How the Fund helped Jacqui Thompson following the death of her husband

RAF Benevolent Fund Ambassador Jacqui Thompson was supported by the Fund following the death of her husband who was killed in Afghanistan. Jacqui speaks on the 'peace of mind' the financial support from the Fund gave her and how this helped her family through a difficult time.

Jacqui's husband Gary Thompson was a reservist with 504 Squadron of Nottingham – part of the RAF Regiment Squadron.

In 1942, King George VI signed a Royal Warrant for "a Corps formed as an integral part of the RAF". Its role was to seize, secure and defend airfields to enable air operations to take place.

The catalyst for the RAF Regiment's formation was the fall of France in 1940, when the Germans' unique use of mobility and surprise, 'Blitzkrieg', demonstrated the vulnerability of airfields that were long considered safe.

Gary was deployed with 3 Squadron as an RAF Regiment Gunner when, in April 2008, he was killed alongside colleague Graham Livingstone. Two others were injured after their vehicle struck anti-tank mine in Kandahar, Afghanistan. 

Jacqui said Gary joined up in 2005, at the age of 48 because he "wanted to do his bit". 

Through the Fund, Jacqui and her family have had access to financial support which has helped see two of her daughters through university at a difficult time.

Jacqui said: "I can't even imagine what it would have been like for us if we didn't have that support from the Benevolent Fund. They've helped two of my daughters through university as well - which I'm eternally grateful for and so are my girls."

Remembering the first impression she had meeting Gary, Jacqui recalls there was “something remarkable” about her late husband, sharing that “Gary was a very proud RAF Regiment Gunner. He had the utmost respect and admiration for his fellow gunners. He was incredibly happy during his service in the Regiment. I lost the most amazing person I had ever met, my husband and best friend.”

Turning to the support she received from the RAF Benevolent Fund, Jacqui said: "Going through what myself and my family went through, I honestly cannot imagine what could have happened without the RAF Benevolent Fund's help and support. It gives me peace of mind knowing the Fund is ready to support serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need."

Having the support of the RAF Benevolent fund enabled Jacqui to make the valuable time necessary to grieve for Gary, herself and her daughters, and begin looking towards the future.

Jacqui is now an ambassador for the Fund. She said: "I've been involved with the Fund for over 14 years. What has always impressed me about the Fund is their commitment to RAF personnel and their immediate families, and how much they care about the RAF Family.

"Going through what myself and my family went through, I honestly cannot imagine what could have happened without the RAF Benevolent Fund's help and support. It gives me peace of mind knowing the Fund is ready to support serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need."

She also had a message for those in the RAF, or their families, who require support: "You and your families have given and dedicated so much of yourselves to the RAF. It is only right and fitting that, in your time of need, you have the same level of support and commitment you have given to the RAF. This is gratitude for your service."

You can find out more about the welfare support available through the Fund here.