Royal Observer Corps Association
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    • The Battle of Britain
    • National Arboretum Group trees
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Latest newsletters from 6 & 14 Groups published

Link here

Browse the following new pages!


The ROC in pursuit! - read the fascinating tale of the ROC's role in tracking a stolen aircraft.  - Link here

Pictures from the National Reunion  - Link here

5 Days of Remembrance - Link here



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​ROCA members can now view the wide selection of ROCA merchandise available
.
​

​​Link here
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Read the letter sent to 

His Majesty King Charles III

​from our
​
National Chairman and other articles
Link here


Do you have special memories of meeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?  Email your pictures and memories to the Website Editor


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BURY ST EDMUNDS GUILD HALL 

​Read about the Open Day at the Bury St Edmunds Guild Hall which includes the original ROC War Room


​Link here
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INTERNATIONAL BOMBER COMMAND CENTRE

Events held on Sunday, 4th September and on
Bomber Command Day
​


Link here​

THE FALKLANDS WAR

Do you recall this fascinating fact about the contribution made by the Royal Observer Corps to the Falklands War?

Read the precis submitted by Edwina Holden - Link here



VIP VISITORS TO THE ROCA DISPLAY AT COSFORD 2022

The ROCA Wartime display at the RAF Cosford Air Show in June received two VIP visitors
​
​See who they were - Link here
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82nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Parade at Capel le Ferne

Terry and Jacqui Giles attended the ceremony at Capel le Ferne - Read their report - Link here.


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PLATINUM JUBILEE BEACONS & EVENTS






See how our members celebrated The Queen's Platinum Jubilee around the country. Link here

​This page is constantly being updated - please check regularly for new additions!

Last update - 11 July 2022

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St CLEMENT DANES RE - VISITED 2022

The annual Service to Commemorate the Formation of the Royal Air Force was resumed this year.
Read Terry Giles account of the ROCA attendance.

Link here

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UKRAINE MEMORIAL RE-VISITED
An extract from Exeter Group's April Newsletter reflecting on the plight of the Ukrainians who fled their homeland to escape the Communist regime.  Link here

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The BENTLEY PRIORY MUSEUM - 2022

Open Days:  Wednesdays and Saturdays
some Fridays (check website for details)

Opening Hours:
March to September     10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October to February 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Refreshments available: Free Parking in museum.


Address: Mansion House Drive, Stanmore. Sat Nav postcode – HA7 3HT.
 Visit our website
www.bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk or call 0208 950 5526

LATEST NEWS:- See New Flyer for 2022
Link here


October 2021

Annual Delegates meeting
Liverpool - Secretary's minutes.

Go to National News page
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EXTRACT FROM  12 GROUP BRISTOL JUNE NEWSLETTER

How many people remember what it means to be Gazetted?
Well, our Group Secretary has been.   Here is an abbreviated extract from
The London Gazette Supplement No. 1.St James Palace, London SW19 February 2021:-
 
“The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to award the Imperial Service Medal to the following officer on her retirement.
IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL   MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
SHIRE  Mrs Patricia Joyce”.    Congratulations  Trish   (More details on 12 Group's March 2022 Newsletter - Ed)


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DID YOU SERVE AS AN AIRCAFT PLOTTER?
A New Exhibition – RAF/ROC
Women through the Wars

The Museum has, in planning stage, a new exhibition which reaches out to all female personnel who served in the RAF/ROC, either at Neatishead itself, or Coltishall, or anywhere in the UK/UK Overseas bases from the Cold War period through to serving currently.
The aim is to record these memories for generations to come before they are lost to time, so the display will consist of still photographs and digital recordings.
If you have served in the RAF/ROC during this period and would be keen to share your memories with us, we would love to hear from you.  Please contact Lynn Kerslake, Manager, ADRM, email: manager@radarmuseum.co.uk; leave a message on 01692 631485.

A BLAST  FROM THE PAST!
Remenber when we lodged the ROC Banner at RAF Cranwell?
This was officially recorded in HANSARD back in 1996           Link here

JUNE JAY     Remembers D-Day with the Normandy Landings Veterans                           link here
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BENTLEY PRIORY MUSEUM
ITN News bulletin


Take a look at the ITN News report from Bentley Priory celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.     Link below
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgND_-JDWjo

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BATTLE of BRITAIN
80th Anniversary ROCA Display at Bentley Priory Museum. September 2020
              link here


THE VOLUNTEER SPIRITLIVES ON!

Two members from 13 Group respond to the call for  volunteers to help build the new Dragon Heart Hospital in Cardiff            Link here
NEW POST RESTORED  at RUSHTON SPENCER
Now open for visitors the newly  restored underground ROC Post in Staffordshire is ready.
For full  details on how and when to get there click on the link here.
You can also read the memories of one of their Wartime Observers who served during WW2
Link
NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST 2020  -
Bristol Groups VIP awarded a Knighthood   Read the news here
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UPDATE ON THE ROC BENEVOLENT FUND       October 2019
Following the merger of the ROC BF with the RAF Benevolent Fund, two years ago, an update was presented to members by  the Area Director at the 2019 Reunion in Buxton.
                Click here for details

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WHO's WHO on the ROCA Heritage Team
Want to know who does what etc. on our Heritage Team?
National Heritage Officer - Edwina Holden MBE - has updated the team list which outlines the various duties of the team members.
They all put in an enormous amount of time and effort to ensure that the public are made aware of the history and achievements of the Corps covering the 70 years of its existence.  
Note website address:  www.roc-heritage.co.uk    Click here for team details  

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NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY  
2019 -   SALISBURY

   
For the 2019 NAFD Display and Parade the Heritage
   Team
traveled to Salisbury.
     
