25th25th anniversaryanniversary

RAF Police

Association

1984 - 2009

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25th Anniversary

Stained Glass window, RAF Halton

30th October 2004

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PrefaceRAF Police Association

August 1984 – August 2009

The first 25 years….

After several previous attempts to organise an Association for RAF Police

personnel, the Association, as we know it today was formed at RAF Newton on

the 11th August 1984 with an annual membership subscription fee of £5. Any

person who was serving or had served in the RAF Police, Provost Branch,

RAFP Auxiliaries, Kennel-maids & assistants were entitled to join. Every

member would receive free copies of the Provost Parade.

It was decided that a committee comprising a Chairman, Secretary and

Treasurer be elected by the membership to administer the overall running of the

Association and a

President (in post

Provost Marshal)

would be by invitation.

The Association had a

slight hiccup in 1990,

there was no AGM. The

explanation in the 1991

AGM minutes was ‘Due

to circumstances

beyond the control of

the Association’. Unknown to the membership there wasn’t a Secretary and

there had been problems keeping everything running smoothly. Fortunately Sgt.

Len Hillman, an instructor at the School, who was not a member of the

Association, helped maintain things on tickover until David Brookman took on

the Secretary’s mantle. At the 1994 AGM a new improved Constitution was

adopted and a Vice Chair created with four Trustees voted in. Shortly after this

AGM the NW Branch was founded by Alan Rusling.

Up until 1995 there had been minimum activity with only two events per annum,

the evening prior to the AGM at the Police School and one held at the Victory

Services Club. Distance and age were limiting factors and kept numbers to a

minimum. A proposal to actively pursue additional membership and to create

regional branches were carried and over the next 12 months and membership

25

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At the 2003 AGM a new Association badge and Standard were authorised. Asthe year came to a close, membership was healthy and the number of Brancheshad grown to 15. In 2004 the Association Standard was dedicated at a shortservice held at St.George’s Church, RAF Halton.

On November 13th 2004 the Association Standard was paraded at the AlbertHall during the RBL Festival of Remembrance and the following day the ‘whiteberets’ joined in the ‘march past’ at the Cenotaph.

In March 2005, the Scotland & Northern Ireland Branch had their Standard dedicated in the War Memorial Chapel. On September 24th 2005 a stainedglass window was dedicated in St.George’s Church. The window had been jointly commissioned by the RAF Police and RAFP Association.

On April 5th 2006 Association members and serving members of the RAF Policegathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas and planted four thousand snowdrop bulbs. This was in preparation for the siting of a MemorialStone. This memorable ceremony was held on Saturday 23red June 2007.

2007 saw H & D and E.M. Branches witnessing the dedications of theirStandards and other dedications followed over the next 18 months. OtherStandards are in the pipeline and eventually it is hoped that all Branches willhave their own Standard.

On Armistice Day, some 3000 people braved terrible inclement weather at therecently opened NMA Alrewas to pay their respects to the 1,600 personnel killedin action or died in service since 1945.

In April 2008 another stained glass window, similar in design to the one at RAFHalton, commissioned by the Provost Marshal, was fitted into the DefencePolice College, Southwick Park shortly before a ceremony to celebrate the 90thAnniversary of the RAF and RAF Police. This was also a significant date as theRAFP Museum was officially opened by A.C.M. Sir John Cheshire at it’s newlocation in Southwick Park.

was greatly increased. Over the next three years seven regional branches, East

Midlands, West Midlands, Hants & Dorset, North West England, South Wales,

East Anglia and Essex & Suffolk were formed with arrangements well underway

to form a Scotland & Northern Ireland branch.

In 2002 trials were authorised to wear ‘white berets’ and they made an

appearance on Remembrance Day Parade, in Edinburgh, spotted on Sky News,

the legend was born.

