"The serving break gave us the time together as a family before my posting"

With a looming detachment in a remote location, Flt Lt Duncan Walkey craved some quality time with his family, and applied for a serving break offered by the RAF Benevolent Fund. Thanks to the Fund’s collaboration with Parkdean Resorts, the Walkey family were provided with a paid-for break, enabling them to visit a relaxing beach-side resort and make some lasting memories.

Flt Lt Duncan Walkey joined the Royal Air Force in 2005, starting his career in air operations, before working in air safety, which he does in his current role at RAF Wittering. After being told he was going to be posted for four months to the Ascension Islands – a tiny, remote island half way to the Falkland Is

land’s – Duncan decided to book a holiday for him and his family to spend quality time together before his deployment.

“I saw that the Fund offered breaks for serving personnel and got in touch to find out more. I filled in an application which was successful was then booked on for a break at Parkdean’s Sandy Bay resort in Northumberland during October half term.”
Duncan, his wife, and two girls aged 11 and 8, made the most of their trip away from home. Duncan said: “It was a typical beach holiday. We brought our dog with us and stayed in a caravan. It was great to explore the local area and walk on the nearby sand dunes.

"Our favourite activity was going to Beamish Heritage Site, an open air museum, telling the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s – it was so interesting!"

In terms of the resort facilities, Duncan said: "It was a well-equipped site. There was lots for the children to do, including sporting activities and a café and restaurant onsite. The girls loved the swimming pool and we had direct access to the beach which was excellent.

"The holiday gave us the time together as a family. It was nice to get away from normal life and really connect with each-other."

Duncan was deployed for four months with limited WiFi, so communicating with his family was difficult. "Because it was so hard to access the internet and speak regularly to my wife and children while I was away, the time we did spend together on our break a few weeks prior was even more important."

Duncan is no stranger to receiving support from the Fund, having used the charity’s Listening and Counselling Service twice, to deal with anxiety and a bereavement. He said: "Knowing the Fund is there whenever you may need them is very reassuring. There’s always someone to talk to and point you in the right direction."

"I’d like to say a big thank you to the RAF Benevolent Fund and Parkdean for supporting my family and I."

Serving personnel and their families are able to apply for break at Parkdean resorts across the country through the RAF Benevolent Fund.