RAF College Cranwell - The final journey begins
After several months of debate, planning and preparation, together with valuable help from the RAF Ceremonial Office at Northolt, final arrangements were drawn up to lodge out our Sovereigns Banner from the RAF College Cranwell on Tuesday 13th October 2015, and for it to be stored at RAF Northolt prior to the laying up service in the RAF Church of St. Clement Danes in London.
In charge of the Lodging Out ceremony was Squadron Leader R. Davies. The Service, with due reverence to the status of our Sovereigns Banner, was carried out by Padre Wing Commander I Ward of RAF Cranwell.
The Banner Bearer was Flight Lieutenant G. Dennett with two escorts – Sergeant C Howes & Sergeant C Jones of RAF Cranwell.
The Colour Officer was Flight Sergeant A Cattanach of RAF Cranwell and the Receiving Officer was SWO C Shaw RAF Cranwell who was charged with the responsibility for its safe transport to RAF Northolt
Several ROCA members were privileged to attend as guests.
ROCA Vice President Terry Giles gave a brief history of the ROC and its historic links with the Royal Air Force. After the ceremony he presented a commemorative ROC Shield to Group Captain P McClurg RAF.
Also in attendance were:- Wing Cdr. N Sturtridge RAF (Ex ROC), Wing Cdr. S Talton RAuxAF (Ex ROC), and Mrs Mandy Sturtridge the College Bursar.
There were mixed emotions as we watched our Banner being taken down from the Rotunda where it had hung for the last twenty years. It was fitting that this ceremony should take place this year – 90 years after the formation of the Observer Corps n 1925. The time has now come to see it formally laid up in its final resting place in perpetuity.
The following gallery includes official photos published with the permission of RAF Cranwell. Others were taken by ROCA National Secretary Jenny Morris To view the pictures click on for a full sized image and scroll to see others.
After several months of debate, planning and preparation, together with valuable help from the RAF Ceremonial Office at Northolt, final arrangements were drawn up to lodge out our Sovereigns Banner from the RAF College Cranwell on Tuesday 13th October 2015, and for it to be stored at RAF Northolt prior to the laying up service in the RAF Church of St. Clement Danes in London.
In charge of the Lodging Out ceremony was Squadron Leader R. Davies. The Service, with due reverence to the status of our Sovereigns Banner, was carried out by Padre Wing Commander I Ward of RAF Cranwell.
The Banner Bearer was Flight Lieutenant G. Dennett with two escorts – Sergeant C Howes & Sergeant C Jones of RAF Cranwell.
The Colour Officer was Flight Sergeant A Cattanach of RAF Cranwell and the Receiving Officer was SWO C Shaw RAF Cranwell who was charged with the responsibility for its safe transport to RAF Northolt
Several ROCA members were privileged to attend as guests.
ROCA Vice President Terry Giles gave a brief history of the ROC and its historic links with the Royal Air Force. After the ceremony he presented a commemorative ROC Shield to Group Captain P McClurg RAF.
Also in attendance were:- Wing Cdr. N Sturtridge RAF (Ex ROC), Wing Cdr. S Talton RAuxAF (Ex ROC), and Mrs Mandy Sturtridge the College Bursar.
There were mixed emotions as we watched our Banner being taken down from the Rotunda where it had hung for the last twenty years. It was fitting that this ceremony should take place this year – 90 years after the formation of the Observer Corps n 1925. The time has now come to see it formally laid up in its final resting place in perpetuity.
The following gallery includes official photos published with the permission of RAF Cranwell. Others were taken by ROCA National Secretary Jenny Morris To view the pictures click on for a full sized image and scroll to see others.
