lookout</strong><br />
Issue 3 • 2015<br />
Editorial Team<br />
Editor<br />
Flight Lieutenant Sophie Atkinson<br />
Tel: 01665 607161 or 95818 7161<br />
Email: Bou-lookout-GrpMbx@mod.uk<br />
Deputy Editor<br />
Sergeant Lisa Cavill-Eardley<br />
Tel: 01665 607433 or 95818 7433<br />
Email: Bou-lookout-GrpMbx@mod.uk<br />
Distribution Manager<br />
Flight Lieutenant Paul Griffin<br />
Tel: 01665 607359 or 95818 7359<br />
Email: Bou-lookout-GrpMbx@mod.uk<br />
Media and Distribution Team<br />
Corporal Nick Paddock<br />
Media & Communications Officer<br />
Mrs Anne Russell<br />
Tel: 01665 607555 or 95818 7555<br />
Email: BOU-SptWg-MCO@mod.uk<br />
Publisher<br />
© This magazine contains official information and should<br />
be treated with discretion by the recipient and the views<br />
expressed in this magazine, unless specifically stated otherwise,<br />
do not reflect MOD, RAF or Station policy and are the personal<br />
views of the author. No responsibility for the quality of goods<br />
or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by<br />
the publishers or printers. Advertisements are included in<br />
good faith. Published by Forces and Corporate Publishing Ltd,<br />
Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire<br />
NN10 0RU.<br />
Tel: 01933 419994. Fax: 01933 419584.<br />
E-mail: sales@forcespublishing.co.uk<br />
Managing director: Ron Pearson<br />
Design: Jo Glen<br />
Sales manager: Amanda Mains<br />
Contents<br />
Station Commander’s Foreword 4<br />
From the Editor 4<br />
Padre’s Peace 5<br />
Battling for Britain’s Freedom 5<br />
Distinguished Visit 5<br />
Stamp of Approval 5<br />
The Few Remembered by the Many 6<br />
Plotting Memoirs 7<br />
City of Newcastle Upon Tyne Remembers 8<br />
RAF Boulmer Chefs Provide Silver Service 10<br />
Castles Challenge 11<br />
Warrant Officer Bowers Leads The Way 12<br />
Giving Thanks for Community Support 12<br />
Cadet Capers 13<br />
Almost a Shaw Thing 13<br />
Caribbean Wings 14<br />
Sweeping the Board 14<br />
Running Down The Competition 15<br />
Serving Up A Strong Performance 15<br />
Fighter Control Commemorative Board Unveiled 16<br />
Cracking The Code 16<br />
Farewell to the Search and Rescue Force 17<br />
Families’ Fun Raises Smiles and Charity Cash 22<br />
Getting to know... Flight Sergeant Goodall 23<br />
Morzine Meltdown 24<br />
Force Development 26<br />
Riding The Waves 27<br />
From Shabby to Chic 28<br />
Walking with the Wounded 29<br />
Reflecting On Our Foundations 29<br />
Delta Lady 30<br />
High Sheriff Of Northumberland Presents<br />
Awards at RAF Boulmer 31<br />
Delta Lady 31<br />
RAF Boulmer Welcomes Harlwy Owners 31<br />
Hockey in Singapore and Malaysia 32<br />
The <strong>Lookout</strong> The<br />
Magazine of RAF Boulmer Issue 3 - 2015<br />
Cover<br />
photo…<br />
The RAF Boulmer<br />
Search and Rescue<br />
Fleet waves farewell<br />
to the region.<br />
Submission<br />
deadlines:<br />
Please send all<br />
submissions for<br />
Issue 1 2016 of The<br />
<strong>Lookout</strong> to the<br />
Editor by Mon 7th<br />
Jan 2016.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 3
Station Commander’s Foreword<br />
Group Captain Mark Coleman<br />
Welcome to the latest edition of<br />
The <strong>Lookout</strong>. How time flies! I now<br />
find myself more than halfway<br />
through my 2 year tour and it feels as<br />
though I arrived only yesterday. This edition<br />
is packed with some great articles, which I<br />
hope you will enjoy reading.<br />
Clearly, the most significant event for many<br />
of us during the last few weeks has been the<br />
planning for and eventual departure of ‘A’ Flight,<br />
202 Squadron. It was with a very sad heart that<br />
I waved goodbye to the last of the Sea King<br />
helicopters as it left the Station. That departure<br />
flight represented 40 years’ of dedicated service<br />
operating out of RAF Boulmer. Arriving from<br />
RAF Acklington in 1975, the Flight provided<br />
24/7 Search and Rescue cover 365 days a year,<br />
and it is with much gratitude to all the crews<br />
over the years that we say farewell to what<br />
has been, and will always be, an important<br />
part of RAF Boulmer’s history. We wish all the<br />
personnel of ‘A’ Flight, 202 Squadron, both<br />
servicemen and civilians, and their families all<br />
the very best for the future.<br />
The Station will be much quieter without ‘A’<br />
Flight, but we should now look to our future,<br />
building on our past. Boulmer began its<br />
association with UK Air Defence in 1940 when<br />
a decoy airfield was established near Boulmer<br />
village to distract the Luftwaffe away from RAF<br />
Acklington. In 1943 the airfield was established<br />
as a satellite airfield for the advanced flights of<br />
57 Operational Training Unit (a Spitfire training<br />
unit based at RAF Eshott near Morpeth),<br />
and then later the same year, with 3 tarmac<br />
runways, it became home to No 9 Battle<br />
Training School. Returning to agricultural land<br />
after the war, it was in 1953 that RAF Boulmer<br />
on its current 2 sites was established as an Air<br />
Defence unit, from where the UK’s skies have<br />
been protected ever since.<br />
It was with immense pride that the Station’s<br />
personnel were invited to commemorate<br />
the Battle of Britain by parading in both<br />
Alnwick and Newcastle. This year’s parades<br />
were especially poignant as they marked the<br />
75th anniversary of Britain’s finest victory.<br />
Throughout the numerous events to mark<br />
the occasion, I was reminded not only of the<br />
remarkable skill and sacrifice of the ‘Few’ but<br />
also of the crucial part played by members of<br />
the RAF and Women’s Auxiliary Air Force based<br />
on the ground. For many of us at RAF Boulmer,<br />
2015 represents an additional reason for<br />
celebration as it also marks the 75th anniversary<br />
of the formation of what was formally known as<br />
the Fighter Control branch and is now known<br />
as the Aerospace Battle Management branch.<br />
To honour this special occasion, I was very<br />
pleased to host a number of former Station<br />
Commanders who had kindly commissioned<br />
a commemorative board that captures the<br />
history of the Fighter Control Branch and the<br />
involvement of its personnel and Aerospace<br />
Battle Managers in campaigns, conflicts and<br />
battles since WWII.<br />
Many thanks to all who have contributed to<br />
the articles in this edition and thanks also to<br />
the editorial team. There is a broad selection of<br />
articles which I commend to you.<br />
From the Editor<br />
Flight Lieutenant Sophie Atkinson<br />
It has been another fantastic few months<br />
for RAF Boulmer and the community. Our<br />
personnel continue to work hard; this<br />
has been recognised by some significant<br />
regional and national TV coverage recently.<br />
When not engaged in one’s primary job,<br />
there is much still to do. Raising money<br />
for well-deserving charities, thanking the<br />
community for the incredible support given<br />
to the Station, physical training in arduous<br />
conditions to develop the self, reflecting on<br />
the sacrifices of those who have gone before,<br />
taking part in sport at a variety of levels…. the<br />
list goes on. Who knew there were enough<br />
hours in the day? I hope you enjoy catching up<br />
with what’s been keeping us busy. Have a great<br />
autumn!<br />
Sophie<br />
4 THE LOOKOUT
Padre’s Peace<br />
By Padre Paul<br />
One of my pet hates is driving along<br />
a road that has no lines painted on<br />
it and no cats eyes either. This is<br />
particularly upsetting when it’s dark and<br />
wet; it’s just so difficult to follow the road.<br />
The amount of times I’ve almost driven<br />
off the road… In fact once I did drive off<br />
the road and ended up in a farmer’s field!<br />
The path on which we live our lives can<br />
sometimes seem dark, and if your life-path<br />
has no markings on it to keep you right, you<br />
can really end up in trouble. When you feel<br />
your life-path is dark, have a look at what<br />
Jesus says in the gospels. It’ll offer you some<br />
white lines and cats eyes.<br />
Battling for Britain’s Freedom<br />
By Anne Russell<br />
Aerospace Battle<br />
Managers and<br />
Aerospace Systems<br />
Operators at work.<br />
Distinguished Visit<br />
Much has been said about the role<br />
of the RAF pilots in the Battle of<br />
Britain, but many people might not<br />
realise the vital contribution of RAF Fighter<br />
Controllers. Aerospace Battle Managers<br />
from the RAF Boulmer Control and Reporting<br />
Centre were keen to mark the occasion in<br />
recognition of the significant contribution<br />
made to the success of the Battle of Britain by<br />
their Fighter Control forbears.<br />
airspace, identification of enemy aircraft and<br />
effective, timely interception. This work is<br />
carried out by the Air Surveillance and Control<br />
System (ASACS) Force, of which RAF Boulmer is<br />
the hub.<br />
Fighter Controllers are now known as<br />
Aerospace Battle Managers but, 75 years on<br />
from the Battle of Britain, they continue the<br />
legacy of those very first Fighter Controllers.<br />
MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed with Group<br />
Captain Coleman at RAF Boulmer.<br />
MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed,<br />
Anne-Marie Trevelyan visited<br />
the station recently to find out<br />
just how important the Station is to UK<br />
Air Defence. Following her visit she said:<br />
“I was honoured to make my first visit to<br />
RAF Boulmer as the new MP for the area,<br />
and was given a wonderful welcome and a<br />
fascinating tour of the site and capabilities<br />
of Boulmer’s work. As a member of the RAF<br />
section of the Armed Forces Parliamentary<br />
Scheme I am working closely with the RAF<br />
across the UK to understand in much more<br />
detail the extraordinary technical skills of<br />
our airmen and all those who work across<br />
the Service. I am keen to be a strong voice<br />
for RAF personnel and all their families,<br />
without whom our brave armed forces<br />
could not take up the huge challenges we<br />
ask of them. I look forward to regular visits<br />
to RAF Boulmer over the coming years.”<br />
These specialist operators were able to<br />
detect and identify the enemy aircraft as they<br />
approached our shores using a combination of<br />
methods, then direct RAF pilots to take action<br />