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1. Air Commodore A E G Hales 1984 - 1986

2. Air Commodore G E Winch 1986 - 1989

3. Air Commodore A C P Seymour 1989 - 1993

4. Air Commodore J L Uprichard 1993 - 1998

5. Air Commodore R McConnell 1998 - 2000

6. Air Commodore C R Morgan 2000 - 2004

7. Air Commodore P J Drissell 2004 - 2007

8. Air Commodore S Abbott 2007 -

Association Honorary Presidents

Honour Board

1. Air Commodore H M Shepherd 1984 - 1994

2. Group Captain E J Scaplehorn 2005 - 2006

3. Group Captain G D Horscroft 2006 - 2009

4. Group Captain J Whitmell 2009 -

Association Honorary Vice Presidents

1.

5.

7.

1. 2.

3. 4.

8.

6.

4.

2. 3.

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Chairman Treasurer Secretary

1984 R. Harding P.Brough C.Crossan

1985 R. Harding P.Brough C.Crossan

1986 R. Harding P.Brough C.Crossan

1987 R.Harding P.Brough C.Crossan

1988 R.Harding P.Brough B.Dryden

1989 R.Harding P.Brough B.Dryden

1990 R.Harding P.Brough

1991 J.Wood P.Brough D Brookman

1992 J.Wood N.Rusling D.Boxall

1993 J.Wood N.Rusling D.Boxall

1994 J.Wood N.Rusling D.Boxalll1995 S.Cattell N.Rusling D.Boxall

1996 D.Boxall N.Rusling C.Bew

1997 S.Cattell N.Rusling C.Bew

1998 S.Cattell N.Rusling D.Wardell

1999 S.Cattell N.Rusling D.Wardell

2000 S.Cattell N.Rusling D.Wardell

2001 T.Simpson N.Gardiner D.Wardell

2002 T.Simpson N.Gardiner D.Wardell

2003 T.Simpson B.Whitaker D.Wardell

2004 B.Lamb B.Whitaker D.Wardell

2005 B.Lamb B.Whitaker D.Wardell

2006 B.Lamb B.Whitaker D.Wardell

2007 J.Walton B.Whitaker D.Wardell

2008 J.Walton A.Lake D.Wardell

2009 B. Flinn A.Lake D.Wardell

Executive Officers 1984 to 2009

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No. Branch Name Inaugural Meeting Own Standard

1. North West Branch 17th August 1994 No

2. Midlands November 1995 No

3. Ess and Suffolk Branch September 1996 No.

4. East Midlands Branch August 1996 Yes

5. West Anglia Branch September 1996 No

6. Western Region Branch February 1997 No

7. Hants.Dorset & I.O.W May 1997 Yes

8. Mid South Wales Branch June 1997 now defunct

9. Scotland & N.I. 11th October 1997 Yes

10. South West Area Branch 24th March 1999 Yes

11. Norfolk Branch 25th May 1999 No

12 London Home Counties 7th June 1999 No

14. Yorkshire South Branch 1st March 2000 No

15. North Yorkshire Branch 12th December 2000 Yes

16. North East Branch 4th October No

17. South Downs Branch 22nd May 2008 Yes

1984 – 1994 All held at RAF Newton1995 RAF Finningley1996 The Grand St.Ledger Hotel, Doncaster1997 University, Nottingham1998 Hotel Erlsmere , Westcliffe1999 Westminster Hotel , Nottingham2000 East Anglia Hotel, Bournemouth2001 The Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa2002 Victoria Hotel, Torquay2003 Best Western, Ripon2004 Marriott Hotel,Grantham2005 Marriott Hotel,Grantham2006 Erskine Bridge Hotel, Glasgow2007 Durley Hall Hotel, Bournemouth2008 Falcon Hotel, Stratford on Avon2009 Victoria Hotel, Torquay

Branch Inaugural Start Dates

Record of AGM’s

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Pioneers PortraitGGaalllleerryy

David Boxall

John Wood Charlie Crossan Colin Bew

Neil Rusling Tucker Simpson Steve Cattell

David Brookman Alan Rusling

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25CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss

