On Friday 10th October, Noah Law MP, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, visited RAF St Mawgan to gain firsthand insight into the Station’s pivotal role in Defence and its growing impact on the local community.
The visit included a tour of the Defence Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Extraction (SERE) Training Organisation (DSTO), where Mr Law was introduced to the survival techniques taught to service personnel, including the surprising skill of safely consuming a stinging nettle.
At 505 (Wessex) RAuxAF Squadron, Mr Law received a comprehensive briefing on the wide range of trades available to reservists, spanning chefs, drivers, HR specialists, suppliers, and intelligence analysts. He was particularly struck by the average age of reservists, 45 years old, highlighting the wealth of experience they bring to the force.
Environmental sustainability was another key theme of the visit. Sergeant Paul Smith guided Mr Law along the Station’s award-winning nature trail, which features 22 hedgehog boxes providing safe habitats for local wildlife. The tour also included a stop at the Station’s polytunnels, 2 tranquil green spaces where personnel and their families cultivate fruit and vegetables to support wellbeing and mental health.
It was a pleasure to host Mr Law and share how RAF St Mawgan serves both Defence and the community.
Wing Commander Helen Simpson, Station Commander, RAF St Mawgan.
Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, added:
It was great to see both the career opportunities and the sheer variety of important work that goes on at RAF St Mawgan and the crucial role in plays across all three forces both in the region and nationally.
Mr Law expressed an interest in joining the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS), which offers MPs and peers immersive experiences within the UK’s Armed Forces. His visit to RAF St Mawgan may well be the first step on that journey.
This memorable day highlighted RAF St Mawgan’s operational significance, its commitment to community engagement, and its dedication to environmental stewardship, strengthening ties between Defence and the region it serves.
