Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
I can't help wondering if my Mum would have kept on paying her subs and filling up those dinky little collection boxes over the years if she had known that they would turn round and refuse to put her maiden name in her obituary after her married name. Not only that but the bloke I spoke to initially on the phone to inform them of her death was about as surly as northerners get to strangers - and I should know - being a northerner. Nul points I'd say chaps.
I would imagine that would be extremely irritating, especially at an already emotional time. It wouldn’t take that much effort to record it as, say, Mrs Wing-It, (nee Blogs). It might be worth reporting it to RAFA CHQ, http://www.rafa.org.uk/contact.asp . It won’t help you much but might spare somebody else some anguish in the future.
It was irritating GBZ, to put it mildly. I waited until I had the Newsletter in my sweaty palm and I could feel the pressure mounting before posting on the topic. My guess would be that it's a general policy as none of the women listed had (nee ...).
The RAFA did have a bad reputation a few years ago but I thought they'd cleaned up their act and had remembered who the organisation is actually run for.
Thread drift, I know, but although a RAFA member I soon gave up attending my local branch as the endless quizzes and the usual reading of the minutes etc, held little appeal. Even as I write that I can see how snobbish and aloof it appears and probably is. I know good work is done and companionship ensured for those who would be otherwise entirely alone, but what does it offer the new breed of ex-RAF veterans? Still young, yet possibly dreadfully maimed both physically and mentally? If an ex Regiment Gunner turned up on his sticks or in a wheel chair would he meld in? In other words I sense that for his generation, let alone mine, the format of a Social Club is alien and irrelevant. To my mind the RAF Benevolent Fund is more to the point, does what it says on the tin and ensures money on the kitchen table within 48 hours, when the joint bank account is frozen awaiting probate following the loss of a loved one. I saw that when we lost an entire and augmented Herc crew at Fairford and was impressed. Back to the thread, if that's their policy make a big fuss and ask them to change it. At least it should appear in the minutes!
The RAFBF would indeed help, but you should know that due to downsizing of the serving RAF, the RAFBF doesn't get the funds that it used to. At the same time, the RAFA is shrinking as the huge numbers of wartime and immediate post-war RAF veterans diminishes, so the RAFA faces the same problem of reduced funding. Consequently, the RAFBF and RAFA work closely together today, to share the load.
Many years ago I was detached from Border Radar to RAF Prestwick (Wintex 77) and together with the world famous airtrafficker, Al Turner, (whatever hapened to the great cartoon man?) I headed into Prestwick after a busy 24 hour shift, in the hope of a late beer. This was in the days of pubs closing at 22:00.
Anyway, having drawn a blank at the local ale houses we spied the lights on and much noise emanating from the RAFA club in Prestwick. We park the Spitfire, no kidding, HLP817K, and knock on the door. We are both in our number ones, hats included, and the doorman asks, "What d'you want?" "To come in for a drink" says our hero, "Are you members?" asks the Joiner/Plumber/Lollipop man.
"We are members of the Royal Air Force." announces Al, and the doorman shuts the door saying "This is a members only club." Not so much as a goodnight.
Things chainged at the RAFA club? Sadly thats not my impression. If your not of a certain (War time and those that missed out) age, you're not made to feel very welcome at all, whatever your sexual orientation! They appear to offer nothing to encourage the many generations which have passed through the RAF since they did so to join, hence the ever dwindaling numbers enrolled and the increase in branch closures. No one to blame but them selves.
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