Pilots and Engineers from RAF Wittering met with a distinguished guest yesterday as the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence, visited the historic Station.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
The Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, is Her Majesty The Queen’s representative in the County. She leads the Lieutenancy, which helps to foster good relations and co-operation between all kinds of organisations in across the County.
Mrs Spence arrived as the guest of Wing Commander Jez Case, the Station Commander at RAF Wittering. He said: “We have a wide range of military capabilities at this Station, that enable UK Air Power around the world. Hosting the Lord Lieutenant provides us the opportunity to share what we do with the wider Cambridgeshire community that helps us deliver for Defence.”
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
Arriving at the Station, the Lord Lieutenant received a friendly welcome from Wing Commander Case and his officers. Mrs Spence then met with Squadron Leader Rich Kellett, one of RAF Wittering’s most experienced pilots, for a briefing on the Station’s flying mission and an introduction to the Grob Tutor aircraft.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
Squadron Leader Kellett said; “We have a strong link to the county through Cambridge University Air Squadron, and the Lord Lieutenant understands how we attract talent into the RAF by developing our undergraduates and enhancing their university educations.”
Julie Spence is best known as the former Chief Constable for Cambridgeshire Police. In addition to her busy role as Lord Lieutenant of the county, Mrs Spence is the Chair of both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, and Police Mutual.
New 3D printing capabilities were next on the agenda as the Lord Lieutenant visited No 71 Inspection & Repair (IR) Squadron. 71 (IR) Squadron specialises in repairing damage to deployed fixed-wing aircraft, and is leading the project to bring 3D printing into the Royal Air Force.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
Having changed into her official uniform, the Lord Lieutenant joined Wing Commander Case in the Station’s honours and awards ceremony where she presented several awards to individuals and teams from across the Station.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
Speaking of her visit, the Lord Lieutenant said: “It’s been an amazing insight into how RAF Wittering works, right from the moment we met Squadron Leader Kellet, to going to the field kitchens and understanding the logistics required behind the deployment of personnel, and then to see the fabulous work done in the engineering team at 71 Squadron.”
Wing Commander Case concluded: “It has been a pleasure to welcome the Lord Lieutenant to RAF Wittering, introduce her to some of our talented personnel and show her some of the many capabilities that RAF Wittering delivers for Defence. Our Lord Lieutenant is a keen supporter of the Armed Forces, and we value enormously the good will of Cambridgeshire and its people.”
