Brize Issue 3 2023

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EDITORIAL TEAM

E DITOR’S FOREWORD

Ido hope that you all enjoyed the Coronation Celebrations. This spectacular event highlighted once again the country coming together, marking an incredible occasion for us all to share. The involvement of our armed forces across all the services was superb and a truly proud moment for all involved; something I am sure will be the talk of many gatherings for a long time to come.

The Station has as always been exceptionally busy. We have showcased our readiness to undertake missions at very short notice. Our involvement in the evacuation of people from Sudan involved our aircraft and people working collaboratively with agencies across the globe.

The RAF Falcons display season is now well underway with the success of their launch day on home turf to the excitement of local school children. Please do keep your eyes to the skies and you may very well catch a glimpse as they continue their training. Their display calendar is extremely busy, if you are attending any events where there are displaying, please do send in your images, we would love to share them.

As a Station that never sleeps, I will endeavour to bring you all the latest news including the successes of our people at every opportunity. Remember, you can also catch all the latest news on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms.

It only leaves me to say, enjoy this latest edition and the sunshine (at last it’s getting warmer)!!

Till next time

Anita – MCO Editor 51 Degrees North

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Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of 51 Degrees North, the magazine of RAF Brize Norton.

4626 AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION SQN –40TH ANNIVERSARY

On 2 Apr 23, 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron held their 40th Anniversary.

The day commenced with a parade which included the presentation of the annual Honours and Awards.  It was also an opportunity to invite families, friends and past members to the Squadron, where medical stands were erected showing the medical capabilities that the Squadron provide.

The Reviewing Officer was Air Commodore Sonia Phythian, Head of RAF Medical Services and in attendance was Group Captain Michael Priestley, Commander Medical. Air Commodore Phythian commented on the dedication and motivation of the reserves and how important they were to the operational capability.  She had the opportunity to speak to all who attended, particularly some of the medical reserves who had recently deployed on various operations.

The day proved to be a great success which was enjoyed by all. Officer Commander 4626 Squadron, Wing Commander Lorrie Lawton, commented on how proud she was of the unit, particularly as all the members currently have extremely busy day jobs in the NHS, but can still allocate time and effort to support the Royal Auxiliary Air Force’s operational need.

Exceptional Service to Aerial Refuelling Award

Sqn Ldr Gordon Parry has been recognised for his long service and dedication to air-to-air refuelling by the multi-national Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group.

During the 2023 Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group conference, he received the Exceptional Service to Aerial Refuelling Award.

The Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group is a joint military-industry professional organisation formed to provide a single inter-service and international agency to advise on Air-to-Air refuelling system matters. The Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group is comprised of twenty nations’ military and industry representatives, including the Royal Air Force, US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, Allies and NATO to promote the safety of joint military operations and air-to-air refuelling systems.

On receiving the award, Sqn Ldr Parry said: “It is a tremendous honour to receive this award, particularly when looking around the room at the very high level of expertise within the Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group community. Indeed, although the Panel

has selected my name for the award, I very much see it as an award for all the team members whom I have worked with over the years including military, government staffs, and industry.”

Sqn Ldr Gordon Parry joined the Royal Air Force in 1980. After completing flying training, he served for five years on the Nimrod MR2 in the maritime patrol role at RAF Kinloss. In 1991, he moved to RAF Brize Norton to fly the VC10 in the Strategic Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling roles. He conducted multiple air-to-air refuelling deployments associated with both Iraq and Afghanistan operations and finished his active flying career in 2004 as the air-to-air refuelling instructor and Officer Commanding the Standards and Evaluation at RAF Brize Norton. In 2004, he joined the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Project Team working with Air Tanker to bring the Voyager A330 MRTT into service. Recognising the small window of opportunity that was presented by the development of the Voyager A330 MRTT being near

coincident with the KC-46 programme, he exploited the unique multi-national and co-operative environment created by Aerial Refuelling Systems Advisory Group to develop a standardised system of signal lights for probe and drogue refuelling. Sqn Ldr Parry now works in the Strategic Policy office at the Air Mobility Force Headquarters and is responsible for Voyager and air-to-air refuelling.

