Page 4 - Eagle Eye Spring 2021

Community Support at Christmas
WINTER WONDERLAND
With the build up to Christmas, Wyton-on- the-Hill residents took part in the Winter Wonderland Competition. This involved decorating houses with all things Christmassy. The Community set to work, displaying various lights, inflatable Santa Claus, sleighs, artwork stuck to windows and much more. When darkness fell, Wyton-on-the Hill lit up.
Photographs were then sent in to be judged, with the top 3 receiving prizes to a local attraction, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant.
SANTA’S POST BOX
With visits to see Santa cancelled, the Community Support Team and the Chair of the Parish Council came up with the initiative of Santa’s Post Box.
Set locations at Wyton-on-the-Hill, Brampton and RAF Wyton were decorated externally with artificial snow, snowflake stickers, tinsel and a postage sign. We asked children to write a letter to Santa, leaving a return address, and to post it through one of the letter boxes.
The Community Support Team later collected the post from each location with over 200 being received.
Each one was opened and brought a smile to our faces whilst reading. A response was then formed, personalised to each child, and envelopes stamped. These were later returned, thanks to little helpers across the Community.
REINDEER HUNT
Wyton-on-the Hill and Brampton engaged in a Community Reindeer Hunt that took place between 18-27 December. Households displayed clues around the estate, whilst families walked around trying to find the answers to identify where Rudolph the Reindeer was hiding.
Once the hunt was complete, each child collected a Christmas cup prize containing sweets, again, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant.
With 145 participants across Wyton and Brampton, the event was well received by all. The Community appreciated the efforts put into keeping the Community entertained whilst acknowledging the importance of getting children outside in a safe, socially distanced manner.
DEPLOYED GIFTS
Deployed families received craft gifts and wreaths funded by the Families Welfare Grant.
SHIFT WORKERS
The Community Support Team distributed chocolate and biscuits to our people who worked on Christmas and New Year’s Day, Funded by the Thrift Shop.
STATION CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
With the build up to Christmas, the Community Support Team investigated ways to bring the Christmas spirit to RAF Wyton. Battery powered Christmas lights funded by Brampton Thrift Shop were purchased. In the cold pouring rain, in the hope that it would bring a smile to those working, the team and volunteers set about arranging the lights.
On both sides of the road upon entering the Station, the trees were decorated with fairy lights, similar to those in Cornwall Road near our Youth Club. The front of SHQ was also decorated with various lights and the church hosted a colourful Christmas Tree.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT WREATH MAKING SESSIONS
As part of ongoing events for ‘Bringing the Wyton Community Together’ project, kindly funded by the Armed Forces Covenant, the Community Support Team ran a series of wreath making classes via zoom, commencing 7 December.
Wreath making kits were supplied locally from a company called ‘Pine and Peggy’ which included: greenery, decorations, hoop, wire and full written instructions although the video tutorial was provided by the Community Support Team. These were delivered safely ensuring Covid restrictions applied to the doors of all those who registered.
In previous years, this event was hosted in one room, with the Community being physically present. Holding the session via zoom allowed the Community to socialise, get involved in something creative, whilst remaining safe in the comfort of their own homes.
The event was greatly received by all, with the Community creating beautiful wreaths which were displayed on the front of their doors across the Community, again, bringing a festive spirit to those in-Service Family Accommodation during the Covid pandemic.
4 eagleye