against them, ensuring the successful outcome<br />
of the Battle.<br />
In 1940 the Dowding System was a new system<br />
of air defence which covered the whole country<br />
and brought together a new radar system,<br />
direction finding equipment, ground observers,<br />
anti-aircraft artillery and command centres.<br />
These different components were linked through<br />
a telephone network to enable the process for<br />
locating, directing and controlling fighter aircraft.<br />
The undisputed key to the system was the Filter<br />
Centre where Fighter Controllers analysed the<br />
information, identified enemy aircraft and passed<br />
the information to commanders to enable them<br />
to control and manage the air battles.<br />
The principles of UK Air Defence remain the<br />
same today as they were during the Battle of<br />
Britain – the total awareness of what is in our<br />
STAMP OF APPROVAL<br />
The unveiling of the Battle<br />
of Britain stamp collection<br />
During the Battle of Britain, radar reports were<br />
analysed, corrected, identified and information<br />
displayed on large tables, with markers<br />
depicting various aircraft being move around<br />
by “Plotters” using long wooden poles; this took<br />
time. Fortunately there have been significant<br />
advances to technology since 1940 that allow<br />
the modern Aerospace Battle Managers to<br />
achieve the task much quicker.<br />
Aerospace Battle Managers and Aerospace<br />
Systems Operators now work with<br />
sophisticated computer systems and advanced<br />
radar and communications technology. They<br />
provide a real-time awareness of all aircraft<br />
within UK and NATO airspace 24/7, 365 days<br />
a year to protect our skies, ensuring a timely<br />
response to potential threats by directing and<br />
controlling intercepts using RAF Typhoon<br />
aircraft.<br />
Aerospace Battle Managers are the RAF’s front<br />
line of air defence; they are the guardians of<br />
Britain’s skies.<br />
The Bentley Priory<br />
commemorative stamp.<br />
RAF Boulmer helped to<br />
launch a new set of stamps<br />
which commemorate the<br />
75th Anniversary of the Battle<br />
of Britain. The stamps depict<br />
various aspects of the Royal<br />
Air Force with one showing<br />
the Operations Room at RAF<br />
Bentley Priory.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 5
The Few<br />
Remembered By The Many<br />
The courage shown by RAF airmen who<br />
fought and died defending the United<br />
Kingdom during the Battle of Britain<br />
75 years ago was remembered by RAF<br />
personnel, veterans and Air Cadets.<br />
RAF Boulmer held a Service of Thanksgiving in<br />
St Michael’s Church, Alnwick to commemorate<br />
all those who made the ultimate sacrifice<br />
during the Battle of Britain in 1940, defending<br />
the country from Nazi invasion.<br />
The service was attended by the Duke and<br />
Duchess of Northumberland, the Civic Head of<br />
Northumberland County Council, Councillor<br />
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, the Civic Head of<br />
Northumberland County Council, Councillor Kath Nisbet, Group<br />
Captain Mark Coleman and RAF Boulmer personnel at the reception<br />
following the parade.<br />
Kath Nisbet and civic dignitaries. Following the<br />
service, RAF Boulmer personnel, representatives<br />
from the Royal Air Forces Association and other<br />
ex-Service associations, Standard Bearers and<br />
Air Cadets from the County paraded through<br />
the town, led by the Band of the 5th Royal<br />
Regiment of Fusiliers. The Salute was taken by<br />
the Station Commander, Group Captain Mark<br />
Coleman, as the Duke and Duchess joined him<br />
on the dais.<br />
A Sea King helicopter from ‘A’ Flight 202<br />
Squadron had planned to conduct a slow<br />
fly-past during the parade to thank the<br />
community for their support, as they prepare<br />
to cease Search and Rescue<br />
operations at RAF Boulmer on 30<br />
September. Their first priority until<br />
that date remains the provision of<br />
a Search and Rescue service, and<br />
unfortunately they were called<br />
out to the North Yorkshire coast<br />
and Holy Island at the time of<br />
the parade.<br />
Group Captain Coleman said:<br />
“RAF Boulmer is proud to honour<br />
all the airmen who fought, and<br />
those who died in the service of<br />
their country in the skies above<br />
Britain during those crucial weeks<br />
in 1940. This was the first major<br />
battle fought entirely in the air and<br />
was the first significant strategic<br />
defeat for the Nazis during World<br />
War II. We also pay tribute today<br />
not just to ‘The Few’ but also the<br />
veterans of Bomber and Coastal<br />
Command and the Women’s<br />
Auxiliary Air Force, who worked tirelessly to<br />
repel the threat of invasion of the UK during the<br />
Battle of Britain.<br />
Success in the air often came down to the<br />
courage of the RAF’s pilots, but defeating the<br />
Germans, and defending the sovereignty of<br />
the UK, would have been impossible without<br />
Britain’s complex air defence network. Their<br />
legacy endures as Royal Air Force Boulmer<br />
continues to safeguard UK airspace and protect<br />
against threats from the air today.<br />
I would also like to pay tribute to the personnel<br />
of ‘A’ Flight 202 Squadron and their support<br />
staff. From the day of their arrival in 1975,<br />
after the closure of RAF Acklington, ‘A’ Flight<br />
has been on call in its Search and Rescue role<br />
24/7, 365 days a year. Often operating in the<br />
most treacherous of conditions, the crews have<br />
reacted rapidly, professionally and bravely to<br />
rescue those in need whether on the land or<br />
at sea. The Flight will be sorely missed, but<br />
they have been an inspiration to those of us<br />
who serve at RAF Boulmer and we wish all who<br />
leave the Flight, both military and civilian, all<br />
the very best for the future.”<br />
During her speech at a reception in Bailiffgate<br />
Museum, Councillor Kath Nisbet, Civic Head of<br />
Northumberland County Council said:<br />
“I am honoured to be part of the<br />
commemorative celebrations to mark the<br />
75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the<br />
first decisive battle in history that was fought<br />
entirely in the air.<br />
Due to the great bravery and skill of the RAF<br />
pilots, Germany was unable to achieve its<br />
Parade passing through Bondgate Within<br />
6 THE LOOKOUT
By Anne Russell<br />
objective of destroying our air defences. In his<br />
famous speech Churchill spoke of the sacrifices<br />
made during this period saying “Never in the<br />
field of human conflict was so much owed by<br />
so many to so few”.<br />
As well as the courageous pilots, there were<br />
many others that contributed at this time<br />
including the ground crew supporting those in<br />
the air, the fighter controllers, radar operators,<br />
plotters, ARP wardens, firefighters, drivers and<br />
nurses to name just a few. Thousands more<br />
people were affected by bombing around the<br />
country, so it is important to remember the<br />
sacrifices of these millions of people too.<br />
Also, as this is the last formal occasion to<br />
recognise the work of the Search and Rescue<br />
crews before the yellow Sea King helicopters<br />
depart RAF Boulmer for the last time on 30<br />
September, I wish to pay tribute to the heroic<br />
efforts of the crews over the past 40 years at<br />
RAF Boulmer and before that at RAF Acklington.<br />
They have provided 24/7 cover every day of<br />
every year, to rescue people in danger on land<br />
and sea throughout the North East of England<br />
and beyond.<br />
Group Captain Coleman takes the salute, the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland alongside.<br />
Residents throughout this county, are grateful<br />
for the brave efforts of the crews throughout<br />
that time who often put themselves in<br />
danger. On their behalf I wish to convey our<br />
heartfelt appreciation.<br />
Although future search and rescue cover for<br />
this area will be provided from Humberside<br />
and Prestwick airports, RAF Boulmer remains<br />
an important strategic base playing a key role<br />
in homeland defence tasks and in preparing<br />
forces to support deployed operations.<br />
I wish RAF Boulmer and its staff all the very best<br />
for the future”.<br />
Plotting Memoirs<br />
By Flight Lieutenant Sarah Vickers<br />
Eve Martin was a young lady in<br />
her 20s when the Second World<br />
War broke out. Hankering after<br />
excitement and adventure, she left<br />
her small village home of Whalley in<br />
Lancashire and volunteered to join the<br />
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) at<br />
a time when Great Britain<br />
found itself at war in Europe.<br />
Eve (now Armstrong) invited<br />
Corporal Amy Jukes and Flight<br />
Lieutenant Sarah Vickers to visit<br />
her at home in Greenlaw on<br />
the Scottish border to share in<br />
memories of time in a World<br />
War Two Operations Room.<br />
The Battle of Britain was<br />
waged in the skies above the<br />
UK in the summer of 1940.<br />
Eve joined the WAAF after this<br />
time in 1942 but her job was<br />
still critical in keeping Britain<br />
as safe as possible from the<br />
German Luftwaffe. Her job as<br />
a Filter Officer – or Plotter - at<br />
9 Group, RAF Barton Hill was<br />
invariably high pressure and it<br />
was imperative that she worked<br />
accurately.<br />
She had different colour<br />
blocks to move depending<br />
Today’s Control and<br />
Reporting Centre<br />
(CRC) at RAF<br />
Boulmer runs on<br />
a complex system<br />
of computers and<br />
IT allowing all<br />
information from the<br />
radar to automatically<br />
be updated every<br />
few seconds. During<br />
the Second World<br />
War, Eve needed to<br />
manually move the<br />
radar plots around<br />
the ‘bird table’ using<br />
coordinates fed by the<br />
Royal Observer Corps<br />
via a headset.<br />
on what aircraft she was plotting – Luftwaffe<br />
raids were depicted using a yellow and black<br />
block, for example, to ensure they were as<br />
visible as possible in the busy Ops Room. CRC<br />
operators today also use different identifiers to<br />
differentiate between plots and make certain<br />
aircraft more visible to the chain of command.<br />
In the same way that today’s<br />
personnel regularly undergo<br />