For Edwina Holden's report and photos of the event 
- Link Here 


DATA PROTECTION ACT - NATIONAL POLICY DOCUMENT.  Released by the National Secretary   Link here

IMPORTANT STATEMENT FROM THE HERITAGE TEAM
If you are involved with memorabilia, collections or ROC Restoration projects please read this:-  Click here


            THE ROC BENEVOLENT FUND now part of the RAF Benevolent Fund
A ceremony was held at Bentley Priory on
the 1st November 2017 when the ROC Benevolent Fund was fully integrated into the RAF Benevolent Fund.   
This will enhance the administration and processing of claims.
             Pictures of the attendees Link here
             For more details go to the RAFBF site link here.
             Press release      link here

Site Editors Notes:-

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OBITUARIES  Obituaries  are initially posted on the Home Page for a short period. Afterwards they are transferred permanently to the Remembrance page listings. Link here


Searching for former ROC members records:-
The ROC Museum in Winchester is the custodian of the old record cards from the MOD. Not all ROC Group's records were kept after the Stand Down, but quite a lot were saved. 
For the Application Form and details of how to send it
Click Here

Recruiting new members:-   
The on-line submission form, for potential new members, has proved to be worth while (See panel below). If you receive an enquiry form in this way please ensure that any response is followed up promptly.  

Always keep the National Membership Secretary up to date when new members join.  
Send details to:-  Norman Hart  tel: 01773 431178   email:-  
arroca04@gmail.com

GROUP NEWSLETTERS are copyright to the publishing Group. Always ask permission before copying any pictures or text for publishing elsewhere.   I'm always on the lookout for new stories and news items for the website. If you have anything you wish to share please let me know.  

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Apr 08th                                                                 
                                   QUICK LINKS
:-
  

National secretary's Snippets Go to National News page
ROC BENEVOLENT FUND now integrated into the RAF BF Link here
Battle Of Britain Commemoration Services Link Here
National Armed Forces Day - 2019
Link Here

Our Sovereigns Banner The Laying Up Service in St Clement Danes link here

OBITUARIES A new dedicated page has been set up  Link here
.

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Recently Published:-

Nov 28 10 Group Exeter Newsletter December 2022 Go to Current Group News

Oct 31   20 Group York Newsletter October 2022 Go to Current Group News
Oct 2nd 14 Group Winchester Newsletter September 2022 Go to Current Group News
Oct 1st    7 Group Bedford Newsletter September 2022 Go to Current Group News

Sep 22nd 24 Group Edinburgh Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News
Sep 22nd 21 Group Preston Newsletter Autumn 2022 Go to Current Group News
Sep 6th 03 Group Oxford Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News
Sep 4th 01 Group Maidstone Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News
Sep 4th 06 Group Norwich Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News 
Sep 1st  12 Group Bristol Newsletter September 2022  Go to Current Group News
Aug 21st 16 Group
 Shrewsbury Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News
Aug 06th 25 Group Ayr Newsletter Summer 2022 Go to Current Group News

Jun 17th  23 Group Durham Newsletter Spring 2022 Go to Group News 2

Apr 13th 15 Group Lincoln Newsletter Spring 2022 Go to Group News 2

Mar 27th Heritage Reports February 2022 Go to National News page
Mar 25th Nat Sec Snippets Feb 2022 Go to National  News page

Dec 26th 22 Group Carlisle Newsletter December 2021 Go to Group News page
Dec 22   04  Group Colchester Newsletter December 2021 Go to Group News page






NOTE:    To find earlier issues of Group Newsletters    Go to Group News Page
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
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FOR UPDATES ON CANCELLED EVENTS AND PLANS FOR 2022

GO TO NATIONAL NEWS PAGE   &  NAT SEC's SNIPPETS


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For non members:-
Did you serve in the Royal Observer Corps?  You can become a members of ROCA
Would you like to know more about the ROC Association? Not in the ROC? Applications for ASSOCIATE membership are welcomed

For more details see the Information Sheet and download the Postal Form here

YOU CAN Also Apply on Line - click here to access the Application Form.    

IMPORTANT: Before completing the on line form please read information sheet first to see membership categories.


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                                                   REMEMBER

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The Royal Observer Corps Benevolent Fund is now incorporated within the RAF Benevolent Fund The fund is still there for those that are in need.  It may not be you, but it could be someone that you know.

For more information follow the this link to the
ROCBF pages



OUR HERITAGE

It has been 26 years now since the ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS stood down, and 2015 marked the 90th Anniversary since the Corps was founded back in 1925.  
The ROCA Heritage Committee continues to deal with enquiries from past members, families of members and researchers too.

If you haven't yet done so take a look at their website    
www.roc-heritage.co.uk


The official website of the Royal Observer Corps Association

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