RAF Police Memorial Service
After recent wet weather, the 23 June 2015 turned
out to be a beautiful sunny day, just right for a march past and memorial
service in the National memorial Arboretum (NMA) at Alrewas in
Staffordshire.
We gathered in the restaurant for coffee (a few had
a full English) and to meet and greet relatives and friends. At 11.30 Bill
Veazey MBE (Association Parade Marshal) sheparded us onto the main site road,
where we were joined by the serving RAF Police contingent with its shepard
Warrant Officer Dale Woolman-Lane MBE.
There were some 40 members marching led by Chairman
Roy Laver OBE, with 6 standards led by the National Standard carried (as usual)
by Nigel Lacey.
After the summons by bugler Adrian Harper and with
the swerving contingent leading, we marched along the main road towards the RAf
Police Memorial. The salute was taken by Group Captain Kevin Bailey BA (Hons)
RAF, the RAF Provost Marshal and Commander RAF Police.
The memorial service was conducted by the Reverend
Jeremy Safford. This year for the first time, there was an addition which may
become a permanent part of the service. Several paver stones have been laid
carrying inscriptions of deceased RAF Police. The names (28 to date) on these
were read out and the stones blessed.
The hymn Jerusalem was sung and the formal
remembrance service concluded with everyone singing of the National
Anthem.
Finally a separate service was held nearby
commemorating RAF Police doghandlers.
Some 130 assorted bodies of members, relatives and
friends gathered in one of the several marquees erected for Armed Forces Week.
Chairman Roy Laver and the PM made very short speeches and we then enjoyed a
meal of sandwiches and assorted cakes, with plenty of tea and
coffee.
This was once again a highly successful joint
occasion for the RAF Police and the RAF Police Association. Its success was
down to the weather, the members who attended and the hard work of the
Association side of the memorial committee, namely Bernard Lamb, Brian Whitaker
and John Curtis and we thank them.
1. PM,Chairman, PM WO before march past.jpg

2. Standards ready.jpg

3.
Instructions from Bill Veazey.jpg

4. Nearly ready.jpg

5. Nearly
ready.jpg

6. Serving contingent at ease.jpg

7. Parade WO,Assc Parade
Marshall, Parade Commander.jpg

8. Standards still ready.jpg

9. Nearly
ready.jpg

10. Nearly ready.jpg

11. Nearly ready.jpg

12. Nigel Lacey
with Nat Standard.jpg

13. Standards at ease at Memorial.jpg

14. PM
saluting Memorial.jpg

15. Chairman saluting Memorial.jpg

16. Jim Gunn NYB
saluting Memorial.jpg

17. Brian Whitaker reading names on pavers.jpg

18.
Bugler and Rev Jeremy Safford.jpg