Legendary original Status Quo

Drummer Mr John Coghlan plays a blend of ‘Quo Meets Jazz’ at this Exclusive Charity Fundraising Event in aid of Help for Heroes at Witney Lakes Resort 18 March 2023.

All profits will go to Help for Heroes and only limited tickets are being released to keep the event exclusive on a first come first served basis.

Tickets are £28 which includes a light supper.

Contact Jackie on jmsbs678@yahoo.com or 07980 261564

The Royal Air Force Played Pivotal Role in Sudan Evacuation

Aircraft based at RAF Brize Norton have played a key role in carrying out the evacuation operation of British citizens from Sudan.

The aircraft from the RAF’s Air Mobility Force, including C-17 Globemaster, A400M Atlas, and C-130J Hercules, have been flying sorties from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to Sudan to carry out the critical evacuation operation.

In addition, the Air Mobility Force aircraft operated between RAF Brize Norton and RAF Akrotiri to ensure the support force, of over 1500 UK Armed Forces personnel, was positioned ready to conduct the operation on the UK Government’s orders, and that it continued to remain appropriately supported.

Deputy Commander Operations of the RAF, Air Marshal Harv Smyth said:

“The ability of the Air Mobility Force, and all our associated supporting units, to conduct this operation with such pace and precision, demonstrates our flexibility and agility to utilise air power at range, at a moment’s notice, to protect UK citizens anywhere across the World.

"This is especially true as the RAF are concurrently supporting other critical operations such as for Ukraine and across the Middle East. I'm immensely proud of our team, who continue to pull out all the stops and have been brilliant throughout”.

Air Marshal Harv Smyth

Deputy Commander Operations of the RAF

The evacuation flights were carried out by A400M Atlas and C-130J Hercules aircraft, flying from Wadi Seidna, North of Khartoum. After arriving at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus, evacuees were then returned to the UK on board Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) chartered aircraft. Concurrently, RAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft were conducting sorties carrying equipment to Sudan and the wider region to support the ongoing operations.

Aircraft based at RAF Brize Norton have played a key role in carrying out the evacuation operation of British citizens from Sudan.

In addition to these vital sorties, the RAF also deployed members of Number 1 Squadron, RAF Regiment to provide security at landing sites in Sudan, alongside RAF Police to assist the evacuees. Air Movements personnel were also deployed to manage logistics, and 24/7 command and control was supported by Number 11 Group, at Headquarters Air Command in Buckinghamshire.

As part of the initial sorties, RAF Voyager aircraft transported elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade to Cyprus, together with additional RAF personnel to augment the British Forces already based on the island. The RAF had also deployed additional support, including chefs from 3 Mobile Catering Squadron, medics from Tactical Medical Wing and communication technicians from 90 Signals Unit.

RAF Voyager refuels mid-air with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The Royal Air Force has successfully completed a Voyager air-to-air refuelling flight, powered by an approximately 43% blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Flying from RAF Brize Norton, over the North Sea and via Farnborough on its return home, the Voyager aircraft also undertook air-to-air refuelling with Typhoons, as part of planned training.

Made from waste-based sustainable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, SAF reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel and will be key to reducing the RAF’s reliance on global supply chains and fossil fuels, while improving operational resilience.

This significant moment follows a series of recent milestones achieved by the RAF towards a sustainable aviation future, including the world first RAF Voyager flight fuelled by 100% SAF.

Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie said:

flight marks the UK aviation industry publishing its updated aviation Net Zero Carbon roadmap outlining how commercial aviation will become more sustainable and commercially viable.

The annual event, hosted at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, brings together various partners from industry to showcase the latest developments in sustainable aviation technology and support efforts moving towards the implementation phase of meeting its net zero commitment.

Supporting the RAF’s ambitions to be Net Zero by 2040, the Voyager flight was part of an existing task from the Chief of the Air Staff to gather the required data to inform the longer-term transition away from fossil fuels.

Part of a two-day industry led conference – Sustainable Skies World Summit - the

The RAF has identified that using SAF and alternative aviation fuels will be critical for the future operational capability of the RAF and wider military aviation.