quality assurance checks,<br />
Eve underwent checks to<br />
make sure she was plotting<br />
accurately and at the required<br />
speed. Any inaccuracy in<br />
her plotting could have had<br />
enormous repercussions in the<br />
skies above Britain.<br />
The social element of her time<br />
in the WAAF seems to have left<br />
a lasting impression on Eve.<br />
She made many lifelong friends<br />
that she has kept in touch with<br />
and regaled us with stories of<br />
her various mischief-making.<br />
On one occasion, she was<br />
found to not be wearing her<br />
dog-tags during an inspection<br />
and had her 61 hour weekend<br />
leave pass revoked. Determined<br />
to see her fiancé, Eve calmly<br />
finished her shift and left Camp<br />
anyway. When she returned<br />
and was hauled in front of<br />
Eve entertains Corporal Jukes with her memories.<br />
various senior<br />
officers, she was<br />
accused of being<br />
AWOL. She seems<br />
to have found the<br />
whole procedure<br />
quite amusing<br />
and completely<br />
removed from the<br />
common-sense<br />
rules which applied<br />
to her civilian life<br />
back in Whalley.<br />
Eve clearly had a<br />
wonderful time<br />
in the WAAF<br />
and relished the<br />
opportunity to do<br />
her bit for the war<br />
effort. She has fond<br />
The differences –<br />
and similarities<br />
– in uniforms<br />
were interesting to<br />
note. Thankfully<br />
unlike today, Eve’s<br />
underwear was also<br />
issued (nicknamed<br />
“The Passion<br />
Killers”) and she<br />
was even given issue<br />
pyjamas to wear in<br />
the Nissan Hut she<br />
called home.<br />
memories of her time in the Service and<br />
her house is filled with mementos of that<br />
life.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 7
City of<br />
Newcastle<br />
On Tyne<br />
Remembers<br />
By Mr Sydney Graham (RAFA Newcastle)<br />
Newcastle was bathed in bright sunshine as Newcastle<br />
Branch of the RAF Association (RAFA) staged their<br />
annual Commemoration of the Battle of Britain at the<br />
magnificent Civic Centre. Attendees included the Lord Mayor of<br />
Newcastle, Councillor Ian Graham, Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne &<br />
Wear, Wing Commander Harry Lowe, RAFA Area President, Air<br />
Commodore Richard Corney and Newcastle Branch President,<br />
Air Commodore Ian Forster.<br />
The event commenced with a poignant Service of Thanksgiving.<br />
Following the Service, a parade and review took place. The Band of<br />
the Fifth Fusiliers led contingents from RAF Boulmer, Northumbrian<br />
Universities Air Squadron and the Air Training Corps onto Ceremonial<br />
Way where the veterans contingent and 16 RAFA and ex-service<br />
standards were drawn up.<br />
Later, during the buffet reception, the Lord Mayor gave an<br />
interesting speech in which he outlined Newcastle’s links with the<br />
Battle of Britain – the Spitfires of 72 Squadron at RAF Woolsington<br />
(now Newcastle Airport) and the 13 Group Headquarters located in a<br />
bunker underneath the city’s suburbs. Newcastle RAFA provided an<br />
abundance of food and drink for their guests and an enjoyable social<br />
event ensued.<br />
Reflecting on<br />
the past<br />
The Service of Thanksgiving<br />
Veterans march past the dais<br />
8 The THE Lord LOOKOUT Mayor inspects RAF Boulmer personnel<br />
The Band of the Fifth Fusiliers provided excellent music
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www.queensheadalnwick.com<br />
• Multi Award Winning Business<br />
• Fully Stocked Butchery with all Beef & Lamb from Widdrington Farm.<br />
• Traditional Great British Sunday Lunch served 12-2.30pm from<br />
£6.49- reservations recommended.<br />
• Home made cakes, pies, pasties to eat in coffee shop or take away.<br />
• Every Friday local haddock in home made batter & chunky chips,<br />
peas & tartar sauce from £6.49 12-2.30pm<br />
• Chirstmas butchery orders now being taken.<br />
• Our annual Christmas evening will take place on Friday 13th November<br />
5pm - 8pm where mince pies and mulled wine will be served<br />
WIDDRINGTON FARM, WIDDRINGTON VILLAGE,<br />
MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND NE61 5EA<br />
TEL 01670 760181 www.thecountrybarn.co.uk<br />
Opening Times :- Tue – Fri 9.30-4.30, Sat 9-5 Sun 10-4<br />
CLOSED MONDAYS<br />
EXCEPT BANK HOLIDAYS-SUNDAY HOURS APPLY<br />
(Kitchen closes 30 mins prior to above times)<br />
THE LOOKOUT 9
RAF BOULMER CHEFS<br />
PROVIDE SILVER SERVICE!<br />
RAF Boulmer<br />
chefs came<br />
away with<br />
well-earned Silver<br />
medals in the Royal<br />
Air Force Field<br />
Catering Competiton.<br />
Wing Commander Gareth<br />
Taylor, Officer Commanding<br />
Support Wing, presents the<br />
Silver Medals to the RAF<br />
Boulmer Field Catering Team<br />
Teams had to serve a twocourse<br />
meal for 20 people using<br />
ingredients from Operational<br />
Ration Packs – used when troops<br />
are deployed on operations<br />
or exercises, often in adverse<br />
conditions. Cooking outdoors<br />
in a Field Kitchen, with limited<br />
facilities, the team had to present<br />
their meal within 1 and a half<br />
hours. The results were superb<br />
and attracted high scores from<br />
the judges.<br />
As a result of the team’s success<br />
they have been selected to<br />
represent the Royal Air Force<br />
at the Combined Services<br />
Culinary Championship in<br />
October, when they will compete<br />
against their Army and Royal<br />
Navy counterparts.<br />
Sergeant Lesley Norman, the Team<br />
Manager and Mentor, said:<br />
“When our personnel are<br />
deployed on exercise or<br />
operations its important that<br />
they get a great meal to keep<br />
them going and this competition<br />
The team outside<br />
their kitchen!<br />
proved how our excellent RAF<br />
chefs can make a fantastic meal out<br />
of a narrow range of produce in<br />
short timescales.<br />
RAF Boulmer were classed as the<br />
underdogs as we were competing<br />
against teams who have much<br />
more experience in field catering,<br />
so to get a silver medal is a fantastic<br />
achievment. RAF Boulmer is proud<br />
to have catering staff who can<br />
perform to such high standards and<br />
we look forward to the Combined<br />
Services Culinary Championship<br />
in October.’’<br />
The award-winning menu:<br />
Beef Wellington served with fondant potatoes,<br />
with a berry reduction sauce<br />
infused with fresh thyme<br />
BBQ pulled chicken presented in a soft tortilla wrap<br />
Potato skins and re-fried beans<br />
Roasted carrot and parsnip<br />
Sautéed cabbage with bacon<br />
Apple fritter served with a cinnamon scented<br />
apple choux pastry accompanied with custard sauce<br />
Tiramisu, served with chocolate and nut brownie<br />
accompanied with a raspberry compote<br />
The Team:<br />
Sergeant Lesley Norman - Team Manager and Mentor<br />
Corporal Evan Davidson - Head Chef<br />
Senior Aircraftman Chris Dunn – Second in Command<br />
Acting Corporal Ryan McAllister – Non food handler and expert advisor<br />
on field catering equipment.<br />
10 THE LOOKOUT
CASTLES<br />
CHALLENGE<br />
by Flying Officer Rob Scothern<br />
Starting<br />
the beach<br />
assault after<br />
the swim…<br />
Just descended<br />
from the<br />
castle top...<br />
Returning to<br />
Bamburgh at the<br />
end of the bike<br />
section<br />
Made it onto the podium!<br />
After racing in some big,<br />
high profile and pretty<br />
high stakes events<br />
this season I thought I would<br />
start to wind things down<br />
with a smaller, local race. The<br />
Northumberland coast and<br />
countryside is a fantastic place<br />
to train but despite putting<br />
countless training hours in on its<br />
rural roads, I have never really<br />
raced here. The Castles<br />
Challenge is a race<br />
series that is held<br />
in the grounds of<br />
Bamburgh Castle<br />
every year and<br />
attracts a friendly<br />
yet competitive<br />
field. I chose to<br />
race in the middle<br />
distance event.<br />
The swim was a sea swim<br />
at Bamburgh beach, a simple<br />
rectangular course which ended<br />
with a charge onto and up the<br />
beach, through the dunes and<br />
onto the bike. Conditions were<br />
choppy and due to a strong<br />
offshore wind, at times I found it<br />
difficult to even see the turning<br />
buoys. As it happened, that didn’t<br />
A middledistance<br />
Triathlon: 1.9km<br />
swim, 90km<br />
bike, 21km run<br />
actually matter because<br />
was leading, so I just<br />
followed the lead<br />
kayak!<br />
I surfed the<br />
breakers into<br />
the shallows and<br />
started the tough<br />
run up the dunes to<br />
the bike racks. The bike<br />
was a simple course which<br />
comprised two loops connected<br />
by an out and back, twice over.<br />
The guy in second smashed past<br />
me on his way to a truly dominant,<br />
race winning performance. The<br />
bike was generally well marshalled<br />
but the towns of Bamburgh<br />
and Seahouses it wound its<br />
way through were heaving with<br />
summer visitors, making it difficult<br />
to keep a high pace due to traffic<br />
density - three times I got stuck<br />
behind cars and had to come to<br />
a complete stand still which was<br />
incredibly frustrating!<br />
After 90km of cycling I was onto<br />
the run... three laps, starting by<br />
winding up to the castle and then<br />
dropping back down along the<br />
coastal road to Bamburgh Golf Club<br />
before heading onto the beach for<br />
the return. I tried to up the pace<br />
and decrease the amount of time<br />
between me and the leaders, but<br />
this was easier said than done due<br />
to small, yet constant undulations<br />
underfoot… soon it was too late<br />
and I was into the finishing chute.<br />
I was overjoyed to get on the<br />
podium and take bronze in the<br />
Castles Challenge. It was a great<br />
race and one I would definitely<br />
recommend to all triathletes.<br />
The climb around Bamburgh castle was steep and<br />
pretty tough, especially by the third lap, but the beautiful<br />
scenery did make it very enjoyable.<br />
Before<br />
race start,<br />
in front of<br />
Bamburgh<br />
Castle<br />
THE LOOKOUT 11
Warrant Officer Bowers Leads The Way<br />
Warrant Officer Karen Bowers has<br />
taken up the prestigious post of<br />
Station Warrant Officer (SWO) at<br />
Royal Air Force Boulmer.<br />
Warrant Officer Bowers beat some stiff<br />
