THE 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron’s Honorary Air Commodore (HAC) has been installed as the new High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, becoming the first Black woman and Kenyan to hold the title.
Image By: AS2 Georgina Callaway
Air Commodore Veronica Moraa Picking MBS DL was appointed as the new High Sheriff by the King and will serve in the appointment for one year. Her installation ceremony, which took place at the YMCA Community Village Hall, Newark on Thursday (30 March), was attended by representatives from 504 Sqn, RAF Wittering and Support Force, including Station Commander, Wing Commander Nikki Duncan, Support Force Commander, Group Captain Nick Huntley and Officer Commanding Reserves Logistics Support Wing, Wing Commander Andy Valentine.
Image By: AS2 Georgina Callaway
Other guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, the High Commissioner of Kenya, HE Mr Manoah Esipisu, and Air Cdre Jo Lincoln, who was the Station Commander at RAF Wittering when Air Cdre Pickering first became the 504 Sqn HAC.
Sqn Ldr Kaye Slater, Officer Commanding of 504 Sqn, said: “It was my great privilege to join Air Commodore Pickering to celebrate her incredible achievement. She is an inspirational and committed ambassador for 504 Squadron who has done so much to promote awareness of the RAF and RAF Reserves among communities in Nottinghamshire. On behalf of the 504 Squadron team, I wish her every success for the year ahead.”
The Band of the RAF College Cranwell played at the event, alongside performances by the YMCA Creative Academy, singer Amninah Hussain and the Gaoto School via video-link from Nairobi, Kenya.
This appointment is the latest honour to be bestowed on Air Cdre Pickering who was awarded the title of Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear in July 2022. The award was presented to her in a ceremony by Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier this year.
Air Cdre Pickering, who was born in Kenya and moved to England with her parents in the late 1960s, has been 504 Sqn’s HAC since September 2018. She is also the Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire.