“Greater use of alternative and sustainable fuel can only lead to positive outcomes for Defence, the United Kingdom, and our collective endeavour against climate change.

“This is not an easy undertaking by the RAF, but time and again we see that by working collaboratively with our partners across industry we can achieve crucial transformation.”

Supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, new aviation technologies and fuels provide huge opportunities for economic growth, delivering jobs and prosperity across the country.

Chief of Staff Support and Chief Engineer, Air Vice-Marshal, Paul Lloyd said:

Providing increased reliability and range, the Voyager aircraft gives the RAF an enhanced capability in support of troop mobility, the movement of military assets, and supports UK air defence.

With a payload of 43 tonnes of freight and 291 seat passenger capacity, plus an aeromedical evacuation capability, Voyager also delivers flexibility in air mobility to the UK Armed forces in support of military and humanitarian operations.

During the two days of the Sustainable Skies World Summit, the Jet Zero Council (JZC) – a partnership between industry and government with the aim of

“The continued success of sustainable aviation fuel is reassuring to see. If we are to achieve our net zero goal by 2040 then exploiting these technologies is going to be an enormous but worthwhile endeavour.

“Despite the challenge, the benefits of reducing our reliance on traditional supply chains and fossil fuels outweigh it.

“The RAF is proud to be leading in this area and I welcome the announcement introduction of commercial uses of SAF.”

If the New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside and you’re looking for a new way to get in shape in 2023, MAN v FAT Football might be the answer you’re looking for!

There are four MAN v FAT Football clubs in Oxfordshire, helping men of all ages tackle their weight loss and wellbeing goals. Supported by their peers, men have lost over 500,000lbs of weight nationally since the programme got started.

As well as the weekly football session – where weight loss achievements count as much as any goals scored on the pitch - members get access to an online gym and online mental health support platform too.

If you’re an Oxfordshire County Council resident, you may qualify for a 14 week funded spot on the programme thanks to Achieve Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council, so why not take a look at the MAN v FAT website today at www.manvfatfootball.org to see what’s on offer?

International Nurses Day

Friday 12th March is International Nurses Day and the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.

It is celebrated annually around the world and is led by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). The future of nursing and how the profession can help improve global health for all will be at the centre of this year’s International Nurses Day.

Sergeant Hannah Thraves is an RAF nurse, and part-time reservist, with No 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, which is part the medical operations group and sits with Tactical Medical Wing based at RAF Brize Norton. She has recently returned from operations, where she worked as part of a light surgical group; a deployed hospital specialising in damage control resuscitation, damage control surgery and intensive care (ITU).

Hannah’s journey with the RAF began in 2008, when she joined 4626 Squadron as a medical assistant. But it was on an operational tour in Afghanistan that she decided to commit to nurse training. Sgt Thraves said: “I was a medic at the time, and I saw the job that the aeromedical evacuation nurses did and the benefit they provided to the injured personnel coming home, and that propelled me into doing the same thing.”

Hannah stayed with 4626 Squadron throughout her full-time, three-year degree course. She qualified as a nurse in 2015 and in civilian life is a nurse in the Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Sergeant Thraves said: “I kept up my work with 4624 on top of my full-time study and did part time work to pay my way, even though there was a bursary to cover student fees, being part of the reserves really helped.”

4626 Squadron was formed at RAF Wroughton in 1983 and has provided trained medical and nursing personnel to every major air operation in the last forty years. The squadron specialises in aeromedical evacuation, pre-hospital, and primary healthcare. Its personnel are recruited from the NHS and private healthcare sector and from across England and Wales.

Describing her experiences as a nurse on operations, Sergeant Thraves said: “This was my first deployment as a nurse, so I think the memory I would have of my recent operational experiences would be

the incredible teamwork. The different specialisms within the nursing profession were amazing; we had a theatre nurse, an ITU nurse, an emergency medicine nurse all sharing information, but the teamwork was the biggest insight.”

