No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron
Association Newsletter
1/25
Out of the DV Window
It is but a fading memory now but you may be surprised to learn that the Editor of this newsletter was the fresh-faced Flying Officer who proudly received the Squadron Standard from Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, during her visit to RAF Waddington on 15th June 1967. To be selected as the Squadron Standard Bearer was an unexpected honour and required, amongst other things, an innate sense of the vertical. It was also cripplingly expensive, involving as it did, the purchase of a new Number One uniform, new SD hat and new shoes, all of which came at a cost which comfortably exceeded the value of my car at that time. It also meant hours of tedious parade ground drills with the Standard Escort team and a short course on how to handle the precious Standard itself. Such was the price of my 15 minutes of fame.
Back in May of this year I received an email from a Wing Commander with the convoluted title of SO1 Royal Air Force Ceremonial & Air Events, Bentley Priory, who suggested that the Squadron Standard, currently hanging within the Rotunda of the RAF College at Cranwell, was now in such poor condition that consideration should be given to laying it to rest. I made the President aware of SO1’s views and we decided to make a trip to Cranwell to see for ourselves.
Although the Standard was showing clear signs of age and some fabric damage around the top end of the pike sleeve, its condition was not as poor as we had been lead to believe. Nonetheless, it seemed reasonable that it should not be left hanging in its present location for very much longer and we should consider options for its next resting place. The Committee pondered several possibilities: a move to the RAF Chapel in Lincoln Cathedral, the church at Waddington or St Michael’s Church within the RAF Cranwell estate. The advantages of St Michael’s eventually won the day: it would certainly be the safest location for such a cherished object and the Standard would join others hanging there having been laid to rest with due ceremony by College staff. Indeed the hope is that the laying up ceremony might feature as part of our 2025 Reunion, so long as repairs to the roof of St Michael’s Church at Cranwell can be completed on time.
On 29th November 2024 a group gathered at Templewood Northreps to commemorate the crew of Hampden X3023 which crashed there 84 years ago. Those present included relatives of the deceased crew, 1895 Squadron Cromer Air Cadets, Sheringham District RAFA, the Cromer Branch of the Royal British Legion and several local residents. Amongst other tributes, wreaths and crosses were also laid by two granddaughters of the Hampden’s pilot, Jack Ottaway.
Templewood Memorial site (Photo credit: David Russel)
New Annual Subscription is £15
(The new rate took effect from 1st November 2024)
My thanks to all those who renewed their membership subscriptions on 1st November and thanks particularly to the 50% of those renewals that reflected the new rate of £15 per annum. Could I gently remind those members who may have forgotten to update their subscriptions to do so as soon as they are able? It would also ease the Membership Secretary’s burden a little if all members could conform to the renewal date - the 1st of November of each year.
Subscriptions may be paid by banker’s Standing Order, BACS transfer from your bank account or personal cheque. Standing Orders and BACS transfers should be made in favour of 44 R SQUADRON ASSOC, Sort Code 30-95-05, Account Number 01414860. Please identify the payment by entering your surname in the Reference Field. Alternatively, personal cheques (payable to 44 R SQUADRON ASSOC) may be mailed to the Membership Secretary at the address which appears in the left hand yellow box at the foot of the cover page.
President & Chairman:
Air Commodore S A Baldwin MBE
Treasurer:
Squadron Leader A C Marson (Ret’d)
Editor and Membership Secretary:
Squadron Leader P J Leckenby (Ret’d) MBE