Fund partners with His Church charity to host veteran’s Christmas tea party

On Tuesday 21 November, a group of RAF veterans were invited to the newly refurbished Binbrook Brew café for a Christmas tea party hosted by His Church charity in partnership with the Fund.

The veterans were welcomed to what once was the RAF Binbrook guard room, but now a café, with unlimited tea and coffee, an array of sandwiches, cakes and trifles to tuck into and goody bags to take away.

The event was an opportunity for Fund community engagement workers to meet new veterans in the Lincolnshire area, known to the His Church team, who may benefit from future support.

Sarah Wayment, of His Church Charity, said: “When the Fund approached us about hosting a tea party for RAF widows and veterans, we were very keen to partner with them knowing that loneliness can be particularly heightened at this time of the year.”

Sarah continued: “We are aware that Binbrook was an extremely important, historical RAF Airbase that was loved by so many of the people who served here. Unfortunately, after its closure, Binbrook fell into a state of disrepair due to the criminal activities that were allowed to go unmonitored due to the lack of rural policing. As a result, many veterans stopped visiting as they were so discouraged by what they saw.

“Now, because of the ongoing restoration of the camp and its derelict buildings by His Church, it is with great pleasure we are able to invite veterans and their families to return. With each visit we see the positive psychological impact that returning here and recalling happy memories has on those who served in the RAF.”

The guests were given a tour of the newly refurbished station headquarters and treated to a performance by a piper.

Fund beneficiary, Caroline Davidson, attended the event. She said: “The whole event was absolutely wonderful; the way we were looked after, the conversations, the food and drink, the piper, the building, the atmosphere. All 100% fabulous! It filled my heart to be amongst likeminded people, friends, and being back on a camp with wonderful memories.”

She continued: “The Fund found me when I needed them; I don’t know how, but there they were. The Fund continued to support myself and my family by inviting us to many events. I felt like I belonged and was no longer ‘alone’. Along with The RAF Widows Association, the Fund has been my saviour. I cannot thank you enough! You remind me I still belong to the RAF."

Fund beneficiary, Dorothy Russell, said of her experience on the day: “The tour was terrific. I could happily have spent hours there looking at the display cases in the entrance and soaking up the history and nostalgia in the recreated rooms.

“The time, effort, thought, and skills that have gone into the creation of the rooms in the SHQ building are obvious in every aspect of the work, from the flying jackets hanging on the coat rack, to the amazing photographs of Lightnings and the grandfather clock in the entrance hall, to the piano in the mess."