When it comes to recommending nursing as a profession, Sergeant Thraves is realistic. She said: “Would I recommend it? I have a foot in both camps, the RAF and NHS. I have experienced the pandemic in an NHS hospital and operations with the RAF. It’s been an incredible opportunity, developing as a nurse, working with the military in an amazing team. I would recommend nursing as a career, but it is not for the faint hearted, it takes an exceptional person to be a nurse.”

Sergeant Thraves concluded: “There are so many different options in nursing, and so many different types of nurses. It does not matter where you are in the world, nurses are a key element to every kind of medical service. And that is echoed within our own profession with the backgrounds and cultures we embody, and the differences they bring to our profession.”

4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron badge.

The International Nurses Day official logo.

Hannah Thraves with colleagues at the John Radcliffe Hospital during Christmas. Setting up medical equipment in an aircraft.

Sergeant Thraves (front and centre) with medical and nursing colleagues.

TEAM FALCONS' FOCUS

The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team launched their display season to a home crowd at RAF Brize Norton, kick starting one of the biggest display years the team have ever had, with over 60 displays across the UK and around the world.

The display season continued with a display in France for the French Air Force’s Aerobatic display team’s 70th anniversary and a fund-raising event for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The first year Falcons and Team Coach took part in the RAFBF Dambusters Ride, with each individual cycling 80 miles on a static bike. Keep your eyes to the skies as the RAF Falcons continue displaying throughout the UK – you never know when you may just catch a glimpse!

After a hugely successful jump on Launch Day, the team engaged with an excited crowd on the ground, allowing the visiting school children to ask them questions about what it’s like to be an RAF Falcon. The day marked the first time the Falcons have jumped in front of the public in 2023 after gaining their Public Display Authority.

The team have been busy preparing for the season and were delighted in their involvement at Royal Air Force Akrotiri during the base’s Coronation celebrations, the first time the team have performed in Cyprus in over 10 years.

Officer Commanding RAF Falcons Flight Lieutenant Mike Reeve said:

“It was a huge privilege to be part of the celebrations to mark the Coronation of King Charles III by displaying in RAF Akrotiri today. It was great to see our RAF colleagues based in Cyprus getting into the full swing of Coronation celebrations and it was an honour for the team to help be part of that. The day was full of red, white and blue colour, from Union Flag bunting to UK themed outfits and decorations. Our famous canopies flying the UK colours added to a spectacular day of celebrations for our new King at one of our most important British overseas military bases”

FALCONS' FOCUS

The Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team have launched their 2023 display season in front of a home crowd at RAF Brize Norton, performing their fantastic aerial display under red, white and blue canopies.

The team jumped from their signature Dornier 228 aircraft onto the RAF Brize Norton sports field, watched by hundreds of local school children, friends and family.

A huge success, the team engaged with an excited crowd on the ground allowing the visiting school children to ask them questions about what it’s like to be an RAF Falcon. The day marks the first time the Falcons have jumped in front of the public in 2023 after gaining their Public Display Authority; officially kicking off their display season.

Officer Commanding RAF Falcons Flt Lt Mike Reeve said:

“I’m immensely proud of the team; today highlights the Team’s time and dedication which has gone into the display. A special mention is needed for Fight Sergeant Lyons who is the newly appointed Falcons Team Coach. Not only has he had to learn a new display himself, but he has also taught and developed all first-year display parachutists. The launch today signifies the beginning of a very busy, but extremely exciting period for the RAF Falcons. It has been fantastic to start our display season with a jump in front of a home audience, our friends, family and local school children. There will be so many highlights throughout the 2023 season, and we look forward to sharing our experiences over all our 60+ displays”

As part of the Month of The Military Child, Commander Air Wing, Group Captain Gareth Burdett invited two children from local schools to participate in the salute following the RAF Falcons jump, clearly a day the children will remember.

Sgt Greg Ashelby, First year Falcon said: “This is a day we get to implement everything we have been learning and training for over these past months. It’s been absolutely incredible to finally display on our home base to local schools and the local community who are extremely supportive of the team.

I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the season now with some big shows ahead of us and I’m looking forward to displaying in Scotland, my home turf.”

