RAF Honington News

The Heart of Honington

THE Honington Community welcomed the official opening of the brand-new Social Club today thanks to a very generous contribution from the RAF Benevolent Fund (RAFBF).

Station Commander Gp Capt Holland (Front Left) and RAFBF Director of Fundraising and Communications Jason Shauness (front right), Back row L-R: Club OIC FO Houghton, OC Support Wing Wg Cdr English, RAFBF Regional Communications Manager Hemma Gooljar
Station Commander Gp Capt Holland (Front Left) and RAFBF Director of Fundraising and Communications Jason Shauness (front right),
Back row L-R: Club OIC FO Houghton, OC Support Wing Wg Cdr English, RAFBF Regional Communications Manager Hemma Gooljar

Station Commander Group Captain Holland and Officer Commanding Support Wing, Wing Commander English were delighted to host Jason Shauness, Director of Fundraising and Communication at the RAFBF and Hemma Gooljar, Regional Communications Manager for the Fund as they visited the new venue for themselves.

Group Captain Holland said:

I’m delighted to be able to formally re-open the RAF Honington Social Club following the fantastic support from the RAF Benevolent Fund; with this considerable and generous investment and the increasing post Covid freedoms, the Club is back on the road to future success in its work to supporting the entire community here at RAF Honington. My sincere thanks to the RAFBF and the Social Club Committee.

Jason said:

I'm delighted that we have been able to support the refurbishment of the RAF Honington Social Club. We know that as a busy station, there are pressures on serving personnel and the wider RAF community that are based here. To be able to help alleviate some of that pressure is exactly what we’re here for. We’re proud to have made a commitment to those based at RAF Honington and illustrate the practical ways in which we’re here to support the RAF Family.

Formerly known as the Honington Families Club, a total of £29K was donated from the RAF Benevolent Fund last year in order for the refurbishment to go ahead with plans coordinated by the Station Community Development Officer Diana (Indi) Saunders.  The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have pushed the project back along with the formal opening, but it hasn’t stopped Station personnel from both 27 Squadron RAF Regiment and 28 Engineer Regiment who have worked non-stop for several months to revamp the club resulting in a complete make over from the inside out. Complete with a new multi-media room, bright open social areas inside and out, and an appealing fresh new façade that can be seen from the main road.

Indi said:

The enthusiasm and hard work from our personnel demonstrate how important this project is to them. With our community facilities struggling with legacy infrastructure and stretched to capacity this funding from the RAFBF has been fantastic, allowing us to bring the building back online as a welfare facility that can be used for a range of activities. Now it looks smart and is full of possibilities.

Hard work, dedication and a lot of heart have certainly paid off to give the Honington community a place they can be proud to relax in with families and friends and enjoy their well-earned down time.

The old Families Club
The old Families Club
The new Social Club
The new Social Club
The new hall
The new hall

 

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