LOCAL RESERVISTS DELIVER CHRISTMAS CHEER

At a time when most people are busy shopping for Christmas gifts and battling through the crush at the local supermarket, Reservists from RAF Marham’s 2620 Squadron were busy raiding their cupboards at home for biscuits, puddings, chocolates and beer to provide some of Norfolk’s ex service community with a surprise festive treat.

The Squadron’s food collection mission, pioneered by Flight Sergeant Tony Murray, has become a firm favourite with Squadron members who fill dozens of hampers for the County’s old guard at Christmas. Receiving the mountain of food were members of the King’s Lynn RAF Association and Royal British Legion who also collected cheques for £376, raised by the Squadron recruiters during the year. The President of the South East Region RAF Association, Air Commodore Nick Carter, said ‘with fewer and fewer of the next generation able or willing to follow in the service family tradition of their parents, it was encouraging to see young servicemen supporting the needs of the ex service community and the mission of the RAF Association. Mr Mac Tucker, Chairman of the King’s Lynn Branch of the RAF Association added, ‘RAF Marham has a special connection with the branch and the Squadron’s annual food donation helped strengthen the bond between the RAF and the local community’ The President of the King’s Lynn branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr Gerry Tann, said ‘despite the economic difficulties, the Counties Legion branches had raised a staggering £600,000 for the Poppy Appeal last year and they were working hard to make every penny count in helping improve the lives of both current and ex service personnel and, on a local level, the food hampers will make an immediate difference to those members struggling to make ends meet in these difficult times.’

To find out more about RAF Marham’s Reservists, search online for 2620 Squadron.

(Photo – Squadron Leader Jonathan White presents a cheque to Mr Gerry Tann of the Royal British Legion.)