Up until 1994, communicating with the membership was by letter or telephone, notunusual for that period. In 1995 David Boxall produced a 2 page newsletter with a 4page letter concerning matters from 1994 to early 1996. In September 1996Newsletter No. 2, entitled The Griff, edited by Steve Lamacraft, was circulated to themembership. In 1998 editorship changed and Neil Rusling took over the reins, Thro’2000 the editors chair was vacant until January 2001 when Les Fox assumed theresponsibility. By January 2002 another change had taken place and Mitch O’Neillbecame the incumbent editor and is still in position to date. Over the whole periodthe ‘Newsletter’ has evolved into a magazine of 24 pages, with colour facilities andpublished three times a year. It has a duty to publish all information relevant to themembership as well as other articles and photographs of interest. As the electronicage progresses it is now possible for the membership to receive their copies of TheGriff electronically.

As and when the Membership approve, Supplements are produced to celebrate significant events such as the 90th Anniversary of the RAF Police and the 50th UKDog Trials.

These Supplements are meant to provide an overview of the occasion, if more information is required there are a number of titles available (Author Steve Davies)directly from Woodfield Publishing Ltd., Babsham Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex,PO21 5EL or Tel.No.01243 821757 that should provide all information you require.

If any member wishes to trace a person or event that happened some time ago,there is also an archive, researched and initiated by John Curtis and maintained byhim. All archived documents, photographs and memorabilia is available for members of the RAFPA/RAFP to view on the RAFPA1 web-site. Access is gainedthrough the webmaster ( see below). A copy of the archive contents may be requested through John Curtis on 276curtis@tiscali.co.uk or on Tel No.01159612662.

Each member receives a Directory on joining, it was formatted by Colin Bew in 1995,originally A5 size, then A4 to accommodate increase in membership. In 1997 NeilRusling took on the Directory and has continued to edit the publication. He alsointroduced an electronic version distributed to approximately 200 members alongwith an electronic e-mail directory through a mass mailing program called ‘Vallen’.

Membership cards were introduced in 1992 a red/black /white laminated effort thatwas redesigned fairly quickly when the production costs were realised.The web-sitewas set up in 1997 initially on Geocities, a free facility, until it was agreed to pay forthe domain www.rafpa.com Nearly 400,000 hits have been registered since its setup and appears at the top of a Google search for RAF Police/RAFP Association.There is also a Yahoo Group which allows a method of speedy communicationbetween members with one simple e mail. The webmaster, the person who initiallyset the scheme up and continues to oversee the operation of the site and group isSteve Cattell.

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Stained Glass WWiinnddoowwss

On Saturday September 24th 2005 a stained glass window ( see page 2) was dedicated in St. George’s Church, RAF Halton. The window was jointly commissioned by the RAF Police and the RAFP Association. The service was led byAO RAF Police Peter Drissell, the Provost Marshal Gp. Capt. Ted Scapelhorn andChairman of the RAFPA Bernard Lamb.

In April 2008 another stained glass window, similar in design to the one at RAFHalton, commissioned by the Provost Marshal Group. Capt. Gary Horscroft was fitted into the Defence Police College, Southwick Park shortly before a ceremony to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the RAF and RAF Police. Thewindow was commissioned to be transportable so that should the ‘School’ be re-located, the window could be moved as well. This date was also significant asthe RAF Police Museum was officially opened at Southwick Park on this day, aparade was led by Brian Flinn, Vice Chairman, RAFPA and the salute was by ACMSir John Cheshire who later opened the Museum.