competition for the job, which is outside of her<br />
normal trade and is an extremely diverse role<br />
where no two days are the same.<br />
As the SWO she is responsible for<br />
maintenance of dress standards,<br />
discipline and deportment of<br />
all personnel on the station<br />
and representing the views and<br />
issues of the junior ranks at station<br />
management level. She is also<br />
responsible for the organisation of<br />
all parade and ceremonial duties,<br />
Station inspections and general<br />
administrative duties.<br />
Warrant Officer Bowers joined<br />
the RAF in 1988 as an Aerospace Systems<br />
Operator, serving tours at RAF Neatishead, RAF<br />
Saxa Vord, RAF High Wycombe, the Gulf and<br />
the Falklands. She also enjoyed a tour at RAF<br />
Boulmer teaching Tactical Data Links (a means<br />
of exchanging digital data over a common<br />
“I have been so<br />
lucky and have<br />
done so many<br />
things I would<br />
not normally<br />
have done”.<br />
By Anne Russell<br />
network) to Tri-Service and NATO students,<br />
which involved travelling to Norway, Portugal<br />
and Germany as well as teaching in the UK.<br />
“Joining the RAF was the only thing I ever<br />
wanted to do. My granddad was a WO1 Rear<br />
Gunner and Wireless Operator in the RAF<br />
during WWII and I was absolutely fascinated<br />
with the stories he used to<br />
tell me about his life in the<br />
service. I idolised him; he was<br />
my inspiration. My mum and<br />
dad also used to take me to air<br />
shows like the one held at RAF St<br />
Mawgan. I knew exactly what I<br />
wanted to do with my life from a<br />
very early age.”<br />
One of the highlights of her<br />
career was serving in Bahrain<br />
during the first Gulf War.<br />
“It was my first operational<br />
tour and it gave me the opportunity to put all<br />
of my training into practice”.<br />
She also remembers the feeling of pride taking<br />
part in the Gulf War victory parade in London in<br />
front of the Royal Family in 1991.<br />
Warrant Officer Karen Bowers has taken over as<br />
Station Warrant Officer at RAF Boulmer.<br />
Giving thanks<br />
for community<br />
support<br />
By Anne Russell<br />
As the nation commemorated the 75th<br />
anniversary of the Battle of Britain<br />
on 15th September, Royal Air Force<br />
Boulmer was privileged to welcome<br />
members of its local community to a<br />
reception in the Officers’ Mess.<br />
Guests of the Station included civic<br />
dignitaries and representatives of the many<br />
Building<br />
relationships<br />
and giving<br />
thanks for<br />
support<br />
organisations throughout<br />
the county with whom<br />
the Station has close ties,<br />
giving RAF personnel<br />
the chance to thank all<br />
those who have provided<br />
tremendous support to the<br />
Station, its people, and their families.<br />
The evening included a Sunset Ceremony<br />
accompanied by music by<br />
the Band of the Fifth Royal<br />
Regiment of Fusiliers and<br />
a parade of RAF Boulmer<br />
personnel, the lowering<br />
of the RAF Ensign and flypasts<br />
from a Typhoon from<br />
RAF Lossiemouth and a<br />
Search and Rescue Sea King<br />
helicopter from ‘A’ Flight<br />
202 Squadron.<br />
Addressing guests, the<br />
Station Commander, Group<br />
Captain Mark Coleman, said:<br />
A scene from the Sunset Ceremony.<br />
“As leaders within your own fields, your<br />
support directly to me, my people and<br />
their families, means I am able to provide<br />
Search and Rescue and an ever-present Air<br />
Command and Control capability in defence<br />
of the homeland. It enables me to generate<br />
and sustain, 24/7, 365 days a year, 10% of the<br />
Station population on overseas operations.<br />
Your backing permits me to hold people at the<br />
highest levels of readiness, able to move within<br />
24 and 48 hours, anywhere in the world, and<br />
capable of operating out of the most extreme<br />
environments. Please do not under-estimate<br />
the significance of your support, and my<br />
gratefulness for your loyalty to the Service, and<br />
to this magnificent station”.<br />
12 THE LOOKOUT
Cadet<br />
Capers<br />
by Flight Sergeant Russ Taylor<br />
This has been another busy season for the RAF<br />
Boulmer Air Cadet Liaison team; the support<br />
provided to the Air Cadets is an important<br />
element of the Station’s activity and an excellent<br />
way to develop young adults’ skills and<br />
self confidence.<br />
The main focus of the year-long Air Cadet<br />
programme are the Easter and Summer Camps.<br />
This year we have hosted camps from Squadrons<br />
as far afield as London and the South West and<br />
right up to the northern tip of Scotland. In total by<br />
the time the ‘season’ is over we will have hosted 21<br />
camps (each a week long) - that’s over 500 cadets!<br />
The programmes are varied and interesting and<br />
we attempt to squeeze as much as we can into<br />
their week. Activities include experience flights<br />
with 202 Squadron, shooting, a visit to Fire Section,<br />
night exercises (with the support of Alnwick 1801<br />
Squadron), visits to RAF Spadeadam, leadership &<br />
teambuilding exercises using the Station’s Low-<br />
Ropes and Mobile Team Challenge equipment, visits<br />
to the Control and Reporting Centre, air defence<br />
simulation exercises and career briefs. Cadets are<br />
also encouraged to take advantage of the fantastic<br />
local cultural opportunities this county offers.<br />
None of this would be possible without the support<br />
of RAF Boulmer and community personnel who give<br />
up their time to support the cadets, so a great big<br />
thank you to all who continue to ensure the camps<br />
are a great success.<br />
Almost a Shaw thing…<br />
By Senior Aircraftman J Williams<br />
RAF Boulmer found themselves in a tough<br />
group alongside RAF Brize Norton, RAF<br />
Marham, RAF Cranwell and the hosts<br />
RAF Shawbury, at this year’s annual Air Traffic<br />
Control football tournament.<br />
The opening two games saw Boulmer pinned<br />
back in their own half desperately defending<br />
their goal. However, the third game came as<br />
somewhat a turning point as the pattern of the<br />
game changed against hosts Shawbury, with<br />
Boulmer finding themselves creating multiple<br />
chances. Boulmer managed to break from<br />
the free kick with Corporal Gritton. He was<br />
determined to make up for his earlier antics<br />
when a zig-zag run ended with a lay off to Senior<br />
Aircraftman Williams whose shot took a big<br />
deflection and span into the net. Boulmer held<br />
on for the remainder of the game, picking up 3<br />
points and some much needed confidence heading into the final group game against RAF<br />
Marham.<br />
The silver medal-winning team.<br />
This time a not so dubious goal from Senior Aircraftman Williams and a last gasp penalty<br />
save by Senior Aircraftman Coxon cemented Boulmer’s position as group winners<br />
and saw the team go into the pot for the Cup, where Boulmer marched on, quickly<br />
gaining momentum.<br />
In the Quarters and the Semi Finals Boulmer controlled much of the game and saw<br />
out their slender 1-0 leads to the final whistle. Goals from Corporal Barnes and Senior<br />
Aircraftman Williams and strong defensive performances saw a highly unlikely final<br />
appearance for the mighty RAF Boulmer. The final was a much bigger occasion than had<br />
been expected with the largest audience of the day present as both RAF Boulmer and RAF<br />
Linton marched out to the ‘Rocky’ theme tune. Despite a brave effort from Boulmer the<br />
Linton strikers were deadly in their finishing as they ran out 2-0 winners.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 13
Caribbean Wings By<br />
Corporal Mike Donnelly<br />
Leaving<br />
New York for<br />
Gosport<br />
I<br />
recently took part in Exercise Caribbean Wings,<br />
a Joint Services sailing expedition. I applied<br />
and was fortunate enough to get a spot on<br />
my first choice leg, a 3000 mile-plus transatlantic<br />
crossing from New York to Gosport - a decision I<br />
would later question when my stomach was doing<br />
tumble turns hundreds of miles from civilisation<br />
in the middle of the Atlantic! The 15 person crew<br />
consisted of a variety of cap badges ranging from<br />
a Submariner with 30 years of sailing experience<br />
to Army Infantrymen who had never previously<br />
set foot on a boat. The trip was arduous at points,<br />
and we often experienced extreme conditions, but<br />
also once in a lifetime experiences such as sailing<br />
past the Statue of Liberty, close up encounters<br />
with dolphins and swimming in the middle of<br />
the Atlantic.<br />
Beautiful sunset<br />
and calm waters<br />
Sweeping The Board<br />
By Squadron Leader Steve O’Neill<br />
Many of you may be surprised to learn that chess is a<br />
thriving activity within the Armed Forces and an RAF Chess<br />
Association existed as far back as 1964.<br />
Each year a 5-day, seven-round tournament<br />
is held to determine the individual RAF, Army<br />
and Royal Navy champions and also the<br />
Combined Services champion. In addition, the<br />
top 6 military places can qualify to represent<br />
the UK Armed Services at the annual NATO<br />
chess tournament which is to be held this year<br />
in Amsterdam. I am delighted to have played<br />
well at the Inter-Services, gaining 3.5 points<br />
from 7 with 3 wins, 3 losses and one draw thus<br />
qualifying as the team official in Amsterdam.<br />
This will not be my first NATO tournament<br />
and I have been extremely lucky to be the<br />
UK Team Captain on 5 previous occasions as<br />
far afield as Brest, Ankara, Copenhagen, Den<br />
Haag and Brussels. Who would have thought<br />
that a pastime which is not considered as a<br />
recognised sport by the UK Armed Services<br />
could provide such a level of competition and<br />
a chance to travel and represent your country?<br />
However, my competition score of 3.5 from 7,<br />
whilst creditable, pales into insignificance to<br />
the achievements of Squadron Leader Glen<br />
Parker of the SABM. He was unable to defend<br />
his title until this year due to a variety of<br />
reasons including operational tours, paternity<br />
leave and an acute lazy streak!<br />
Glen gained 5 points from the 7 rounds; 4<br />
wins, 2 draws and only one defeat. Along<br />
the way he defeated the previous champion,<br />
