Page 12 - Eagle Eye Spring 2021

Wyton Area
Voluntary Band
By Daniel Donovan/Graham Sheldon
On 14 December 2020, the RAF Wyton Station Charities Committee (WSCC) brought some Christmas cheer to two local care homes.
Traditionally, the Station has held an annual Christmas Function at the RAF Wyton Officers’ Mess, which brings together members of the local community from St Ives, Huntingdon, local care homes and other local institutions. Sadly, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it wasn’t possible to hold the function for Christmas 2020.
This meant an alternative plan needed to be put in place – bring the function to them! In lieu of the annual sit-down Christmas
dinner, carols, and gift giving in the Mess, a team of volunteers from across RAF Wyton plus the Wyton Area Voluntary Band brought Christmas cheer direct to the two local care homes that normally make up the majority of guests at the Christmas function: Leonard Cheshire in Brampton and Hunters Down in Huntingdon, together with a special guest, Flying Officer Lucy Gold-Lewis, playing Sleigh Bells. The remainder of our normal attendees, such as the Mayor of St Ives and local Royal British Legion Clubs, received cards from the Station and a letter signed by the Station Commander. The Band also played inside Pathfinder Building and
supported the Station Carol Service outside SHQ. The band consisted of a maximum of 6 players, all ‘socially distanced’!
Cpls Daniel Donovan and Sam Johnson, together with SACs Liam Richards and Tom Collins organised gifts and cards for the care home residents and the Wyton Area Voluntary Band played some Christmas melodies as the gifts were handed round. All of this was done within a short timescale, and – of course – in a COVID-safe manner. The event helped to brighten their day, despite the restrictions imposed on us by COVID-19, Christmas 2020 was still happening.
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