Page 13 - issue03.05.2019
P. 13
Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P13
News
WO Tim’s bowled
over by send off
WITTERING-BASED WARRANT Officer
Tim Davies received a bowler-hatted send
off as he bowed out of the RAF after more
than 37 years service.
He joined up in 1981 as a weapons
technician working on Phantoms and
since then has clocked up frontline
postings all over the world.
His most recent tour was supporting
RAF Typhoon on a training exercise in
Oman. He said: “I’ve loved every minute
and have no regrets with my career path:
I finish on a personal high.”.
Colleagues at the Cambridshire
station turned out to see him off as he
presented with the Civvy Street bowler hat
and brolly. LONG SERVICE: Waddington
Wg Cdr Dan Penter added: “It takes a personnel say farewell to WO
long and distinguished career to make an Tim Davies after 37 years service.
engineering warrant officer of his calibre.” PHOTO: SAC MATTY SMITH
News bulletin
Forces family housing
ruling opens the door
for same-sex couples
UNMARRIED SAME-SEX couples
are to be allowed to live together
in Forces family housing under a
landmark ruling by Defence chiefs.
Northolt nets overhaul of military accommodation
The move is part of a major
runway deal and axes restrictions on cohabitation
rules for Services family housing.
Under existing regulations only
A £23 MILLION programme married couples, those in civil
to upgrade the runway at RAF partnerships and those with legally
Northolt is underway. dependent children are eligible.
VIP flights carried out by 32 Although same sex couples will
(The Royal )Sqn will be transferred only be able to apply in areas with
to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire surplus housing the decision has been
whilst the work is carried out by welcomed as a breakthrough by the
Lagan Aviation Forces’ LGBT community.
Cpl Owain Bridge, who is based
Combat injury at Wittering, is currently living in FAMILY LIFE: Married couples quarters at
private rented accommodation with
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
breakthrough his civilian partner Gavin. “Personnel have told us that they want
The couple, who hope to marry
next year, say the option of moving more flexible working arrangements
THE DEVELOPMENT of a device into services housing will save them and so I’m delighted these measures
to stop rapid blood loss from auto £300 a month. are now in place.
battlefield injuries has been given He said: “It’s nice to see they are “This new package of modern
an extra £5 million in funding. considering my partner as part of the measures will help us retain personnel
The TXA autoinjector speeds Service family. who want a more flexible approach to
up blood clotting and could cut “Given the sort of society we live in how they live, work and serve.”
battlefield fatalities by 30 per now where people are quite prepared The reforms have been welcomed
cent, the MoD says. to be in a long-term relationship and by the RAF Family Federation. A
The device administers not get married, this decision is long spokesman said: “It will take some time
tranexamic acid, which stabilizes overdue, especially where there is WELCOME MOVE: Cpl Bridge (right) with his partner, Gavin for the results of the pilot to be seen,
and strengthens blood clotting plenty of spare housing. people who are in a committed in areas where property prices are and for the Future Accommodation
within damaged tissues and can “The announcement that as a same relationship but not married.” high like the South East. Model to be extended further.
be aself-administered. sex couple, we are now entitled to live The MoD has launched a pilot study Military personnel are also being “We are delighted to see the
Although developed for in surplus accomodation has taken the as part of its Future Accommodation encouraged to buy their own houses extension of eligibility, which is in line
military use the technology is also pressure off. It’s welcome news. Model which could also allow more with the recent extension of the Help with the changing requirements of
expected to be adapted for use in “It also means Gav, who is a civilian, forces personnel to rent property in to Buy Scheme which has helped more serving personnel and their partners.
other serious trauma incidents will have an introduction to Service the private sector with their friends than 10,000 get a foot on the property We hope to work with the MOD and
such as stab wounds and road families life. and colleagues. ladder since its launch in 2015. RAF to make the case for opening up
traffic accidents. “It seems like such a waste If approved it will backed with £450 Minister for Defence People relevant allowances to ensure parity
otherwise if it cannot be used by million in subsidies for those working and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said: for all.”