Army Sergeant Dave Onley in round 2. In<br />
addition to re-gaining the title of RAF and<br />
Combined Services champion Glen also won<br />
the Combined Services quick play tournament<br />
where each player has just 5 minutes to<br />
complete the whole game.<br />
The victorious Squadron Leader<br />
Parker receiving his many trophies<br />
from the Chairman, Lieutenant<br />
Commander Dave Ross RN.<br />
14 THE LOOKOUT
Running Down<br />
The Competition<br />
By Flying Officer G Gagg and Flight Sergeant Balfour<br />
Following reformation of the RAF Boulmer Running Club a team<br />
of 4 athletes competed in the RAF Road Relay Championships<br />
at RAF Wittering.<br />
A track at the western end of the Wittering airfield greeted the athletes<br />
with the warm sunny weather giving the promise of fast times. That was,<br />
until the athletes made their way out on to the course and discovered<br />
how windy it was! Nevertheless, the RAF Boulmer Running Club team<br />
fought to a respectable 7th place finish from 17 teams in their first<br />
RAF Boulmer Road Relays Team 2015 (l-r): Senior Aircraftman Joe Spink, Simon<br />
Cook, Senior Aircraftman John Kelsey, Flying Officer Graham Gagg<br />
competitive outing, with a stand out performance from Si Cook whose<br />
time of 17:56 for the 5km course put him in the top 10 individual legs of<br />
the day.<br />
Meanwhile, members of Benbecula Radar site have caught the running<br />
bug; many have completed races so far this year.<br />
Corporal Archibald was keen to take part in the 5K treadmill challenge<br />
at Remote Radar Head Benbecula. Going one better, he and Corporal<br />
Gribble were persuaded to enter into the Benbecula 10K road race. This<br />
was part of Flight Sergeant Balfour’s training program for the year, as he is<br />
running to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Trust. Good times were<br />
achieved, with all coming in around the 50 minute mark.<br />
A blustery but successful end to the Benbecula Half Marathon!<br />
Chatting to the locals, we were interested to hear of other challenges<br />
available. Of particular interest was the Heb 3 challenge - to complete 3<br />
of the 5 Hebridean Half Marathons in 1 year. Corporal Archibald, along<br />
with Senior Aircraftman Poole, completed the Stornoway, Benbecula and<br />
Harris Half Marathons to achieve this. Flight Sergeant Balfour completed<br />
the Benbecula, Harris and 2 islands Half Marathons.<br />
Serving up<br />
a strong<br />
performance<br />
The RAF Boulmer Men’s Tennis Team<br />
By Flying Officer Chris Miley<br />
The RAF Boulmer Tennis team, consisting of Flying<br />
Officer Miley, Flying Officer Jones, Flight Sergeant Daz<br />
Finney, Sergeant Barry Martin and Senior Aircraftman<br />
Claire Smith, competed in the RAF Inter-Station Tennis<br />
Festival at RAF Halton, Aylesbury.<br />
First was a group stage, with RAF Boulmer up being<br />
pitted against RAF Benson A, RAF Marham and RAF<br />
Odiham teams. A close opening rubber against RAF<br />
Benson A required Flying Officer Jones to win the<br />
decisive match to ensure a 3-2 victory. A second place<br />
finish in the group and progression into plate semifinal<br />
on day 2 ensued; the team’s performance was<br />
impressive throughout.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 15
Fighter Control Commemorative Board Unveiled<br />
By Anne Russell<br />
A commemorative board has been unveiled<br />
at the RAF School of Aerospace Battle<br />
Management at RAF Boulmer.<br />
Group Captain Tim Willbond, the initiator of the<br />
honours board, explained the rationale behind<br />
its creation.<br />
“A Battle Honour is awarded by the sovereign to<br />
a military unit for their achievements in specific<br />
wars or operations of a military campaign and<br />
the unit can emblazon the name of the battle<br />
or operation on its colours or uniforms.<br />
In general, Fighter Controllers have always been<br />
embedded in other units or Force formations<br />
such as happened during the First Gulf War. I<br />
felt that the design of this campaign board was<br />
the best way to capture the information in a<br />
way that shows the Fighter Control Branch has<br />
a special heritage. Hundreds were involved<br />
in campaigns in every theatre of operations<br />
from Burma, Crete, Malta and El Alamein to<br />
Rhodesia, Iraq and Afghanistan. The board tells<br />
a compelling and stimulating story and will<br />
honour the contribution of our veterans and<br />
engender an esprit de corps among Fighter<br />
Control veterans and the ABMs of today, and<br />
give ABM students a sense of identity with<br />
the past.”<br />
Group Captain Mark Coleman with Group Captain Tim Willbond, Group Captain Martyn Bettel, Air<br />
Commodore Ginge Crayford (all ex-RAF Boulmer Station Commanders), Wing Commander John Booth,<br />
Officer Commanding School of Aerospace Battle Management, and Ian Walkerdine, Stu McCullouch and<br />
Jules Tilley from the Fighter Control Association.<br />
Cracking The Code By<br />
Senior Aircraftman D Thwaites<br />
Personnel from Brizlee Wood Radar site visited Bletchley Park,<br />
home of the World War Two code breakers.<br />
During the Second World War Bletchley Park was the<br />
headquarters for the Government’s Code and Cypher School;<br />
deciphering the German Enigma codes and more recently<br />
made famous in the film The Imitation Game, staring Benedict<br />
Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, who worked at the site.<br />
The park is now open to the public and in addition to the large<br />
museum you can also look around some of the restored prefab<br />
huts used by the various units stationed there during the war,<br />
and also the mansion house in the centre of the grounds.<br />
We learned how the German signals were intercepted, the<br />
number of ways in which they were deciphered and how the<br />
information gained from them were later used. We also learned<br />
about Alan Turing and his team’s development of the Bombe<br />
(the large electronic deciphering machine) and saw a working<br />
rebuilt version of one. There’s also a large section dedicated to<br />
the recent film, with props, sets and costumes on display.<br />
The visit opened our eyes to the huge number of people<br />
involved and effort made in the intelligence side of the Second<br />
World War.<br />
The Bombe<br />
16 THE LOOKOUT
Against the<br />
Northumberland<br />
sunset<br />
Farewell<br />
to the Search and Rescue Force<br />
Preparing for the<br />
next rescue<br />
‘A’ Flight trained<br />
constantly to<br />
ensure all rescues<br />
were safe and fast<br />
THE LOOKOUT 17
A Faded Yellow Memory<br />
Overhead Bamburgh Castle<br />
As the old saying goes, ‘All good things must come to<br />
an end’. And as the hangar doors close for the last<br />
time, everyone here at A Flight, 202 Squadron has<br />
been reflecting on what a good thing we had. We had a<br />
good job; a great job. A job that was fun, challenging,<br />
rewarding and yes, occasionally terrifying. It was a job which we felt<br />
privileged to do and it was made all the easier because we provided<br />
the service to a community which took us to their hearts.<br />
By Squadron Leader Iain Macfarlane<br />
For 51 years, yellow helicopters<br />
emblazoned with the words ‘Royal<br />
Air Force Rescue’ and using the<br />
callsign ‘Rescue 131’ patrolled the<br />
seas, coastlines and mountains of<br />
Northern England and Southern<br />
Scotland. Initially operating from<br />
RAF Acklington and, since 1975,<br />
RAF Boulmer, these helicopters<br />
have been responsible for saving<br />
many hundreds of lives. The<br />
ageing Whirlwind aircraft were<br />
replaced in 1978 with the - then<br />
state-of-the-art - Sea King, which<br />
itself has now quietly retired to<br />
pastures new.<br />
The team briefed<br />
together on a<br />
daily basis<br />
Obviously, the crews who operated,<br />
engineered and supported these<br />
helicopters changed many times<br />
over the years (although there<br />
were one or two individuals<br />
present at the end who looked<br />
old enough to have been there<br />
when it all started). Although<br />
the individuals, the uniforms and<br />
the facial hair changed over the<br />
decades, many things remained<br />
constant. Everyone remained<br />
focussed towards making a<br />
difference; towards going the<br />
extra mile to make sure that<br />
rescues were conducted as quickly,<br />
efficiently and<br />
safely as possible.<br />
When asked<br />
to participate<br />
in a military<br />
operation, most<br />
commanders<br />
have the luxury<br />
of selecting<br />
and preparing<br />
their most<br />
experienced<br />
people for the<br />
task, but that<br />
was far from<br />
the case in the<br />
Search and Rescue world. Because<br />
of the unpredictable nature of our<br />
operations, a young pilot, radar<br />
operator or winchman could be<br />
tasked to the most difficult rescue<br />
operation ever attempted on<br />
their very first shift. We minimized<br />
this risk by intensive training<br />
and the careful composition of<br />
crews, but nonetheless, some<br />
very inexperienced aircrew were<br />
‘thrown in at the deep end’ over<br />
the years and invariably they<br />
performed magnificently.<br />
Our 24 hour shifts began at 9:20<br />
am every day of the year and were<br />
utterly unpredictable (except for<br />
the amount of tea consumed; that<br />
was very predictable). Some days<br />
were quiet and our only flying<br />
activity was a bit of training to<br />
keep our skills honed; other days<br />
were manic with multiple rescues<br />
to conduct. No matter how many<br />
rescues we had done, the scramble<br />
phone made us jump every time.<br />
Just a little jump during the day -<br />
no more than a start, really - and<br />
an enormous, adrenaline-filled,<br />
star jump at 3 am when we were<br />
all tucked up in bed. Most of our<br />
A few of the ‘A’ team!<br />
rescues passed unnoticed by the<br />
wider world, but there were some<br />
prominent examples which are<br />
worth remembering.<br />
In March 1980, Rescue 131 was<br />
involved in the rescue of 38<br />
Norwegian oil workers from the<br />
‘Alexander Keilland’ platform which<br />
capsized in a North Sea gale.<br />
In July 1988, Rescue 131 was<br />
one of many rescue helicopters<br />
tasked to assist the ‘Piper Alpha’ oil<br />
platform which was destroyed by<br />
an explosion and subsequent fire<br />
