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TACTICAL SUPPLY WING ASSOCIATION

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2008 AGM and Reunion Dinner

The Association's 2008 AGM and Reunion Dinner was held at Stafford on 6th, 7th and and 8th June 2008 - attended by over 60 members.  As usual, the weekend started with a ‘meet and greet’ at the Tillington Hall Hotel on the Friday evening. The AGM was held on the Saturday morning, which preceded the TSW Families Day at Beacon Barracks while some 26 members visited the National Memorial Aboretum at Alweras. On Saturday evening, the Association Annual Dinner was held, again at the Tillington Hall Hotel; finally, on the Sunday morning a short service of commemoration and re-dedication was held in St Chad's Church, MOD Stafford, led by the Officiating Chaplain Revd John Davis MBE.

The AGM was held in the Sgts' Mess at MOD Stafford		The Association Committee LtoR: Pete Berry, Tim Newstead, Duncan Grant and Des Peters
Members awaiting the start of the AGM		Pete Berry focuses in on history!

• The meeting paused to remember those Members who had passed away and for the serving TSW members presently on duty in the Front Line.
• One item remained outstanding from the 2007 AGM Actions - the possibility of organizing a “mid year” outing. The initiation of the President’s Award sponsored by JCB had been a great success.
• The Chairman expressed the thanks of the Association to the Wing for all the support offered throughout the year. Special thanks were due to Craig Veitch and Bob McBey. OC TSW, Wing Commander Nick Atkinson, offered a historic perspective of the previous 12 months’ activities.
• The Treasurer’s report for the year 2007 was accepted. In view of the healthy state of the Accounts, members were requested to forward ideas for the use of funds for the benefit of members and/or TSW. Current paid up membership stood at 81 Servicing Commandos and 124 TSW members.
• Volunteers were sought for the vacant post of Membership Secretary. After the meeting Martin Williams offered to take on this role.
• Peter Berry offered a detailed brief on progress with the RAF Museum project, which was going well. It was hoped to have a “grand event” at the RAF Museum once the display project was complete.
• The meeting agreed that the Normandy Project would not be progressed further by the Association. However, further investigations would be undertaken as to the most appropriate place to record the names of the 17 Servicing Commando members who had lost their lives in WWII.
• The Welfare and Publicity member presented proposals for the new Association tie as a first step in developing a range of commodities.  Click here to see the option chosen by members' vote.
• It was agreed that the next AGM and social gathering would be held in June 2009; however, the precise dates would need to take account of 65th anniversary of D-Day commemorations elsewhere.
  

		Robin Springett, Mac McQuillin, George Revell and Gwyneth Pritchard at the RAF Servicing Commando plinth at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alweras; the Armed Forces Memorial in the background
The Armed Forces Memorial

The Reunion Dinner

Members enjoy the Reunion Dinner		David Orr picks a raffle ticket accompanied by Des Peters and Joe Ronan

Granting of the Freedom of the Borough of Stafford

The closure of RAF Stafford in 2006 meant that the unique and historic Freedom privileges awarded by the Borough of Stafford to the Station were relinquished. This caused a great gap in the long standing and close relationship which the RAF and Borough had enjoyed for nearly 70 years.

However, the high regard in which the RAF was held was again apparent as Tactical Supply Wing continued to “fly the Flag” (actually the Ensign) by involving itself with the local community. Accordingly, on the 2nd October 2007 the Borough Council passed a resolution to confer the Freedom of the Borough on the Wing which has been based at Stafford for nearly 40 years.

The formal granting of the Freedom with the associated ceremonies was carried out on Saturday 19th April 2008. TSW is the first RAF Unit (as opposed to Station) to be granted such Freedom privileges - another first! The Wing paraded an enhanced Flight and was supported by the fine music of the band of the RAF Regiment. The drill was outstanding. Did the Wing Warrant Officer, Bob McBey, (an Association member) have something to do with it?!

OC TSW, Wg Cdr Nick Atkinson, passes the Freedom Scroll and Casket to Fg Of Alex Chikhani and escort party during the service in the Collegiate Church of St Mary at Stafford		The TSW contingent march into the Market Square in Stafford Town Centre, let by Sqn Ldr Greg Waterworth
Councillor Brian Price, Mayor of Stafford Borough, inspects the TSW contingent accompanied by Sqn Ldr Greg Waterworth		Bayonets fixed!
On Parade.  Wg Cdr Nick Atkinson takes command of the TSW contingent		Wg Cdr Nick Atkinson prepares to exercise the right of Freedom by marching through the town with bayonets fixed and drums beating

Our President ACM Sir Joe French, ably supported by the committee, represented the Association on what was an historic and moving occasion.

2008 Bergathon

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