Page 25 - RAF Magazine

‘THE RAF IS A CHANCE

FOR ME TO MAKE A

DIFFERENCE’

From there I did my training at RAF Cosford near What are you most proud of?
Wolverhampton and after about eight months I got my first I’m most proud of achieving my degree as I never dreamed
posting in North Yorkshire. I’d be able to do that. I studied whilst still working full-time
with two children and I lost my father while I was doing it,
What was it like as a woman joining the RAF? but I still managed to get a distinction thanks to the support
You’d get a few men wondering if you were up to the job, of my family and work colleagues.
because my job is quite physical. But as soon as they
realised that I could do it, and do it well, they were fine. If Your husband is also in the RAF. How hard is it to have a
anything, talking to some of my friends that work in industry, family and be part of the Air Force?
it’s definitely less sexist in the RAF. I have had to be a bit Our kids are 15 and 11 and I have a 24-year-old stepson, so
more prepared with things like my hair, because I relax it it does need some juggling. I do a lot of planning. The RAF
and sometimes you’re in places where you just can’t get can send me to places where there’s a need but I can also
those products. But we don’t all have to have a crew cut! request placements. I’ve commuted at times, we’ve moved
as a family at times. Our children are in boarding school,
And how have you found it as a person of Caribbean which the RAF helps pay for. There is a lot of support.
descent?
At first, there were times when I felt I stood out – I could be Have you found yourself in many dangerous situations?
in a room of people where I was the only black person, but The training we receive is so rounded, and the RAF doesn’t
to be honest I think some of that was due to my own feelings put people in danger unnecessarily. Even in bomb disposal
about it. Now you do see more people from a similar you go to whatever is there, but because of the training you
background to mine and also there’s that realisation that know how to deal with it, and you know you’ve always got
actually nobody is looking at you. In fact, the RAF has always back-up.
been quite a diverse place.
What does the centenary mean to you?
What opportunities has the RAF afforded you? It’s such a great achievement that we’re still here 100
When I joined I had four O-Levels and now I’ve got a BTEC in years on: when we first started there were people that were
Engineering and a BA in Business and Enterprise, book- sceptical that the RAF would last. I’ve been part of it for
keeping qualifications, I can drive plant equipment, and it’s more than a quarter of its existence. We are really proud of
mostly all funded by the RAF. The RAF believes in growing our history and the fact that we can go on to inspire the
the whole person. I’ve been to the Middle East and the next generation.
Balkans. I’ve been sailing, rowing, kneeboarding, cycling
in Scotland, horse riding in Italy, bobsleighing down the What advice would you give to a budding recruit?
Olympic track in Lillehammer, swimming with dolphins in It’s a great way of life, to have new experiences that some
Oman… have only dreamed of, to travel the world, try new sports,
gain qualifications and make friends – all while being paid.

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