Duke's visit to Lossie

Airplay is the RAF Benevolent Fund's youth support programme for young people growing up on RAF stations. Airplay at RAF Lossiemouth had a surprise visitor this month. Sarah Riley-Evans, the Lossiemouth community development officer, tells us more in this blog.

The Airplay project here at RAF Lossiemouth got a big surprise this month when the Duke of York popped in to our Jubilee Garden Party.

Around sixty children were out enjoying everything from a coconut shy to a bouncy castle and they were thrilled to see the Duke join us in his capacity as Lossie's honorary Air Commodore.

Airplay really is making a big difference to our families here, many of whom have mums and dads deployed in Afghanistan. Our weekly activities provide an informed and supportive environment where children can talk about their parents with others in the same position.

This targeted support is much appreciated by parents – those abroad can focus on their job knowing that their child is happy, while those at home can relax in the knowledge that every night of the week there is an Airplay Lossie activity available, providing that little bit of breathing space.

Emily White, aged 11, whose father is currently serving in Afghanistan with 617 Squadron has this to say: "I was so excited to meet Prince Andrew because I wrote to him last year when we visited London with Airplay and he invited us to watch the changing of the guard from inside the gates of Buckingham Palace. I thanked him for remembering us. I can’t wait to tell my dad all about today!  He will be very proud of me."

By Sarah Riley-Evans