Cosford Apprentice - Spring 2024

Cosford Apprentice

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Our welfare break gave us the quality time we needed as a family.”

- Al Dyer

Our holiday home is available for breaks all year round.

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CALL 0300 102 1919

Advertising:

Designer:

Command Handover

Woman of the Year

Cyber Apprentices graduate as AS1s

From the Padre’s Desk

Cosford Esports - the journey so far

No. 1 Radio School Pantomime Club

New Deployment Guides

WO Paul Kent is ‘Ejected’ from the Station

RAF Cosford spreads Christmas Cheer to 100 Veterans

Creative Christmas Workshops

The Reformation of No. 2 School of Technical

Celebrating 10 Years of Cosford Military Wives Choir

Whittle Flight visits 28 Squadron

Typhoon ZH590 arrives at RAF Cosford

Bobsleigh News

RAF Cosford Stars Ice Hockey Club

FROM THE EDITOR

The Spring magazine is traditionally harder to put together than the other editions due to its very early deadline in the new year. This hasn’t been the case this year, largely because so many of you have submitted great articles, and, let’s face it, there is always something interesting happening on the Station.

A magazine like this is a hugely collaborative effort. From you submitting many of the articles, to the Station’s photographers who have taken the vast majority of the images, to my deputy, Sarah Jones, who has done the bulk of the editorial work, and the team at Lance Media Group who put this all together on our behalf.  There is of course another group who make this magazine possible and that is those companies and businesses who pay to advertise their products and services in the magazine.

Many of these businesses are very local to us and offer unique discounts to you and your families. It is not an overstatement to say that without them, there would be no Cosford Apprentice. So, if you do get a chance to support them as they support this magazine, please do.

By Group Captain Cameron GW Gibb MBA BENG (HONS) CENG CMGR MIET MCMI RAF

Spring is upon us, and I hope many of you are taking some time to enjoy fresh air and sunshine after the long winter days. In this edition of the Apprentice there is much to celebrate at the start of the year, our personnel have been incredibly busy these last months and we have captured updates of what we did before Christmas with the always fun No.1 Radio School Panto and Cosford Christmas including performances from BFBS and the Military Wives Choir.

As I write this our graduation programme has already started in 2024 with trainees heading to their front-line roles across the RAF, and to give you an insight into their training there is a great article covering the apprenticeship they gain whilst they progress. There are also insights into the experiences we provide including visits to RAF Benson and 28 Sqn where some technicians may go on to work on Chinook and Puma helicopters. Ensuring our trainees are ready for their roles is an important part of what we do and with the complexity of technologies on platforms the RAF operates today, we must keep pace and modernise.

It was therefore a significant step forward for us when we received a Typhoon to train on. Alongside the Apache’s our School at Lyneham has to train the REME aeronautical engineers, the arrival of Typhoon DA4 is the first step in providing the foundation knowledge required to maintain 5th and 6th generation air systems. More widely, our personnel have taken the opportunity to progress their sporting interests and their updates on Bobsleigh, Ice Hockey

and Esports which show just how many things are available to do at RAF Cosford.

And as always what we do, and our successes would not be possible were it not for the amazing service of our whole force. This edition of the Apprentice highlights the tremendous work of Chief Tech Emma Morgan who recently was awarded the title of Woman of the Year at the Women in Defence awards and celebrates the service of WO Paul Kent how retired after many years In the RAF and finishing up as the No.1 School of Technical Training Warrant Officer.

In January this year the Station also moved under the control of No.2 Group as part of the RAFs air command and control initiative. The move sees all Stations transition to reside in No.2 Group

with the outputs across the RAF such as flying and training sitting in No.1 and 22 Groups respectively. Locally this means little in terms of change, however the role of Station Commander has transferred to what was Base Support Wing OC and Wg Cdr Brady assumed those duties on behalf of 2 Group.

Aside from a slight reduction in my email traffic, my role as Commandant DSAE remains and I take on the additional title of Commander Air and Training Wing as I continue to command the outputs from RAF Cosford.

Finally, as things invariably get busy and as we all start to enjoy the lighter brighter days, our Padre has a few thoughts to consider.

Have a great spring all!

COMMAND HANDOVER

At a short ceremony on 30th January 2024, Group Captain Cameron Gibb handed over Command of RAF Cosford to Wing Commander Penny Brady.

Group Captain Gibb retains the position of Commandant of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering and is now also Commander Air & Training Wing.

WOMAN of the YEAR

Chf Tech Emma Morgan is an aircraft engineer that has recently worked on No.1 SofTT, Mechanical Training Sqn, as well as leading the critical role of Workforce Requirements within the School’s HQ. She has since been posted to the Engineering Professions Advisory Team.