With a busy calendar ahead of them, the team will be displaying at events across the UK, and at select events in Europe, including displays at Midlands Air Festival, British Grand Prix at Silverstone, National Armed Forces Day celebrations and to mark the ascension to the throne of King Charles III the team will be displaying at British Territories in Cyprus.

CATERING FLIGHT

RAF BRIZE NORTON Catering Flight Win Awards at high profile catering competition.

Ateam of 5 personnel from the catering flight all volunteered their expertise and skills to represent RAF Brize Norton at this year’s International Salon Culinaire over 20-22 March 23.

The International Salon Culinaire is a catering competition held at London Excel arena, this event is designed for all chefs and FOH competitors from the industry across the world to showcase their talents and skills. Classes that competitors can compete in are of static displays such as cakes, sugar work or fat work. The skills theatre is designed for young, up and coming chefs where they can show off basic to technical starters, their fillet skills on round and flat fish and their butchery skills on preparing a whole chicken for sauté. Within the skills theatre is where the FOH competitors can showcase their skills in mixology and table laying. The live theatre is where Chefs really get to show off their flare competing in a whole range of different classes, ranging from Junior Lamb to dessert of the year.

The team representing RAF Brize Norton and the RAF on this International stage consisted of Cpl Bowers (Team Manager), AS1 Alex Gliddon, AS1 Max Spear, AS1 Georgia Botting and AS2 Madun Janneh. Each of the team chose the class that they wished to compete in conducting some extensive research into the rules of each class, and created their menu using in season ingredients. Once they had their menu, they then started their practise run throughs in their own time setting the kitchen up to the standard that they would be using on the live heats. These practises were heavily scrutinised by the senior management of the team, advising on slight changes to the menu, different plating techniques, working in a more methodical manner and their standard of working practices.

The standard of this competition cannot be underestimated many of the judges are all high calibre chefs, many of which own a Michelin star restaurant or hotel. Chefs and FOH representatives travel from all over the world to compete in this competition.

The event is a fantastic opportunity for the RAF Brize Norton catering personnel to network, learn about the future of the catering industry and the direction that it is taking, how this could potentially impact Trade Group 19 within the RAF. The Chefs and Air and Ground Stewards were in a position to be ambassadors to the RAF, on occasions delivering small briefs to college students about what a career within the RAF can provide and opportunities that they can receive.

The awards that RAF Brize Norton received are as follows:

• Cpl Bowers & AS1 GliddonMystery Basket Grand Prix were awarded a high bronze coming 3rd out of 16 teams, beating 2 other military teams, 2 teams from the USA, 2 teams from Dubai and 1 team from Greece. For the second year in a row now Cpl Bowers has put a team together and placing the highest a military team has ever done so in the past within this class.

• AS1 Gliddon – Alaskan Seafood Challenge  was awarded a high certificate of merit placing 2nd out of 8 other competitors. AS1 Gliddon was also awarded day 3 hygiene award, the first military personnel to be awarded this at this competition, a huge achievement. Receiving this award out of 200 competitors of day 3 for the high working and hygiene practises.

• AS1 Spear – Junior Lamb  was awarded a certificate of merit finishing 7th out of 8 competitors. A big achievement for Max being only

19 years old. This is AS1 Spears' first ever competition and only having joined the RAF 18 months prior.

• AS2 Janneh – Apprenticeship Challenge was awarded a certificate of merit, during 2 parts of this class, they had to qualify from the skills theatre on filleting skills of lemon sole, before being given a mystery basket and having only 45 mins to compose a menu and serve their dish utilising the previously filleted fish. The first Military personnel to compete in this class and finishing 3rd out of 8.

• AS1 Botting, FOH Table Laying was awarded a Gold best in Class, laying a table to a Michelin star restaurant standard under high intense judging by some of the best FOH experts within the industry, AS1 Botting came away winning the class overall with the only Gold medal beating 10 other competitors, a massive achievement for not only AS1 Botting but the RAF as a whole.