in the North Sea. Rescue 131 had<br />
to carefully pick its way through<br />
the burning sea to search for oil<br />
workers who had jumped into<br />
the inferno.<br />
Five months later, in December<br />
1988, Rescue 131 was one of the<br />
first rescue assets to arrive at the<br />
devastating scene of a Pan Am<br />
Boeing 747 crash onto the town<br />
of Lockerbie. When it became<br />
clear that there were no survivors<br />
among the passengers and crew,<br />
Rescue 131 became instrumental in
the search for, and recovery of, the<br />
bodies of the deceased.<br />
In January 2005, Rescue 131 was<br />
tasked to the city of Carlisle, which<br />
had been inundated by floodwater.<br />
As well as rescuing vulnerable<br />
people from the bedroom<br />
windows of their homes, Rescue<br />
131 provided a unique oversight of<br />
the disaster for the authorities, as<br />
they struggled to come to terms<br />
with the scale of devastation.<br />
In February 2007, Rescue 131<br />
attended the Grayrigg train crash<br />
in Cumbria. As well as providing<br />
evacuation for the injured, Rescue<br />
131 also transported specialist<br />
rescue and medical personnel to<br />
the relatively inaccessible scene.<br />
Many of Rescue 131’s crew<br />
members continue to carry the<br />
painful memories of these – and<br />
many other rescues - with them<br />
every day. But there can be few<br />
careers which provide the job<br />
satisfaction that ours did. Our job<br />
satisfaction came in the form of the<br />
grateful expressions of survivors<br />
plucked from the freezing waters of<br />
the North Sea; it came in the form<br />
of the tearful thanks of parents<br />
who accompanied their critically<br />
ill children on flights in the dead<br />
of night; and it came in the form<br />
of the looks of relief from injured<br />
climbers as they were winched to<br />
safety from precarious cliff faces.<br />
I had the unique privilege of<br />
commanding A Flight twice during<br />
its existence and as well as paying<br />
tribute to the air and ground crews,<br />
I would like to take this opportunity<br />
to thank the communities of<br />
Northumberland and the wider<br />
area for making our task that little<br />
bit easier. Thank you for putting<br />
up with us training on your door<br />
step, thank you for always having a<br />
friendly wave for Rescue 131 as she<br />
passed overhead, and thank you<br />
for your kind words and letters of<br />
support throughout the years. As<br />
my aircrew, engineers and support<br />
staff move on to their new jobs and<br />
roles I know that they will never<br />
forget the time that they spend<br />
supporting the community from<br />
RAF Boulmer.<br />
Farewells to Search and Rescue at RAF Boulmer<br />
The last rescue conducted by RAF Boulmer Search and Rescue<br />
THE LOOKOUT 19
Preparing<br />
for<br />
another<br />
rescue<br />
Against the<br />
magnificent<br />
backdrop of<br />
Alnwick Castle<br />
‘A’ Flight at RAF Boulmer<br />
20 THE LOOKOUT
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THE LOOKOUT 21
Families’ Fun<br />
Raises Smiles<br />
and Charity Cash<br />
Face paints<br />
and fun all<br />
round<br />
By Flight Lieutenant H McMillan<br />
The aim of this year’s RAF Boulmer Families’ Day was<br />
to provide an event for all station personnel and their<br />
families to enjoy together whilst raising money for<br />
the Station’s nominated charities, which this year are the<br />
Tiny Lives Trust, Hospice Care and the RAF Association<br />
(RAFA).<br />
Hoping for a clear day, the organising committee was relieved<br />
to see the forecast was dry and sunny. The wind, however, was<br />
not as obliging and it played havoc with tents and anything not<br />
pegged down twice over!<br />
On the sports pitches, a wide range of activities and stalls were<br />
available for everyone to enjoy. Food and drink was provided<br />
by ISS and the RAF Boulmer Catering Flight, while activities<br />
including Jimmy Slater’s fairground rides, Creature Encounters,<br />
Twinkly Faces face painting and a roaming balloon modeller.<br />
There was enough going on to distract people from the<br />
blustery conditions!<br />
One brave customer!<br />
The event was also well supported by RAF Recruitment and<br />
other local organisations. This included representatives from<br />
607 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron, Air Cadets from 1801<br />
(Alnwick) Squadron as well as RAFA, Royal British Legion,<br />
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and<br />
the Longhoughton Cub/Scouts Group.<br />
The Station Medical Centre, the Youth Activities Working Group,<br />
RAF Regiment Section, the RAF Police Flight, 202 Search and<br />
Rescue Squadron and the Mechanical Transport section also<br />
entertained families. Special mention must go to Mr Simon<br />
Buist and his team for providing ‘VIP’ support to the families<br />
of those personnel currently deployed. Commentary on the<br />
whole event was ably delivered by Flight Sergeant Nick Hamer, who overcame his<br />
natural shyness to provide updates throughout the afternoon!<br />
The day was brought to fitting end by a Tornado GR4 fly past from 9 Squadron at<br />
RAF Marham. Everyone seemed to enjoy this except, it seems, for the largest of the<br />
police dogs who seemed thoroughly unimpressed. It was then off to Dukes Bar for<br />
a disco, a few drinks and a chance for all of the children to dance off some sugar.<br />
The organising committee, made up of Flight Lieutenant Hamish McMillan, Flight<br />
Lieutenant Becky Canlett, Flying Officer Chris Miley and Corporal Lisa Healy, were<br />
fully supported by a number of different people from across the Station.<br />
Pulled<br />
pork on<br />
offer from<br />
Catering<br />
Flight<br />
Fabulous St John Ambulance support for the event.<br />
Inventive<br />
entertainment at<br />
It’s a Knockout!
Getting to know...<br />
FLIGHT SERGEANT GOODALL,<br />
Physical Education Flight<br />
Flight Sergeant Colin Goodall recently arrived at RAF Boulmer from RAF Akrotiri, just in time<br />
to re-acclimatise during the English summer! He is responsible for overseeing business in the<br />
Station’s busy Physical Education Flight. Here we grill him with some of life’s most pertinent<br />
questions to get to know him a bit better…<br />
WHAT PART OF THE COUNTRY ARE YOU<br />
ORIGINALLY FROM AND WHY IS THIS THE<br />
BEST PLACE EVER?<br />
I’m originally from Herne Bay in Kent,<br />
however my father was in the RAF so<br />
we moved quite frequently. I have fond<br />
memories of living in Germany, Cyprus and<br />
Northern Ireland.<br />
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSION PRIOR TO<br />
JOINING THE RAF AND WHAT DID THIS<br />
ENTAIL?<br />
I lived at Aldergrove before joining up on<br />
completion of my A Levels, I worked as a<br />
barman, gardener, groundsman. This paid<br />
for my appetite to learn to fly, drive and<br />
enjoy the Guinness!<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE<br />
SPORT AND TEAM?<br />
Some might say - considering my job - I<br />
am not the keen sportsman you might<br />
expect. I tend to agree, I enjoy watching any<br />
sport however I am more of an individual<br />
sportsman. Whilst in Cyprus I took up<br />
triathlon, completed my first half Ironman,<br />
completed the Limassol Marathon twice<br />
and played a bit of football. I enjoy following<br />
The Potters and take my son to see them<br />
when I can.<br />
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN<br />
A MOVIE OF YOUR LIFE?<br />
Hugh Jackman!<br />
“<br />
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST<br />
ABOUT THE RAF?<br />
The vast amount of opportunity. While in<br />
Cyprus I found myself in Beirut on expedition<br />
competing in the Raid Des Cedre, a cross<br />
country skiing race against the Lebanese Army<br />
and thousands of civilians from all over the<br />
world.<br />
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE<br />
TV SHOW AND WHY?<br />
I do not tend to watch that much TV on a<br />
regular basis; however Peaky Blinders is my<br />
favourite series.<br />
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE<br />
TV CHARACTER AND WHY?<br />
Joey Tribbiani – he is hilarious, always trying his<br />
luck. A cheeky chappy!<br />
I work with a great team in the Physical Education Flight. When<br />
offered a job at RAF Boulmer I found myself happily agreeing<br />
to the offer. I joined the RAF in 1995, completing tours at<br />
RAF Brampton, Wyton, Cosford, Halton, Aldergrove, on HMS<br />
Raleigh, Akrotiri in Cyprus, and Recuit Training. Add to that a<br />
couple of overseas detachments to the Falklands, and several<br />
expeditions overseas including France, Canada, USA, Germany<br />
and Lebanon.<br />
“<br />
IF YOU HADN’T JOINED THE RAF, WHAT<br />
WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?<br />
A job that involves fresh air - perhaps<br />
a gamekeeper.<br />
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT<br />
THE RAF WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?<br />
I’d make it easier to organise Adventurous<br />
Training expeditions. They are great and<br />
achieve so much.<br />
WHAT FACT DO PEOPLE NOT KNOW<br />
ABOUT YOU… UNTIL NOW?!<br />
I could fly a plane before I could drive a car…..!<br />
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERT<br />
ISLAND AND COULD ONLY WISH FOR 3<br />
THINGS WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?<br />
A knife - all sorts of uses. A plastic bag so I could<br />
make drinking water. A solar panel to charge<br />
my phone!<br />
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?<br />
Still in the RAF creating opportunities and<br />
making waves! I would like to be a Station<br />
Warrant Officer, ideally at Akrotiri in Cyprus.<br />
WHO IS YOUR HERO?<br />
My late father is my hero. He inspired me to<br />
achieve and stay grounded. It was his idea to<br />
join the RAF too, wouldn’t change a thing…..<br />
THE LOOKOUT 23
MELTDOW<br />
MORZI<br />
Nestled in the Rhône-<br />
Alpes region of eastern<br />
France lay the resorts of<br />
Morzine and Avoriaz; traditional<br />
alpine chalets spread across<br />
a river gorge which offers<br />
amazing views of alpine<br />
slopes. The area hosts one of<br />
Europe’s most popular and<br />
challenging skiing destinations<br />
in the winter seasons, and,<br />
when we arrived, was also<br />
host to an international Harley<br />
Davidson festival lining the<br />