Akin to many, Emma has had tribulations to deal with in her personal life. Her formative years were punctuated by the passing of both of her parents at an early age. More recently, she received a diagnosis which will lead to open heart surgery to replace part of her aorta. This shocking medical advice came at the same time when she was dealing with significant relationship issues.

Emma would have been forgiven if she had given up and focused inwardly, instead, this single parent raised three children, progressed swiftly through the ranks in her outstanding career and at every opportunity has supported others. Life has taught her to face adversity, but also strive for success. She is an outstanding role model for others and a clear example of what one woman can overcome and then achieve both personally and professionally.  While Emma and others fly the flag for

women in STEM occupations, engineering in the RAF remains heavily represented by males, however, she demonstrates daily how Women in Defence can survive and thrive.  Every day she epitomises the professional working woman in the workplace, providing inspiration and confidence to new female recruits whilst breaking glass ceilings and unleashing potential.

Chf Tech Morgan has never let her personal landscape diminish the effort she can afford in improving the lives of others. This has been evidenced by her involvement in the setting up of the newly established Defence Domestic Abuse Survivors Community

and Network. In addition, she supports Shropshire Domestic Abuse Services, helping other women in crisis and helps raise awareness for the prevalent issues in society regarding domestic abuse. Emma attended the ‘Everywoman Global Summit’ due to her involvement in ‘Women’s Health in Defence’. She gave her free time at Christmas to facilitate parties for children with life threatening illnesses. Closer to home and despite her own caring commitments, she throws herself into every imaginable event – her energy levels are truly indefatigable. She singlehandedly arranged large-scale functions for over 1,000 trainees and junior ranks who were

eternally grateful for her efforts whilst they continue with their training for 14-months away from their own support networks.

It is rare to witness someone with the strength, resilience, and generosity to conquer in the face of adversity whilst remaining so humble and unassuming. However, what is truly admirable is that she never considers her own life struggles, but entirely devotes herself for the betterment of others. The personal time she devotes to organising social events for our trainees epitomises this. Her work with the RAF Central Fund has generated considerable sums of money for many sporting clubs and individuals. She never filters the good from the bad, she tackles everything head-on and simply delivers in all scenarios.

In Dec 2023 Chf Tech Morgan was nominated and became a finalist at the Women in Defence Awards in London. Of the four RAF nominations and thirty other finalists, Emma came away with both her category of ‘Resolute Spirit Award’ and ‘Woman of the Year’. An outstanding achievement from one of RAF Cosford’s finest, we wish her well in her next role and will follow the rest of her career closely. Bravo Zulu Emma!

CYBER APPRENTICES GRADUATE AS AS1s

Recent changes within Phase 2 training for RAF ICT Technicians has resulted in trainees graduating from Phase 2 training, at a higher rank. In line with most other professions, Engineers and Cyberspace personnel have traditionally been promoted to AS2 on graduation of Phase 2 Training, followed by promotion to AS1 on completion of further Professional Workplace Assessments.

The requirement for the completion of Professional Workplace Assessments. Following the recent changes, the need for RAF ICT Technicians to complete further Professional Workplace Assessments when posted to their new unit before promotion to AS1 has now been removed.

ICT technicians will now graduate as AS1s directly from Phase 2 training, aligned with all Aircraft Engineers and Survival Equipment Technicians. RAF ICT Technicians spend an average of 12 months in Phase one and two training. In combination with the review, the Cyberspace Profession Advisory Team successfully and confidently eliminated the AS2 rank from the ICT Technicians career journey.

This accomplishment minimises administration time for frontline Units enabling them to invest more meaningful time developing a workforce capable of executing tasks associated with their roles whilst compiling all necessary evidence for the successful completion of their apprenticeship. An additional outcome of graduating as an AS1 is that ICT Technicians will directly advance to pay increment level 5 upon completion of phase two specialisation training.

Course No 4400/070 were the first course to graduate No 1 Radio School as AS1’s In November 2023 and CN4400/071 were the first course who graduated as AS1’s with the rank on their uniforms.

FROM THE PADRE’S DESK AT RAF COSFORD

As I look out my window, it’s so good to see the trees dressed in new leaves and bright, yellow daffodils springing up from the ground. If any of you have spent time with me, chatting in my office, you will know that whatever the season outside, it rarely falls beneath 25 degrees in here - yes, I am from Zambia, and we like our weather to be hot and sunny!

So, it’s a huge relief to me, to see that back of Winter in the knowledge that warmer days and longer evenings lie ahead. Springtime, it turns out, is many people’s favourite Season, and yes of course part of that is the more favourable climate, but I think it goes deeper than that – Spring-time is full of new beginnings, whether it’s lambs in the fields or chicks in the Primary One classroom incubators, we know that Spring is a time of new life, and with that comes renewed hope.

