Page 4 - Linton Link

LINTON
LINK
FROM THE STATION COMMANDER
Group Captain Keith Taylor ADC MA BEng(Hons) RAF
A great deal has happened since the last Linton Link was published, not least the announcement made to Parliament last summer
that the RAF would cease operations at Linton by the end of 2020. I know that although the news was not unexpected, it was nevertheless desperately disappointing and has caused a great degree of uncertainty for a number of you. Planning for the closure is now well underway and work is being done across the Station to identify all the activity necessary to enable a smooth transition. This is a complicated task, with many inter-dependencies being uncovered. I thank all of you that are part of the planning team; your hard work is very much appreciated.
The uncertainty I have already mentioned is one of the reasons for the delayed publication of the ‘Linton Link’. The number of local companies willing to commit to paying for an advert has dwindled and with it our ability to fund the magazine. I am therefore hugely grateful to the RAF Benevolent Fund for agreeing to assist with making up the shortfall,
facilitating this and the next, and final, issue. Thanks also go to Flt Lt Elliot Stark for putting together a successful application for the grant.
The year ahead will see us host another Station Families Day on Friday 26th July. We are looking at a similar format to last year, with the committee planning numerous events to make it an even better occasion. This year we will be able to enjoy a full aerobatic Tucano flying display performed by Flt Lt Liam Matthews. He is perfecting his sequence of manoeuvres as I type, going through a rigorous training programme to ensure that we put on an exciting but safe display. But it’s not just for us - Liam will be showing off his skills throughout the summer at over twenty different airshows around the country.
Before the end of the year we will hold a Whole Force Hangar Party to celebrate the history and legacy of this wonderful and successful RAF station. We will also be having a parade to mark the closure of Number One Flying Training School, which has been at Linton since 1957. The parade will also see the handover of 72 Squadron to its new custodians at RAF Valley. So we have lots to look forward to.
FROM THE EDITOR
Flt Lt Elliot ‘Starky’ Stark
Looking at the picture of the Editor you may have thought that Flt Lt Bobby Moore has gotten considerably less good looking over the past few
months, however that is certainly not the case. As he has moved on to his next job in a similar but sandier role he has passed the Editorial baton on to me, Flt Lt Elliot Stark. I wish Bobby all the best in his new job abroad and thank him for his excellent work with the Linton Link over past years.
My first role as Editor was to receive a phone call from the previous Publisher, pulling out due to lack of advertisement funding, not a great start. However due to the efforts of many, most notably Patrick Lewis-Brown, the Station
Community Development Officer, we have managed to secure funding for the Linton Link from the RAF Benevolent Fund. Therefore I’d like to say a huge thanks to Irene and Hemma attheRAFBF,JayneatCrestPublicationsand Patrick for keeping the Linton Link alive.
The next step for the Link is the commemorative edition in Autumn marking the end of Tucano flying. The ambition for this is for everyone who has been involved with the Tucano or RAF Linton-on-Ouse to be able to have a copy as a keepsake. On that note, if you have any ideas for content for that issue please don’t hesitate to get in touch, all ideas welcome (within reason)...
Thanks to all the contributors to this edition and I look forward to receiving your ideas and contributions for the next, deadline 16 Aug 19.
LINTONLINK
RAF LINTON-ON-OUSE
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor
Flt Lt Elliot ‘Starky’ Stark
Ext: 7342 elliot.stark100@mod.gov.uk
Next deadline for copy:
16 Aug 19
Published on behalf of
RAF Linton-on-Ouse by
Crest Publications
12 Brooklands Court,
Kettering Venture Park, Kettering, Northants NN15 6FD
Tel: 01536 317000 jayne@crestpublications.com www.crestpublications.com
The views expressed by the contributors to
the Linton Link are not necessarily those of
the Editor, MoD, RAF or the publishers and do not reflect Station policy. All precautions have been taken to ensure accuracy. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that they conform to the British Code of Advertising Practice. This magazine is published by kind permission of the Station Commander.
ON THE COVER
4
Veteran Mosquito Pilot, Colin Bell, receiving wings.