News Page

BD ASSOCIATION NEWS PAGE

Here is some information about the Association

AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION

The objectives of the Association are to foster and maintain the friendship that was present during our service in Bomb Disposal. The catchments area for the Association is worldwide.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Association is open to all those who have served on Bomb Disposal/Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties in the Royal Air Force or other Air Forces, regardless of rank or trade held at the time and people with a genuine interest in our activities.

There are three classes of member of the Association:

	Full Member - open to all former and serving members of the Royal Air Force who have served on Bomb Disposal/Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties or any trade which served on EOD duty in a supporting role i.e. Supply, Admin, MT etc.
	Honorary Member - open to all former or serving members of other Air Forces who have served on Bomb Disposal/Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties.
	Associate Members - open to the widows of former members who wish to remain as members of the Association. We also welcome people who wish to be linked with the Association and help further our aims and objectives .

CONTACTING THE ASSOCIATION

The Official Address of the Association is:

The Secretary RAFBDA, Fell View, Armathwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria. CA4 9TA. UK.

Or you can Email us here: Webmaster Secretary

Telephone 01228 561059 for the Secretary

Telephone 01772 792697 for the Webmaster

Remembrance Day 2009

It has become our tradition to lay a wreath at our own BD Memorial at Eden Camp and this year will be no exception. At 11.00 on the 11 November a wreath will be laid at the RAFBD Memorial.

Reunion 2009

Click this thumbnail for a larger picture of the hotel.

The venue for the 2009 reunion was the Britannia Hotel in Stoke on Trent with a Saturday visit to The National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas near Burton on Trent. The Friday evening started with a meet and greet then at 17.30 we had the Annual General Meeting.

The meeting followed the normal format and the minutes will be published in the post reunion newsletter.

Saturday was a fine bright day and after breakfast we climbed aboard the two coaches for the trip to the National Memorial Arboretum where we spent the day and laid a wreath and dipped the new RAFBD Standard at the new national memorial for servicemen who have died on duty since the Second World War.

Pictures of the visit to the Arboretum are here. Click the thumbnail for a larger view of the photos.

It was fortunate that our visit coincided with the Berlin Airlift weekend at the Arboretum hence the flypast of the Dakota and the Red Arrows.

The weekend went very well and the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night once again raised a good sum of money for Great Ormond Street and Rothbury House.

Sunday was a day at leisure and some of us went to see the potteries and the live steam event at Foxhall

Monday we all departed for home and look forward to the next Reunion which will be in Newcastle.

A larger write up can be downloaded by clicking the green button.

Get the write up

Paul & Fred at the RAF Museum.

We had a visit to the RAF Museum in London. We found a bomb!!

It was a big bomb!! (Click the image)

Eden Camp Benches

The benches that we decided to purchase at the AGM 2008 have been bought and installed at Eden Camp.

One sits opposite the BD Memorial and the other is situated outside the reception.

For a larger view click the pic

Further News will be published here as it becomes available.

SIR

Sir - do you mind if I shed a tear
I swear it’s the first time since this time last year
My spine is a tingle - my throat is all dry
As I stand to attention for all those who died

I watch the flag dancing half way down the pole
That damn bugle player sends chills to my soul
I feel the pride and the sorrow - there’s nothing the same
As standing to attention on Remembrance Day

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
To your mates that are lying from Tobruk to the Somme
The legend of your bravery will always live on

I’ve welcomed Olympians back to our shore
I’ve cheered for our teams and watched England score
But when I watch you marching, Sir, in that parade
I know these are the memories that never will fade

So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free
Will you take a message when you finally do leave
It’s the least we can do, Sir, to repay the debt
We’ll always remember you - Lest We Forget