CHANNEL AIR DIVISION RNVR LUNCH
AT
THE NAVAL AND MILITARY CLUB
ON
THURSDAY 7th OCTOBER 2015
At 1300 on the above day some eleven former members of the Channel Air Division including their wives, partners and seven guests sat down to a very enjoyable lunch at the “In and Out”. This was a repeat of the successful lunch held twelve months ago when for the first time members of other RNVR Air Divisions had been invited to share in the occasion.
The event had as before been arranged by Adrian Risso- Gill, with his usual quiet efficiency.
Last year the “father “of the occasion was Ralph Jameson, the former CO of 1842 Squadron, but this time he was challenged for the honour by the presence of Rear Admiral John Roberts who had been CF1 of the Southern Air Division in the early fifties. However this was no contest as it was appropriate for Ralph to host the lunch as the senior member of Channel (the CADS) present. He said words of welcome particularly to those of us who were true guests. Bob Neill gave a vote of thanks to our hosts, not missing the opportunity to sell the FAAOA Aviation Trust repeating how little support was received from the Admiralty, in its efforts to raise £30,000 every year. This in contrast to the £14,000,000 set aside by the RAF to perform the same function.
Those present were very generous in their response and enough was raised to make a significant contribution to the cost of a gliding scholarship.
The remaining guests, apart from John Roberts and Bob Neill, who is a MAD (Midland Air Division), comprised Richard Griffiths (another candidate for “father” of the occasion),Simon Boltho, Nick Cook and Peter Rainbird, all of them SAD’s
It was unfortunate that Geordie and Ginnie Hutchison had to withdraw at the last moment because they had to attend a wartime commemoration involving late members of their families.
What of next year? Adrian has floated the idea of a date earlier in the year, perhaps in June or July. Views on this would be welcome. Any members of the RNVR Air Divisions who have read this but were unaware of the lunch and would like to join would be most welcome. Watch this space!
Bramcote, HMS Gamecock, its home in the early fifties, and now occupied by the Army. I and others have been privileged to be guests in more recent years but, I fear even we will soon become too few to make up the numbers.
It was suggested by Adrian that perhaps, in future we could have a lunch for surviving members of all the RNVR Air Divisions. To that end there is to be a meeting in the New Year to discuss the feasibility of such an occasion.
Any survivors of those memorable days who would be interested please contact Adrian or myself, our details are on the FAAOA website.