Officer Commanding Base Support Wing, Wg Cdr Branch said “Congratulations to the Chefs and AGS personnel on their achievements at this high profile event. This showcases the true professionalism and dedication to TG19 that we here at RAF Brize Norton are privileged to have. I have been very impressed with the proactive attitude that our Catering Flight have taken to such a prestigious event. A massive well done to the awards given, and these are a true reflection on the talent that our Chefs and Stewards have.”

MADRE’S MUSINGS TEAM

I’m currently deep in grief.

My beloved cat ‘Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma The Queen’s Cousin K.G.’ died a few days ago. For 11 years he was my most loyal and beloved companion. He lived in 3 different countries and 4 different postings. His funeral took place at sunset in the garden of his Welsh home with full military honours and a flypast…

It may seem early days to be writing about my grief, but I’m viewing this as cathartic as well as an opportunity to talk about a subject we all experience. Some of you reading this will be in the throws of your own grief over a loved one; be it 4 legged furry one or the human variety. Grief is a universal experience and we shouldn’t shy away from talking about it. Part of my processing of grief over Lord Louis’ death involves sporadic bouts of uncontrollable sobbing. I balled my eyes out at the moments you might expect –collecting his limp body from the vets, laying his body in the ground, sobbing over the familiar routines we shared now replaced by a chasm of space and silence. I have also sobbed sporadically at other, more secondary aspects; driving away from my Welsh home and leaving him behind, walking alone into my military accommodation when he normally travelled beside me on the journey, at 5 am when I wake up and he would have been curled up beside me. The sobbing is, I know, a necessary part of the process of grieving and one that I am content to express without embarrassment. Likewise my need to talk about it sometimes, or at other times stare into the abyss and withdraw. Like any grief it has affected my eating and sleeping patterns and is currently a constant ache that is working is way through my mind, body and spirit as I learn to live with his absence.

Grief comes out in phases and moments. It isn’t all done and dusted when the funeral fades away. I see many individuals who are dwelling in that strange limbo space between the event of death of a loved one and the present moment; having returned to work or back to functioning life, but who continue to struggle months, even years after the death. Some are surprised or anxious or don’t even recognise that their out of kilter behaviours or feelings - is still the outpouring of grief. A Service Person whose parent had passed away

just a few months previously came to me concerned that they “still weren’t coping.” It had been less than 3 months. We spent an hour of so in meaningful and honest conversation about just how long it takes to process any death and how different grief was for everyone involved. Their grief is going to be different to that of their Mother, who now faces a markedly different retirement to the one she had envisaged. Likewise, the individual’s grief was about premature loss of a parent and the huge processing of all their future occasions without them; birth of first child, grandparent’s influence, and so on. I’ve spoken with others who are still struggling to find a place for their grief sometimes years after the person passing, and in this case some sessions of bereavement counselling have been necessary to help them to process and move forward.

When I lived in southern Spain in my twenties and recall a lady whose father died. We were great friends and she invited me to attend the funeral. There was something in her asking that made me realise that it was both important to her and an honour for me to be a part. We travelled over the straits of Gibraltar to her homeland of Morocco. She was Muslim and the burial was extraordinary. The women gathered together in the home and dressed the body for burial whilst the men were elsewhere digging the grave. In between bouts of gutwrenching waling, there was tea and nibbles served. Grief can really take it out of you – tea and cake is vital. The men then carried the coffin to the burial ground, followed by a sea of weeping, chatting women. After words of comital were shared, an almost celebratory chaos descended as piles of earth was shovelled by the many hands of the

Day in the life of a: RAF Dental Nurse, AS1(T) Collins explains…

AS1(T) Kayleigh Collins is a qualified RAF dental nurse and has been in the military since 2017, starting her career at RAF Halton for basic training and then on to DMS Whittington for phase 2 training, which teaches the basic skills of a dental nurse.

To become a dental nurse in the RAF training can take up to 18months, you must pass multiple exams and register as a dental care professional once qualified.

What does a day in the life of a RAF dental nurse look like? The truth is, it’s hard to pinpoint because every day in dental nursing varies and that’s the beauty of the role.

But all dental nurses would agree that it is fast paced, educational, ever-changing and a team effort.

