2019 Remembrance Match: Oxhey Jets vs RAF Icarus

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who is attending the match today, and all the players, management, staff and sponsors for their support.

It is truly rewarding to see such a large community coming together in remembrance.

Remembrance Day is an opportunity to think about those who gave their lives for the sake of their country. A chance to keep their memories alive, and to be grateful for what they have given us.

appeal, (the largest event on the day in South West Hertfordshire!) and it was a quick and easy decision by the RAF and ourselves to do it again this year.

Enjoy the day, we pause to remember and respect, but we should also take time to celebrate what we have.

It is also an opportunity for our children to learn and to acknowledge the sacrifices made by others to make their lives safer.

Your support last year, in almost monsoon conditions, made a tremendous contribution to the poppy

A big thank you to RAF Brize Norton, RAF Boulmer, RAF Marham, RAF Northwood and members of the MDS and Icarus teams for their help and support, and for permission to use crown copyright images.

21st Century Royal Air Force To provide a second to none, agile, adaptable and capable Air Force

For 100 years, the Royal Air Force has defended our skies and projected Britain’s power and influence around the world.

our NATO allies and global partners to promote security, prosperity and international interests around the world.

Our next Generation RAF will need to fly and fight in an environment that will be contested by agile and capable enemies, prepared to fight ambiguous and ‘hybrid’ warfare, and to challenge our strengths and exploit our vulnerabilities. Control of the air and space will remain essential to operational success.

As a world-class air force, they also advise and train other air forces to build their capacity to respond to threats and prevent conflict.

To help protect our skies, Air Surveillance and Control Systems continuously compile a Recognised Air Picture of the airspace in and around the UK, providing vital early warning of potential threats such as unauthorised aircraft or missiles. Their Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Force is ready to scramble state of the art Eurofighter Typhoons in minutes to intercept threats.

They have the aircraft, the knowhow, and the reach to get humanitarian aid, equipment, and people into affected areas quickly. They also evacuate civilians and military personnel from natural disasters and unrest.

The RAF continuously trains and deploys with the armed forces of

The RAF is also ready to provide urgent assistance in an emergency, from floods in the UK to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, and devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean.

With this demanding set of responsibilities, the RAF will continue to play a central role in the security and prosperity of the nation.

Underlying all this is a continued investment in technology, equipment and people.