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Review of the Year - 2022

Let’s do a countdown from 3 to 1: 3 prime ministers, 2 of the hottest days of the year and sadly, one glorious 70-year reign came to an end. Yes, it all happened in 2022, and we are only scratching the surface!

Life throughout this year has thrown us some tremendous highs – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee saw the country unite in celebration, as it did when football really did ‘come home’ as the Lionesses powered to victory in the Euros and not to mention over 40-degree heatwaves! The BBC hit its 100th birthday, The Godfather film notched up 50 years old and Gay Pride also hit its half century.

RAF High Wycombe has flown through a year punctuated with its own momentous events, high profile visits, fundraising efforts, sports achievements, and a little bit of fun thrown in for good measure.

So, what did we do in ’22?

The RAF Regiment and RAF Armoured Car Companies like legendary rocker Sir Paul McCartney, reached 80 years old! We welcomed Wg Cdr (Retd) Tim Jones to record his memories about the unique nature of the Regiment’s missions and its contribution to the Dhofar rebellion. A truly memorable day for all concerned.

HRH Duke of Kent, AM Sir Gerry Mayhew & Wg Cdr Tim Jones

Air Marshall Sir Gerry Mayhew, DCom Ops was invited in to hear about the challenges that station personnel face on a daily basis and welcomed the honesty of the questions by Whole Force members. HRH The Duke of Kent boldly went where many have gone before when he visited UK Space Command to hear about the National Space Strategy and to present some much-deserved Honours & Awards to our space professionals. It was child’s play when Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison MP dropped in to talk about the Wraparound Childcare scheme for serving families.

Mrs Jacqueline Assheton & Dr Andrew Murrison MP

We really hit the target when the daughter of the legendary Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris, Mrs Jacqueline Assheton visited the Harris Room at Lancaster Block to reminisce about her father and her time at the Station as a small child. The room is just as her father would have remembered it back in the 1940s and is well worth a visit!

We ran, swam, cycled, baked, washed cars, ran quizzes, lost weight, got splattered with paint in a Colour Run and shaved heads to raise thousands of pounds for local good causes. Our charity teams have been in overdrive this year to selflessly devote themselves to improving the lives of all those around us. Give yourselves a huge pat on the back!

Charity fundraising, spinathon & a Colour Run

The 2022 Commonwealth Games may have seen England come second in the medals table, but at High Wycombe we topped the poll with all the silverware we have won this year! The Station Football Team came second in the Plate final and the crown for the Interstate Champions went to the Station Hockey team as well as being named the Outdoor Tri-Service champions to boot.

RAF High Wycombe Cross Country & Badminton clubs

And it really was game, set, match when the RAF High Wycombe Badminton team entered the record books for beating RAF Benson in the final to secure their third successive win in three years!

Go High Wycombe!!

The Southern Services Cross Country League ended with RAF High Wycombe taking top honours by the Women’s team. Sgt Heerey was awarded the Veteran’s Trophy for her individual scores.

We had new beginnings and the end of an era. We welcomed new faces and said goodbye to legends. 

It was all change at Station as Wing Commander Dennis became the new Station Commander, taking over from Group Captain Arnold who became an Air Commodore. We were blessed by the arrival of a new Padre, Andi Chapman, who is always on hand to offer some sage advice and a fresh look on the world around us. A big hello was given to our new Station Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Hopewell who arrived, hot foot from RAF Halton and we said goodbye to Dambusters legend Johnny Johnson at the age of 101.

Padre Andi Chapman, Passing-of-the-Pennant Ceremony & new SWO Mr Hopewell

The great and the good gathered for our Annual Reception where we said thank you for the efforts of so many to keep our Station thriving. Through the work of our Nepalese community contributing to the clean-up, Naphill won the Best Kept Village competition. Not only that, we entered the record books for the first Station in the country to have a Nepalese Heritage Centre. Eight years in the planning, the centre is a meeting place for worship and prayer and will be a shining light to all.

Annual Reception, Best Kept Village & new Nepalese Heritage Centre

We commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War and celebrated 70 years of Queen Elizabeth ruling over us with the wonderous spectacle of a Platinum Jubilee. Sadly, a few months later we commiserated the passing of Her Majesty, saw 250,000 queuing to pay their respects and heralded the arrival of King Charles III.

The Platinum Jubilee & 'Dambuster' Johnny Johnson

Our memories and thoughts of Queen Elizabeth were cemented forever into a Community Mosaic that proudly adorns Station Headquarters.

The passing of HM The Queen & the Community Mosaic

The passion we have for Remembrance time continues undimmed. We reflect on those we have lost in conflict and support those who still need our help.

Remembrance at All Saints Church, Malcolm Cloutt walk and RBL fundraiser, Dave

Our ‘Remembrance Recollections’ Facebook campaign captured the memories of many of our personnel who gave us their heartfelt stories of what this time means to them.  We walked with the 102-year-old ex-RAF legend, Malcolm Cloutt to raise money for the RBL and saluted the fallen at our own memorial stone on 1 Site.

Remembrance Recollections & 1 Site Service

As we approached the last few days of the year a happy sense of cheer descended on our Station! It was no ‘Blue, Blue Christmas’ for us, more ‘Jingle all the way’ as 22 crazy people donned Santa suits to run in sub-zero temperatures to compete in the annual Santa Run.

The Santa Run

Our station Historian and all- round stalwart, Dave Brown became Santa Claus at the Community Christmas Fayre, and our veterans were given star treatment at the Annual Veteran’s Lunch.

Community Christmas Fayre & delivery of Little Troopers bears

Our cuddly teddy bears from Little Troopers charity were given a police escort on their way to be handed out to children whose parents are deployed abroad over Christmas.

Annual Veteran's Lunch

Did you catch all that? Take a breath as we heard, on Christmas Day, the first King’s Speech since 1951 and reflect on what an incredible year we have had. As we close the door on 2022 and open one up to 2023, we look forward with hope. A Happy New Year to all!

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