Workman installing window

ACM Sir John Cheshire

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RAF Police Memorial

25th Anniversary

At the Association executive Council Meeting at RAF Henlow in October 2005, a RAFPolice Memorial Project Committee was formed. Along with Chairman John Walton,were Treasurer Brian Whitaker, expert mason Ray Orgill and Trustee Alan Shaw. The purpose was to work jointly with the RAF Police Memorial Project Officer, SqnLdr Christa Lawrence, followed by Sqn Ldr Girvan Stewart to establish a permanentmemorial to the RAF Police in the RAF wing of the National Memorial Arboretum(NMA) at Alrewas, Staffordshire.After nearly 2 years the project came to fruition on 23 June 2007, when over 600serving and former RAF Police, wives, children and friends attended the MemorialDedication service at the NMA. Part of the project included a 10 years maintenancecontract and left in the Memorial Fund is approximately £15,000.The Dedication Service is commemorated each year on 23 June and already twosuch events have taken place.In early 2007, Bernard Lamband John Curtis led a team ofvolunteers from the Midlandsand E. Midlands Branches,the object being to plantthousands of snowdrops atthe memorial site. Sqd Ldr.Girvan Stewart assisted withthe first planting of the first4000 snowdropsThis event isalso repeated every year ina joint service with the RMPAssociation.

RAF Police Memorial

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RAF Police Memorial

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The Branches tend to organisegatherings, events and trips fortheir own membership, althoughon occasion combine with otherBranches to plan something moreadventurous. Over the years, trips have been made to WW1 battlefield sites, the D-dayBeaches of WW2, the very emotional ceremony at the MeninGate, various operational RAFCamps including RAF Lyneham,RAF Brize Norton and RAFLakenheath.The venues are many and variedand attempt to cover all the variousinterests and hobbies of the membership, their wives, partnersand friends. With the NationalAGM, the locations of the BranchAGM’s, reunions of various disciplines and other Associations,it’s safe to say that the social calendar of the Association is full,varied and caters for most tastes.

SocialActivities

Menin Gate

Jumble sale for CharityRiverboat Treat!

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Remembrance Sundays

November 11th, 1918, WW1 stopped and is known as Armistice Day . At this timewe should stop and remember our fallen comrades who paid the supreme sacrificeso that we might be free. They must not be forgotten, we must rememberthem………..

Nowadays this event is honoured on the Sunday closest to that date. TheAssociation attend in significant numbers but with the appearance of the ‘whiteberet’ and Association Standard, followed quite quickly by several BranchStandards, emphasis has been concentrated on the London Cenotaph, Edinburgh,the National Memorial Arboretum and Defence College Southwick Park with theirBranch Standards proudly flying , with‘white berets’ flashing and medals glisteningin full array. However atmany other locationsaround the UK membershave promoted the ideals of theAssociation by donningtheir ‘white berets’ andattending services in manydifferent locations includ-ing, Thetford, Kettering,Bailiff Bridge andBlackpool. The numbers

might be smaller, but justas proudly, members pay homage to their departedcomrades and as far away asGoulburn,in Australia anAssociation member paystribute.The Associations intention isto parade at the Arboretumon the 11th November everyyear regardless of which dayof the week it falls on.

Flt. Sgt. Bill Veazey offeringlast minute advise

Jack Batchelor patiently waiting.

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remember

Maurice Haynes at Kettering.

S & NI Branch at Stone of Rembrance.

Mel Price paying respects at Bailiff Bridge.

Alex Oliver Remembrance Sunday, Goulburn, Australia.

John Paice laying wreath at Southwick.

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25Wootton Bassett..........

Since April 2007 military personnel who have died on operations in Iraq andAfghanistan are repatriated to RAF Lyneham and then by road to the John RadcliffeHospital in Oxford. The cortege always passes through Wootton Bassett, a smallWiltshire town.Initially the cortegepassed throughalmost unnoticedexcept for a smallnumber of locals whostood and paid theirrespects, but soon theRoyal British Legionbecame involved andhas served as thefocal point for the spontaneous ceremony that nowtakes place on every occasion. Ray Voysey, who sadly died in March this year, wasthe first of our members to attend and up to his death he did not miss one exceptduring a short spell in hospital. On recent occasions the numbers attending can be counted in thousands andinclude both serving and retired members of the armed forces. The assortment ofStandards, berets and hat badges is quite amazing and the off white beret of theRAF Police Association is always present in the High Street on these occasions. Wehave also had the SWAB Standard on parade.

