Flying Officer Rhi Wallace, OC RAF
Police and Security Flight at RAF Waddington, deployed to
Sicily in February on Exercise Dynamic Manta 22.
The major NATO anti-submarine exercise was the first time RAF
Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft had operated from an
overseas location, a significant milestone for the Poseidon
Force.
“My role as the Detachment Security Officer at Naval Air
Station Sigonella was to provide protective security, advice
and assurances to the Detachment Commander” said Fg Off
Wallace. “This included close liaison with the Italian
Military Police and US Naval Criminal Investigative Service.”
“No.5 RAF Police (ISTAR) Squadron provides security for all
ISTAR platforms and it’s been fantastic to work with Poseidon
for the first time and on its overseas operational debut.”
11/2/22
Cpl Chris Mclean's day job is
managing Station security, protecting both the physical and
information assets. He has recently been deployed as part of
Op RESCRIPT, aiding civilian authorities. His team have been
delivering Covid 19 vaccinations in the Essex area
Cpl Mclean said ‘’I have met many interesting people while
doing this and have really enjoyed the work. Everyone has been
very appreciative to have us helping and I am glad to have
been part of the vaccination effort. There’s plenty of vaccine
waiting and friendly people, who like myself, are standing by
for you so if you are eligible, get yourself down to your
local vaccination centre for your Covid Vaccines and help do
your part to keep everyone safe’’
You may recognise Cpl Mclean from the UK Military Working Dog
Trials where he was victorious in 2019 and 2020
with MWD Saiid!
4/2/22
update to a story on the 25/9/20 below
Second World War airmen laid to
rest with dignity at last
The bodies of two Second World War airmen killed when their
plane crashed during a secret mission over North Yorkshire
have been returned to their families and given a full military
burial after a two-year investigation by North Yorkshire
Police.
Pilot Officer Alfred Milne, 22 from Mitcham, Surrey and his
navigator, Warrant Officer Eric Stubbs, 22, from Guildford,
died on Oct 11 1944 when their plane came down. Det Insp Carol
Kirk, the senior investigating officer, said: “At the
beginning of this investigation, I don’t think any of us
thought we’d be able to identify who the remains belonged to,
let alone return them to their families and be given military
burials with the dignity and respect that they deserved.”
In 2020 police found the airmen’s human remains on land owned
by Kenneth Ward, 74, a convicted stalker who was jailed for
five years in 2011 for indecent exposure and weapons offences
after police found a huge haul of items, including a loaded
Luger pistol and the cockpit of a fighter plane with a working
machine gun on his farm.
17/12/21
Andy Davies has reported
that
“The 192 Members of the Blood Bikes Emergency Service in the
West of England were recently awarded a service medal,
the first time in the UK that a medal has been issued to
members of a Blood Bike Service.
HM’s representative representative for Bristol; The Lord-Lt,
Mrs Peaches Golding OBE, CStJ, who is also a Royal Naval
Officer, presented the medals along with Air Vice Marshall
Martin Clark and senior officers from the Police, Fire and
Ambulance Emergency Services who all fully supported the
presentations and awards.
International Motorcycle Distributer ‘Fowlers Motorcycles’
sponsored and hosted the awards ceremony.
The medal and certificates were a combination in recognition
of thirty years since the group was founded and National Blood
Bike Day as well as celebrating the forthcoming Platinum
Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
Despite being charities and run exclusively by volunteers,
Blood Bikes are now recognised as official emergency service
vehicles and form an integral part of NHS front line
services.”
Many of the association members are Blood Bikes riders and so
to them and the rest of the Blood Bikes Service riders we send
our congratulations and thank you for such an important role
they fill for the National Health Service."
10/12/21
At 1200 On 10 December 2021, Gp
Capt Wilkinson hands over to Gp Capt Foster-Jones who takes up
the position of Provost Marshal (RAF) and Deputy Force
Protection Force Commander. Gp Capt Foster-Jones has said
“Being in Command is always a privilege and I am very much
looking forward to playing my part in leading the forces that
are delivering vital operational support to the RAF and wider
Defence 365 days a year. To also hold the formal appointment
of Provost Marshal (RAF), after 25 years’ service in the RAF
Police, is a privilege that both humbles and excites me in
equal measures. As the RAF adapts rapidly in the face of new
threats and challenges, this is a time of significant
opportunity for the FP Force and I very much look forward to
being part of the senior team supporting this work.”
15/11/21
RAF Police Cpl Morley who has
recently completed his Phase 2 Training and is currently
deployed in support of Op ESCALIN.
Op ESCALIN see’s Armed Forces personnel providing temporary
support as the governments wider action to further relieve the
pressure on stations.
15/11/21
U.S. Space Command
US SPACECOM welcomes our first U.K. Space Command liaison
officer, Royal Air Force Wing Commander Toby Steward, to
Peterson-Schriever Garrison!
He is a Provost officer and United States Space Force-educated
space professional who will work to further develop the strong
relationship between the United States and United Kingdom
space commands.
20/10/21
A country and western musician was
forced to undergo emergency surgery after a cancerous tumour
broke his jaw.
Stan Matthews, 79, had been referred to Aintree Hospital at
the start of 2020 after developing a 'golf ball sized' tumour
on his neck.
After a referral to the Maxillofacial unit he was told he
would need surgery as the cancer had gone into the bone.
However, before the ex-RAF police officer's operation could
take place, the tumour broke his jaw and he was forced to
undergo emergency surgery.
The 79-year-old underwent a 14-hour operation to remove the
tumour and to repair his shattered jaw.
He was operated on by consultant maxillofacial surgeon
Professor Simon Rogers, who removed a piece of bone from
Stan's leg, reshaped it, and used it to replace the broken
bone in his jaw.
Originally from Manchester, Stan picked up the bass guitar
aged 14 and went on to learn his trade in working men's clubs.
During his career in the RAF, he played in many bands all over
the world before finishing his military service in 1971.
He continued to tour air bases as an entertainer and musician
before working in Liverpool at Tiffany's nightclub, with a
band called Sunset Boulevard in the 1970s.
Stan has lived in Liverpool ever since and said he now feels
like an adopted Liverpudlian.
To thank those who cared for him at Liverpool University
Hospitals, Stan and his band, the Chelwood County Country
Music Band, are hosting a country music charity night with
proceeds from ticket sales and a raffle going directly to the
Liverpool Trust.
Stan said: "Professor Rogers did a world class job. I was then
looked after in the Sefton Suite at Aintree for ten days until
I was fit enough to go home.
"I cannot thank the doctors and nurses at Aintree enough and
felt I had to give something in return.
"As I am a musician and run a band, I spoke to the other
members and we decided to host a concert to raise money for
the Trust."
Chelwood County Country Music Band will be hosting their
country music charity night on November 27, at the Metal Box
Sports and Social Club in Speke Boulevard, with tickets
costing £5.
If you would like to attend, tickets can be purchased by
texting COUNTRY to 07919234289 or contact
fundraising@liverpoolft.nhs.uk
Stan added: "I wanted it to be a way of giving back to the
staff who saved my life.
"Proceeds will be split between the Head and Neck Centre at
Aintree Hospital, and the new Royal Liverpool University
Hospital fund.
"It’s sure to be a brilliant evening, as alongside the live
music, included on the night is a country dance demonstration,
raffle and competition for the best dressed cowboy and
cowgirl.
"I really hope that we can raise as much money as possible
after a really challenging period for our brilliant NHS
staff."
9/10/21
Congratulations to our colleague Amy Cokayne
on being selected for the England
Rugby team for the autumn
internationals.