If you’re reading this having come through a really tough Winter, I want to offer you hope – because if there’s one thing that nature teaches us, it’s that nothing stays the same for long – the world keeps turning and what was difficult, challenging and might have led to despair, when we choose to hang in there, cling on with whatever we can, share our troubles with a trusted friend, and allow ourselves to be truly seen, heard and understood, we open ourselves up to the possibility of hope and often unexpected resilience in the midst of uncertainty.

But the key to reaching this place of hope and resilience is vulnerability – I don’t know many people who willingly or gladly make themselves vulnerable. Everything in our culture and particularly the military environment rails against vulnerability. Our leaders, our communities, families and even we, ourselves, want to be strong, to have it all together, to show no fear or weakness. The only problem with this is that we are Human! And to be Human is to be vulnerable – look at how we are born into the world compared to animals – after a few hours, a horse can stand and run, but a newborn baby is utterly dependent on the love and security given by its parents. We are hard-wired to be vulnerable, to need one another, not just as infants, but throughout life.

That is life as it should be lived to its fullest – in community with others, sharing life’s ups and downs, listening, and being heard, and ironically, it is in this place of vulnerability or so-called weakness, that our greatest strength is harnessed.

So let me encourage you, as Springtime unfolds, to find the courage to be fully Human – with all that entails. Give yourself permission to be honest and real with yourself and with those around you. Talk to those you can trust, be vulnerable, share what concerns you and in doing so, I assure you, you will find hope for what lies ahead and greater personal resilience than you ever imagined lay within you.

Every blessing,

Padre John Mbayo.

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COSFORD ESPORTS

As with any project this one started as a conversation, two enthusiastic people sharing like-minded ideas that get increasingly more far-fetched as the enthusiasm grows. Esports is the term given to social and competitive gaming at any level that is done primarily in a collaborative manner.

The journey so far

In June 2023 I was approached by Flt Lt Steve Rennie for assistance to establish an Esports presence at RAF Cosford. Flt Lt Rennie heads the RAF Gamers Network (RGN) and Cosford has provided valuable assistance

in the past to the competing teams representing the RAF at INSOMNIA which is one of the UK’s biggest gaming expo’s that is hosted at the NEC in Birmingham. With an idea of what was to be achieved a project was created

and planned, covering multiple aspects including location, equipment, accessibility to the internet and interior design. The RGN had received funding from the RAF Central Fund to purchase Hi-Specification gaming PCs and they agreed to furnish the club with 16 of these which were delivered brand new direct from the manufacturer. No1 Radio School kindly allowed the use of an unused classroom and gave permission for us to dress it appropriately, allowing me to create an environment that is not only familiar but comfortable to a modern gamer.

With equipment delivered and a location secured, a small team of new Esports committee volunteers and I started to unpack, install, and engineer the equipment after painting and decorating the location. Station Graphics very kindly accepted a request to wrap one of the walls of our room and we provided some LED lighting to

set the mood. After introducing the Station Commander of RAF Cosford to the facility accompanied by the No1RS OC we were ready to host our first live event in the room.

The RAF Storm Shadows (who are the RAF Esports discipline that compete in Rocket League events) asked if they could host a live broadcast event for BBC children in need which included a live link so that they could be interviewed, and we jumped at the chance to host them. The event happened on Friday 10th November and lasted from 9am until 1am and managed to raise £1200 leaving all competitors in high spirits and the Cosford Esports Club feeling immensely proud of what they had established in such a short amount of time.

The club is currently officially setting up a committee and sorting out background paperwork and accounting tasks however, we plan to open to members at the end of February 2024. If you wish to join the committee or just want to get involved, please use the contact details below, membership will be accessible by Serving Staff, Civil servants, trainees, and contractors who work at RAF Cosford.

OIC – Flt Lt O’Connor liam.oconnor824@mod.gov.uk

Chairperson – Sgt Ferris Daniel.ferris830@mod.gov.uk

NO1 RADIO SCHOOL PANTOMIME CLUB PRESENTS…

No1 Radio School Pantomime club presents Treasure Island 2023, what a wild ride that was. Starting with a harmless passing comment at a mess function to dancing on stage in front of hundreds of panto Goers certainly wasn’t how I had expected the end of 2023 to go.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the 2022 performance of Jack and the Beanstalk I was aware the club was planning to put on another show for 2023 but I never in

my wildest dreams thought I would be a part of it.

I started working in No1 Radio School in January 2023 and was happily learning what my new job entailed, getting to know

people slowly and becoming more confident around the school. At the No1 Radio School symposium function I was seated next to the wonderfully enthusiastic Mr Neil Law (the Pantomime Club’s performance co-ordinator) and the rest as they say is history. After tentatively saying yes, I read the script and went along to the first reading.