streets with hundreds of<br />
motorbikes and thousands<br />
of middle aged, leather clad<br />
men… We had arrived to start<br />
Morzine Meltdown!<br />
MOUNTAIN BIKING! Within the first 10<br />
seconds Corporal Sturrock crashed his bike in<br />
front of the first chair lift and many seasoned<br />
mountain bike enthusiasts. The routes were<br />
all very technical and challenging but every<br />
one applied themselves 100%; at the end of<br />
the day the group had improved dramatically.<br />
ROCK CLIMBING! We drove to St Jean du<br />
Alpes in order to tackle the local mountain<br />
‘La Tete De L’elephant’, named due to its<br />
distinct shape of an elephant’s head and<br />
standing well over 1000m. Physical Training<br />
Instructor Corporal Todd led the rock<br />
climbing providing his skill and expertise on<br />
the intricacies of rock climbing and its safety<br />
equipment so that all participants were able<br />
to complete the increasingly difficult levels<br />
of climbs.<br />
CANYONING! Upstream in the river Dranse,<br />
we were thrown into the deep end by<br />
abseiling in from a height of 44m off an<br />
La Tete de L’elephant<br />
was given a grade 3/5<br />
for climbing difficulty<br />
and a 5/5 for exposure<br />
with near vertical drops<br />
all the way up - not<br />
good for those with fear<br />
of heights!<br />
24 THE LOOKOUT
NE<br />
N!<br />
By Senior Aircraftman Bick<br />
Photo caption 1: Don’t look down…<br />
Photo caption 2: Making a splash<br />
Photo caption 3: A beautiful setting for a climb<br />
Photo caption 4: The adventurers – led by Corporal Todd<br />
overlooking bridge. The downward fast flowing<br />
river provided a challenging yet fun terrain of<br />
jumps and slides into rock<br />
pools and spaces of open<br />
river, many of which were<br />
only obtainable through<br />
abseiling. The Canyoning<br />
was led by a local guide<br />
from Evolution2 who was<br />
great in encouraging the<br />
less confident members of<br />
the group.<br />
Collectively agreed to be<br />
one of the most challenging<br />
Adventurous Training trips<br />
to experience, everybody<br />
had their own personal<br />
battle to overcome as we<br />
were pushed to our physical<br />
and mental limits. We had<br />
a brilliant experience in<br />
doing so.<br />
“I used to be really afraid of heights but after facing<br />
them directly I feel that I have been able to get a<br />
handle on this fear and I’m not so scared of them<br />
anymore. It’s something I can take away with me<br />
into the workplace and use in operations.”<br />
Senior Aircraftman (Tech) Schofield,<br />
Remote Radar Head Buchan<br />
THE LOOKOUT 25
Force Development (FD)<br />
Force Development (FD) is a vital tool to assist Armed Forces personnel in developing personal operational<br />
characteristics, by exposing participants to both real and perceived risk. To ensure greater preparation<br />
to meet the challenges faced in live military operations, service personnel are regularly required to<br />
demonstrate personal qualities including courage, robustness, rigor, resilience and self-sufficiency.<br />
Two Wet Days in Wales<br />
By School of Aerospace Battle Management Simulator Support Flight<br />
Sixteen individuals made their way to Fairbourne, Wales for this year’s School<br />
of Aerospace Battle Management Force Development event. Gale force winds<br />
and monsoon weather conditions were forecast. What could possibly go<br />
wrong?<br />
The canoeing team put to the test basic skills such as turning and stopping in the rapids.<br />
In extreme weather conditions communication is paramount when working as a team<br />
along with skill and determination. No one quite knows what went wrong in the canoe<br />
of Squadron Leader Glenn Parker and Corporal Kev Baker but one thing is for sure, they<br />
managed to capsize 16 times! Meanwhile, all eyes were on resident Royal Navy man<br />
Lieutenant Langley to impress on the water – it is safe to say Captain Horatio Nelson<br />
would have been turning in his grave!<br />
All downhill from here.<br />
The mountain bikers started off by seeking refuge from the onslaught of rain in a local<br />
forest with a skills area. The techniques taught would put the team in good stead for the<br />
uphill struggle and the downhill dash. Never one to want to be the centre of attention,<br />
Sergeant Whitcombe gave a short rant about how everyone was<br />
holding<br />
him up, before face planting off a one foot drop much to the<br />
entertainment of the rest of the group.<br />
Needless to say, Fairbourne was a great success and enjoyed by all.<br />
Thankfully not<br />
too much lycra<br />
on show here!<br />
Ready to make a splash – literally<br />
Guards Go Ape!<br />
By Private Aidan Taylor<br />
A visit to the local Go Ape Centre, just outside Hexham, was orchestrated by Lance Corporal<br />
Grunson of the Military Provost Guard Service, which is responsible for much of RAF Boulmer’s<br />
security. As a welcome break from the usual mandatory British Army training, 14 Soldiers<br />
arrived with a mixed sense of excitement and nervousness.<br />
Morale was high and in no time at all the Platoon were fully briefed and harnessed up ready to climb. After<br />
an expert demonstration on the low ropes from Private Mick Anderson, the climbers were sent off into<br />
the forest, in what can only be described as a biblical rain storm and left to their own devices to follow the<br />
high ropes course.<br />
Despite the occasional hold up whilst climbers built up a quick sense of bravery, a safe environment was<br />
evident throughout the whole activity and for most, entrusting your fate to the harness and safety cable<br />
was just mind over matter. Time passed swiftly and with the rain a distant thought, all climbers completed<br />
the course and were awarded certificates from the Chief Gorilla, Master of the Ropes. Aims achieved and<br />
fears conquered, all that was left was to enjoy a warm cuppa and reminisce over some of the high points -<br />
pardon the pun!<br />
Tackling the heights<br />
26 THE LOOKOUT
About to put theory<br />
into practice…<br />
Riding<br />
The Waves<br />
By Senior Aircraftman Ollie Barrow<br />
July saw the first ever<br />
“Waveriders Tour”. 10<br />
participants from RAF Boulmer<br />
took on the enviable challenge of<br />
learning to surf in the warm coastal<br />
waters of North Cornwall, 422 miles<br />
of coastline with surfing conditions<br />
famous throughout the world.<br />
We began with an introduction to surfing, using 7ft foam<br />
boards; picking and catching the best waves, standing,<br />
and being able to steer the board. By the second day, the<br />
whole group were standing and riding in. Aside from Senior<br />
Aircraftman Thomas having to endure a day with his back<br />
exposed to the water due to his wetsuit zip breaking, things<br />
were going pretty well!<br />
Getting some tips<br />
from the pro!<br />
We built up to a consolidation of all the new skills learned<br />
and then it was time to progress to the smaller resin boards.<br />
These boards are easier to turn, but standing on them poses<br />
a greater challenge. We applied as much wax to the boards<br />
as possible; this ensured greater friction on the new piece of<br />
equipment as an aid to staying on it! The objective now was<br />
to be able to paddle out passed the breaking waves, which<br />
proved to be a difficult task on a long board. However, after<br />
a few attempts and a back breaking paddle, everyone got to<br />
experience what it was like “out the back”.<br />
The final day commenced with beautiful sunshine. The<br />
wind had died down and the sea produced some small 2-3<br />
ft waves.<br />
Everyone was able to get “out back” and put into a final<br />
practice all the new skills they had acquired - a perfect end<br />
to a brilliant week. What will 2016 bring?<br />
A beautiful setting with perfect swell<br />
THE LOOKOUT 27
From<br />
Shabby<br />
to<br />
Chic<br />
Group Captain Coleman officially opens the new bar.<br />
The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess bar had<br />
often been described as “shabby in both furniture and<br />
decor” and “looking and feeling like a museum”!<br />
Determined to see an<br />
improvement, the<br />
Chairman of the Mess<br />
Committee (CMC) at the time,<br />
Warrant Officer Callaghan,<br />
sought volunteers from the mess<br />
membership to take on what<br />
started as a small project; to<br />
upgrade the bar and furniture.<br />
The mess committee identified<br />
some funds that could be made<br />
available, but were disappointed<br />
by additional funding requests<br />
being turned down. With the<br />
help of Chief Technician Watson,<br />
the committee eventually<br />
secured Local Initiative Grant<br />
(LIG) funding and a grant<br />
from the RAF Charitable Trust<br />
(RAFCT). Combined with mess<br />
funding and the Station’s<br />
agreement to upgrade the decor<br />
in the bar, this ‘small’ project<br />
expanded considerably.<br />
The renovated bar<br />
is contemporary<br />
and welcoming<br />
The ceiling and lights were<br />
torn down and replaced, walls,<br />
woodwork and areas behind the bar were all given a facelift and pictures were<br />
purchased. New furniture for the bar and anteroom was delivered just 5 days<br />
before the end of the financial year and the deadline day for funding.<br />
Mess members and bar both refreshed!<br />
“This refurbishment would not have succeeded without the RAFCT funding,<br />
for which we are grateful,” said Ken. He went on to praise the “drive and<br />
determination” of Chief Technician Pete Watson, whom he blames for forcing<br />
him into sitting at the bar discussing paint colours night after night! “As I now<br />
retire from the RAF I hope that the mess membership enjoys the refurbishment<br />
for many years to come.”<br />
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28 THE LOOKOUT
By Chief Technician Watson<br />
Members of RAF Boulmer Engineering Squadron visited Alnwick Castle to meet<br />
with the ‘Walking with the Wounded’ team taking part in The Walk of Britain<br />
expedition; 4 British and 2 US wounded veterans are walking 1,000 miles across<br />
mainland Britain, starting in Scotland on 22 Aug 15 and finishing at Buckingham Palace<br />
on 1 Nov 15.<br />
The walkers were met at the castle by the Duchess of<br />
Northumberland and other local dignitaries.<br />
Patron of the ‘Walking with the Wounded’ charity<br />
