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Members of a Royal Air Forces Association group who have just been commended for giving more than 60 years of service are looking for new people to swell their ranks.
The Rushden & District Branch 519 Royal Air Forces Association hit the headlines last month when it was among several groups from across the country to be recognised by the national association for providing more than 60 years of support to the RAF family.
Its Wings emblem signifies that everything it does is for that family and it is looking for past and present members of the RAF, and non-members who are interested in aviation history, to join.
Branch secretary Alan Palmer said: "The RAF Association provides friendship, help and support to serving and ex-serving members of the RAF.
"We raise funds for the national association and have a welfare officer who visits people who have been in the military to assess what support they might need.
"We find lots of chaps as they get older need something to hang on to.
"We also work closely with, support, and are supported by, the Air Training Corps Rushden 858 Squadron."
The Rushden branch was set up in May 1946.
Mr Palmer said it has about 75 members, but two-thirds of these are not active because of various reasons, including ill-health, so the organisation is keen to attract more people.
Non-members of the RAF can join the branch as associate members.
Its meetings regularly include speakers and illustrated presentations and the branch also organises a number of outings each year to aviation societies, RAF museums and air shows.
In addition, it organises annual street collections for the Wings Appeal and the funds are sent to the national association for its welfare support.
Next summer, the branch is also hoping to hold a concert in Rushden to mark the 70th anniversary of the most important event in Royal Air Force history – the Battle of Britain.
RAFA branch 519 meets at The Carriage House in Higham Ferrers at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Anyone interested in joining the Rushden branch can contact its chairman, Bernard Lines, on 01933 316270 or Mr Palmer on 01933 314457.
Alternatively people can e-mail croftlands32@talktalk.net for further information.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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