Unable to make the journey to WoottenBassett every time, several membersgather at the gates of the John RadcliffeHospital to pay their respects to thecortege. Brian Flinn and Tony Lake keepthe Association informed of the datesand times of the ceremonies at WoottenBassett and during the past year manymembers have attended travelling fromScotland, Wales and throughoutEngland.

Repatriation

Flag draped coffins pass silent watchers

Members of RAFPA pay their respects

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On Friday September 5th, 2008, HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex carried out aRoyal Review of the RAF Police at RAF Henlow. The Association did not take part inthe actual Review but were invited guests, with 10 lucky members dining with theRoyal Party in the Officers Mess. There was an opportunity later when several

members discussed theoutline organisation of theAssociation, including the dispersal of the Branches andthe various functions wherethe Association Standardshave been paraded.The last Royal Review ofthe RAF Police was at RAFDebden in 1973. Although thepresent Review was smallerthan 35 years ago,

nevertheless it was another memorable occasion in the history of the RAFP andRAFP Association.

The RoyalReview

HRH Prince Edward meets members of the RAFPA.

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The Griff

The RoyalReview cont:

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25TThhee RRAAFF PPoolliiccee

It’s likely that at least 20 percent of the Association is comprised of ex ‘DogHandlers’,so this particular event was very popular, so much so that at the 2007

AGM it was agreed that a ‘oneoff’ trophy be awarded to theoverall winner of the trials and itwas further agreed that thereshould be an annual RAFPAaward to promote theAssociation. Presentation of theaward was made by BevStapleton, who earlier that yearhad received a posthumousDickin Medal (Animal VC) fromthe PDSA, at the Imperial War

Museum, for the exploits of his RAF Police Dog Lucky, in Malaya.

The overall winner of the ‘One off, Golden Trials Trophy’ was Cpl. Helen Strangewith AD Harry. A worthy team and a first class display.At the next UK Dog Trials 2008, the first winner andrecipient of the RAFPA Trophy was Cpl. Ginger withAD Alfie.

Bev Stapleton presents the “One off” Golden Trials Trophy

to Cpl. Helen Strange

Cpl. Strange puts AD Harry through his paces.

First Winner of RAFPA Trophy

Cpl. Ginger and AD Alfie.

GGoollddeenn UUKK DDoogg TTrriiaallss

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comfort boxes 25Since about June 2007, RAFPA members, wives, partners and friends have beensending ‘Comfort Boxes’ ( usually shoe boxes) to Afghanistan and Iraq. The boxescontain a variety of goods including, sweets, magazines, toiletries, etc., to help makelife a little easier in those unpleasant, hostile conditions. The boxes are definitelyappreciated as letters from SNCO’s, FS Pat Richardson, FS Stew Coppard FS PhilRodd and Sgt. Max Tate have attested to.Any member who would like more information should contact Chairman Brian Flinnon tel. 01249 460318 or their Branch Secretary.

Jim Gunn and ladies wrapping boxes. Alan King applies the finishing touches.

Bernard Lamb and members of the EMB parcel packing.

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25Air Commodore Steven Abbott, Air Officer RAFP and Group Captain Gary Horscroft Provost Marshalwith members at the Golden Dog Trials.

Executive members take a break from Committee meeting.

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25th25thanniversaryanniversary

So the first 25 years have seen the RAFPA grow in numbers. Minor changes to theConstitution and rules have helped define and refine the general administration andmembership numbers have met it’s optimistic forcasts. Hopefully we appear set forthe next 25 years. The outgoing Honorary Vice President, Group Captain GaryHorscroft, has helped, encouraged and motivated the membership and hands overthe reins to the new Honorary Vice President, Group Captain John Whitmell to guidethe RAFPA with a steadying hand into the immediate future.