Fast paced – As a dental nurse we are always thinking ahead and multi-tasking to ensure that surgeries are well stocked, instruments have been sterilised and are ready to use for when the patient arrives. The day can vary from seeing patients for PDI’s (Periodic Dental Inspection’s) fillings, extractions, fitting dental prosthetics and root canal treatment. PDI’s are vital to ensure that all service personnel are fit for active duty and that they are not a risk of developing serious dental conditions when deploying, especially outside of the UK.

Educational- Every day is a learning day in dentistry, even when you think you have seen it all. As registered professionals, dental nurses are required to complete Continuous Professional Development (CDP) as part of their General Dental Council (GDC) registration; this simply ensures that Dental Nurses are continually learning new advancements in dentistry, developing personally and are up to date with current dental guidelines. Our CPD ensures we are giving the best possible care to our patients. Dental nurses can also train for post-qualifications, such as fluoride application, taking dental radiographs and teaching oral health education.

Ever-changing – Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) ensure that we are providing safe and effective dentistry to Service Personnel.

DPHC set our Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s); these are regularly reviewed to ensure that no matter which dental centre

you are seen at, you receive a consistent level of care.

Teamwork – The team at RAF Brize Norton consists of a mixture of military personnel and civilians. Dentists and dental nurses work closely together and develop good communication skills with each other, so much so that they seem to know exactly what each other need without saying a single word! Training teaches dental nurses the materials, equipment, and instruments and all their uses. (There are over 100 different instruments that are used in general dentistry).

So, what does a typical day look like for a dental nurse?

Well, we all start at 8am as a team, we get changed into our scrubs and set our surgeries up ensuring that all equipment is working correctly and is signed off. The hardest part of the job is technical errors, whether it be equipment malfunction or computer issues. These issues cause delays to patients and disrupt smooth clinical delivery.

Our appointment book lets us know which patients are coming in, how long their appointment is, and the treatment needed.

Once the dentist is ready, we call our first patient through. We check through the patient’s medical history and dental charting to ensure that all records are up to date. Dental records always need to be accurate in the event of formal identification of a body. Ante mortem records we store, show all rotations of the teeth, spacing and fillings in a

patient’s mouth. X-rays are taken to have a better view of the teeth and bone levels. Dentists and dental nurses always leave the room when an x-ray is being taken to limit the amount of radiation to which we are exposed.

Once the appointment is finished, the surgery is cleaned, and the instruments are processed for sterilisation. The surgery is then set up for the next patient.

At the end of a working day, we all work as an effective team and rally around helping each other shut down surgeries, ready for the next day.

Dental nursing is an extremely rewarding career; some dental nurses go to university to train as dental hygienists or become dental practice managers.

STEM

Throughout the day Flt Lt Jason Osmer and Sgt Adam Page delivered Spheros Robotics sessions to 90 pupils ranging in ages from 4 to 11. The sessions encouraged the pupils to think about how robotics effect our day to day lives and also introduced them to basic coding and programming.

Service Personnel and Civil Servants who would like to volunteer to help with upcoming events please contact Flt Lt Jason Osmer at jason.osmer100@ mod.gov.uk; no experience necessary as training will be provided! Any schools or youth groups who would like to engage with the RAF Brize Norton STEM Team are also encouraged to get in contact via the email address.

The RAF Brize Norton STEM Engagement Team aims to encourage pre-GCSE children to become interested in STEM subjects so that they may consider a future career in the STEM field.

On the 27th April the RAF Brize Norton STEM Engagement Team held at event at Clanfield CE Primary School as part of the School’s Military Day.

Abingdon Waves Goodbye to the C-130

The RAF’s C-130J Hercules has made one of its final public appearances ahead of its retirement at the end of June.

Event organiser Neil Porter said: “In a nutshell it was a warm sunny day which is perfect conditions. The C-130J arrived mid afternoon on the Friday and the next day there were queues of people wishing to take a look and the crew were kept busy all day. It’s a perfect farewell from us and Abingdon as 47 Squadron has history back in the RAF Abingdon days. We also welcomed a C-17 Globemaster from RAF Brize Norton flown by 99 Squadron, which had equally large queues of people eager to explore the aircraft. It was a real coup for us and extremely fortunate to have two air transport types support, especially the C-130J before they retire.”