is HRH Prince Harry and the aim of the charity is<br />
to support veterans with physical, mental or social<br />
injuries on their journey to long-term security,<br />
independence and employment. This enables all<br />
physically and psychologically wounded personnel to<br />
rebuild their lives and return to the work place and, in<br />
doing so, provide long-term security for themselves<br />
and their families.<br />
Whilst carrying out a routine training sortie, the crew<br />
of the Sea King from 202 Squadron flew overhead<br />
with the rear crew waving to the walkers.<br />
RAF Boulmer Engineers meet The Walk of Britain veterans.<br />
Reflecting By<br />
Corporal A Russell<br />
The incredibly<br />
dominating<br />
memorial at<br />
Vimy Ridge.<br />
On Our Foundations<br />
A<br />
team of six Air Surveillance and Control System<br />
personnel travelled on a 4-day visit to World War I<br />
(WWI) related sites both in the United Kingdom and in<br />
France that are linked by their contribution to the formation<br />
of the RAF.<br />
One stop was at Stow Maries Airfield, Essex. The airfield is<br />
stooped in history, with its origins dating back to WWI. A great<br />
tour around the airfield was followed by a drive through the<br />
Channel Tunnel and France to arrive at Saint Omer.<br />
At St Omer Airfield, we were lucky receive a great tour learning<br />
how the airfield supported the WWI western front from above.<br />
Next stop was Vimy Ridge where an incredible, imposing yet<br />
humbling memorial stands tall to remember and honour<br />
Canadian lives lost in the Great War and, in particular, in the<br />
battle for Vimy Ridge. Following a visit to the Somme region, we<br />
then visited Sunken Lane, Beaumont Hamel Cemetery and then<br />
Thiepval museum and the impressive Franco-British Thiepval<br />
Memorial.<br />
This fantastic, varied visit allowed us to reflect on the history that<br />
we had learned and the sacrifices made by those who fought in<br />
the Great War.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 29
DELTA<br />
Lady<br />
by Corporal Kris Cochrane<br />
As part of Vulcan XH558’s final flying season, the<br />
Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTTS) decided to have her fly<br />
over every intact ‘V’ Force airframe in the UK; two of<br />
which are Vulcans located at the North East Aircraft Museum<br />
at Sunderland and East Fortune Airfield in East Lothian.<br />
Conscious of the fact that Boulmer is relatively close to her likely route, I contacted the<br />
chief pilot for VTTS asking if she could be flown over Boulmer. Thankfully, he agreed and<br />
arrangements were made for her fly over the main site during the transit to Scotland.<br />
I headed over for the flypast. It was only as I arrived on camp, flanked by around 50 Harley<br />
Davidsons, that I remembered it was their planned ‘Ride Out’ day at Boulmer.<br />
I received a message informing me that the Vulcan was five miles south-east of Boulmer<br />
so I announced to the bikers and personnel that had congregated that “we are about to be<br />
joined by a very special aircraft…get your cameras ready!” Nothing had prepared us for<br />
the sight and sound of a Vulcan coming in at 250 feet above the North Sea, going into a<br />
near-vertical climb and then performing a jaw-dropping 120º wing-over all whilst making<br />
her signature, earth-shattering ‘howl’. As she banked left to head for East Fortune the<br />
crowd applauded and the place was buzzing with chat of that “beautiful plane”.<br />
The Vulcan flew at 250<br />
feet overhead!<br />
“It is saddening<br />
to think that<br />
a Vulcan will<br />
never grace<br />
the skies again<br />
after October.”<br />
30 THE LOOKOUT
High Sheriff Of Northumberland<br />
Presents Awards at RAF Boulmer<br />
By Catherine Hughes<br />
Personnel from RAF Boulmer have<br />
been recognised for their service<br />
and achievements at an Honours<br />
and Awards Ceremony held in the Officers’<br />
Mess.<br />
The Station Commander, Group Captain<br />
Mark Coleman, introduced the High Sheriff<br />
of Northumberland, Mrs Lucy Carroll, who<br />
presented the awards and welcomed friends,<br />
families and colleagues of the recipients to<br />
the ceremony.<br />
She said: “I am very glad to be here and<br />
present these awards. It is a privilege to meet<br />
you all and offer my sincere congratulations<br />
on your achievements. We are proud to have<br />
RAF Boulmer, home of the Air Surveillance<br />
and Control System, in Northumberland, and<br />
appreciate your efforts in the national defence<br />
of our country.”<br />
Sergeant S Megraw and Sergeant L Bolam<br />
were awarded the Operational Service Medal<br />
(Afghanistan) with clasp. This campaign<br />
medal is awarded for operational service in<br />
Afghanistan or surrounding countries, and the<br />
clasp for service specifically in Afghanistan.<br />
Sergeant M Jones and Corporal I Rutter<br />
received the Long Service and Good Conduct<br />
Medal. This medal is awarded to noncommissioned<br />
ranks in recognition of 15 years’<br />
unblemished service in the Royal Air Force, and<br />
can only be presented after a comprehensive<br />
check of the serving person’s record of service.<br />
The High Sheriff of Northumberland with Group Captain Coleman and honours and awards recipients.<br />
Wing Commander Y Gagnon was awarded<br />
the European Union Common Security<br />
and Defence Policy Service Medal, which is<br />
awarded in recognition of personnel who have<br />
deployed in a European-led crisis management<br />
operation.<br />
Flying Officer R Phillips was awarded the RAF<br />
Sports Colours for Karate. The RAF Sports<br />
Colours is awarded to personnel who have<br />
represented the RAF at the very highest level,<br />
such as the Senior Inter-Service Championships.<br />
RAF Boulmer welcomes Harley owners<br />
By Catherine Hughes<br />
RAF Boulmer welcomed members of<br />
the Harley Owners’ Group taking<br />
part in their annual ABC Motor Cycle<br />
event in support of Help for Heroes and<br />
the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade.<br />
The ‘Geordie Chapter’ began their ride<br />
through Northumberland at Albemarle<br />
Barracks, stopping briefly at Alnwick Market<br />
Place before visiting RAF Boulmer, where they<br />
were welcomed by Officer Commanding<br />
Support Wing, Wing Commander Richard<br />
Sharp.<br />
Over 50 bikes were involved in the event with<br />
75 riders forming the group. The group and<br />
their spectators were treated to a low-level<br />
flypast by Avro Vulcan XH558, now in its final<br />
display season, as it took part in a ‘Cold War<br />
Tour’ of the UK.<br />
In total, the group raised over £400 for their<br />
chosen charities.<br />
Wing Commander Sharp presents a gift to the Harley Owners’ Group.<br />
THE LOOKOUT 31
in Singapore and Malaysia<br />
In May, the RAF Hockey<br />
Association Mens and Ladies<br />
squads toured Singapore and<br />
Malaysia and Wing Commander<br />
Darren Phelps and I were<br />
selected as part of the RAF<br />
Mens Hockey team.<br />
Shortly after landing in Singapore<br />
the teams were out for an<br />
acclimatisation session to try and<br />
get used to the intense heat and<br />
humidity before their first game<br />
against the prestigious Singapore<br />
Cricket Club (SCC) the very next<br />
day. The SCC boasted several<br />
ex-international players and<br />
overseas juniors. This, along with<br />
the conditions, meant both Air<br />
Force teams were in for a tough<br />
opening fixture.<br />
Unfortunately after two very<br />
hard fought games neither team<br />
managed to come away with<br />
a victory. That evening the SCC<br />
hosted the RAF in their stunning<br />
19th century club house where<br />
teams exchanged pennants and<br />
club ties as well as man of the<br />
match awards.<br />
The second fixture was against<br />
the Singapore Barbarians, an<br />
invitational team selected from<br />
the four best hockey teams in<br />
Singapore, where the RAF got its<br />
first win of the tour.<br />
Without much time to celebrate<br />
the tour moved on to the Penang<br />
region of Malaysia for their third<br />
match of the tour versus Penang<br />
Medical University. The match saw<br />
By Senior Aircraftman Phillip Holmes<br />
The aims of the tour were to promote team<br />
spirit and leadership, undertake defence<br />
engagement and force development and<br />
play hockey in a testing environment.<br />
the Air Force win the game from<br />
the off with a dominating display<br />
in defence.<br />
For the last two games the tour<br />
moved to the capital Kuala<br />
Lumpur to play against Malaysian<br />
The RAF Hockey Teams at the<br />
Malaysian national hockey stadium<br />
Universities. The pinnacle of<br />
the tour was playing these two<br />
matches in the ‘Stadium Holo<br />
Nasional Bukit Jalil’ the 10,000 seat<br />
Malaysian national hockey stadium.<br />
The RAF again faced international<br />
standard opposition with some of<br />
Being hosted<br />
by Singapore<br />
Cricket Club<br />
Wing Commander Phelps in<br />
midfield vs. Malaysian Universities<br />
the Malaysian universities players<br />
having played in the Glasgow<br />
Commonwealth Games.<br />
The Malaysians were skilful and<br />
quick, presenting a real challenge<br />
for the Air Force side. High work<br />
rate and discipline saw the RAF<br />
match the Malaysians for most of<br />
the game and only concede late<br />
into the second half to stop them<br />
getting anything from the game.<br />
The following day the Air Force<br />
lined up for the final match of<br />
the tour. Great vision saw Wing<br />
Commander Phelps find the other<br />
centre midfielder who powered his<br />
shot against the back board. The<br />
RAF couldn’t hold on however and<br />
the Malaysians scored twice in the<br />
last ten minutes.<br />
Although we couldn’t quite<br />
get the results we wanted, the<br />
surroundings and circumstances<br />
could not have been better. The<br />
end of tour meal and awards night<br />
was held in the KL Tower, a rotating<br />
restaurant overlooking the city. I<br />
was presented the award for the<br />
‘most improved player’.<br />
Senior Aircraftman Holmes and Wing Commander Phelps watching the<br />
Malaysian national team train at the ‘Stadium Holo Nasional Bukit Jalil’<br />
RAF Men with the Singapore Barbarians<br />
32 THE LOOKOUT
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34 THE LOOKOUT