RAINBOW CROSSING

RAF Brize Norton has unveiled a new pedestrian crossing system at a key intersection at the main entry point to the Station, including the first Rainbow Crossing present on a military establishment in the UK.

Members of the Defence Infrastructure Organisaton at RAF Brize Norton became aware of the need for an improved pedestrian crossing system near the very front of the main gate of RAF Brize Norton, linking walking routes and improving safety for all users of the busy entry point. The improved design sees a new Zebra Crossing installed which links to an intersection with the RAFA Kidz Nursery entrance much to the delight of the children. Rainbow Crossings can be found across the UK, supporting the LGBTQ+ community and promoting diversity and inclusion.

The idea for the project came from Sara Hayes who works as an Estates Facilities Manager for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation at RAF Brize Norton. She said: “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community I am very proud to see this project completed and unveiled on the 31st of March, which is Transgender Visibility Day. The Rainbow Crossing has strong ties with the LGBTQIA community, but over the past three years, it has also become a symbol of thanks to emergency staff during COVID.

It serves as a reminder of the progress within the MOD and its stance on

RAF Voyager Flies 291 Cuddly Giraffes Raising Thousands for Charity

A Royal Air Force Voyager based at RAF Brize Norton has taken flight with 291 special passengers on board.

The Flight of The Giraffes saw 291 toy giraffes fly as passengers on the Voyager aircraft, filling every available passenger seat on board. Each giraffe was sponsored by individuals or groups to raise money for the Giraffes on Tour charity.

Giraffes On Tour has seen several cuddly giraffes fly in RAF aircraft over the years raising money in aid of Great Ormand Street Hospital, in memory of Louise Conway who sadly lost her battle with Leukaemia in 2013.

The flight took place on Wednesday 19th April, as a routine air-to-air refuelling sortie. Sponsorship of the giraffes came from far and wide, including local schools, RAF bases, community groups, radio stations, and individuals.

Voyager pilot Flight Lieutenant Mark Scott organised the flight and flew the giraffes. He said: “The idea came to me when I saw Giraffes on Tour in the news. My daughter also has a toy giraffe who happens to have come with me on a few trips around the world, so I got in touch with Ian from Giraffes on Tour and pitched him the idea to fill an RAF Voyager, all 291 seats with sponsored giraffes to raise money for the charity. Today we took the giraffes on an airto-air refuelling sortie, which we regularly fly in support of the RAF’s fast jet force. We had Typhoons and F-35s joining us in formation as receiver aircraft, all observed by the giraffes. For anyone tracking the flight they will have seen that we also drew a heart in the sky around the area where we were operating as a symbol of what we were doing. The whole flight went as planned and I’ve been thrilled to bits with how it went.”

Ian Conway, Director of Giraffes On Tour said:

“My daughter Louise had a toy giraffe called ‘Geoffrey’ while she was in hospital at Great Ormand Street and that’s how the idea started. Since we started, we’ve had giraffes flying all over the world and it’s been fantastic. It’s something that brings light, and joy and it means a lot to us that so much money has been raised with so many people who’ve been involved. Louise was about fun and seeing all these giraffes flying across the world would have brought her huge joy”

The hope is now to return each giraffe to those who sponsored them, knowing that the giraffes took part in a crucial element of RAF operational training, and helped raise thousands of pounds for charity. The flight raised over £4000 for Great Ormand Street Hospital with the total still rising as extra donations come in.

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Gig on the Green

Saturday 9 September 2023

Cokethorpe School, Witney

Tickets at cokethorpe.org

Family-Friendly Music Festival | Local Food Vendors

featuring

The inaugural Gig on the Green at Cokethorpe. A family-friendly festival with live music from the award-winning Levi Roots and legends of the local music scene in Oxfordshire, the Deadbeat Apostles, Blue Stew, Stage Dive Dave, George Lewis, and Winestain. An array of food and drinks will be available to purchase from local providers on the day.