I was beyond nervous having never really met anyone in the room before and my only claim to acting fame was a little production of Snow White for my afterschool drama club. All those fears were alleviated as soon as we began reading and everyone started laughing, I knew from that moment I had been swept up in the magic of the pantomime.

As the months passed and the performance drew near the cast grew from the small band of giggling adults to something resembling a show.

The cast’s families and friends, on seeing that the show required support, stepped forward to volunteer for roles, make them their own and develop the characters. We rehearsed over lunch breaks, evenings, and a couple of weekends to make sure the show was as polished as it could be, this extended to produce props, sets, and costumes. Everything that was worn, held, or used to set the scene was made by our own fair hands.

Before we knew it the day was

finally here, opening night of the production that we had so lovingly nurtured to this point, and it suddenly dawned on me that we would have to perform in front of everyone. Even though we were all nervous and physically shaking as soon as we heard our cues and the music started, we soon got into the swing of things. The laughter and cheers from the crowd had us flying through the performance and within the blink of an eye it was all over.

Both performances were incredible to be a part of and this has unexpectantly been the biggest confidence booster I have experienced in a long time.

The No1 Radio School

Pantomime Club welcomes everyone regardless of experience, Rank or whether you are serving or civil service, with a large portion of last year’s cast made up of wives, kids and veterans. There truly is something for everyone; it could be set building, backstage and prop management or making a complete fool of yourself in a silly costume, why not get involved I promise you won’t regret a thing.

To Join the No 1 Radio school’s Panto Club family simply contact either FS Kyan Batty IC or myself and get yourself ready for the 2024 production.

Mrs Leanne Ferris, TMSS Support Flight, No 1 Radio School, Cosford.

Ladies and gentlemen, the No 1 RS Pantomime Club Presents: Robin Hood and The Babes in the Wood.

NEW DEPLOYMENT GUIDES

Deployment Information, previously known as deployment pack ups, often varied in content and quality from station to station. The RAF HIVE Service introduced three new Deployment and Detachment Support Guides in November 23, offering one resource to access deployment information for RAF Service Personnel and, most importantly, their family members.

Now accessible to all Serving personnel and their families and unlike previous versions, these new guides have been tailored to specific groups: one for Serving personnel (SP), one for family members (such as parents, spouses, or partners), and one for Serving personnel with children. Additionally, each guide will be customised by local

HIVE staff to provide unit-specific information on the support available to family members of deployed personnel.

These refreshed guides mark the beginning of a wider review, aimed at enhancing the support provided to our serving personnel and their families, during detachment and deployment.  This in turn, heralds the beginning of a wider review of communications to RAF families, primarily through RAF HIVE.  Through recent families’ forums conducted by RAF Community Support Staffs from HQ Air Command at a number of our Stations across the UK, RAF Community Support recognises a need to get ‘back to basics’ with a refresh of communication channels and methods of reaching out to families, to ensure they are well

informed and able to engage with the RAF whenever possible.

The new Deployment Guides can be viewed and downloaded from the RAF Community Support Deployment SharePoint site (internal access only), and we are currently exploring how these can be made available online externally.

Station specific guides are available in digital or hard copies from RAF Cosford HIVE. Either call into the Community HUB or e-mail for a copy.

There are many forms of welfare and wellbeing support available for our families living either on or off units. The RAF HIVE Information Officer (HIO) and the Station Community Support Team are there to support our people and their families by providing timely and accurate information and assistance.

If there is any uncertainty of accessibility regarding the HIVE Service on your unit; Further information signposting the relevant service contact HIVE Service Management email: Air-COSPers-DelComSptHIVEMlbx@mod.gov.uk.

Betsan Miller RAF Cosford HIVE Information Officer

WO PAUL KENT IS ‘EJECTED’ FROM THE STATION

After 36 years of Royal Air Force service as a Survival Equipment Technician, Warrant Officer Paul Kent was ‘ejected’ from the Station on his last day in uniform.

Paul has served around the world during his 36 years and said he has enjoyed every minute of it, and that he would do it all again tomorrow.

RAF COSFORD SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER TO 100 VETERANS

RAF Cosford celebrated the festive season with 100 Veterans from the wider Shropshire and local area by hosting a Christmas lunch and activities, supported by the RAF Benevolent Fund. The Veterans were waited on by Serving Personnel in Uniform along with Civil Servants from the Station who ensured a great time was had by all.

Jean Hartshorne, Community Development Officer at RAF Cosford said: “This year’s event proved extremely successful

due to integrating the Veterans Christmas dinner with the families and Junior ranks Christmas Fayre and party providing a plethora of

activities for all to enjoy including a caricaturist, a photo booth, stalls, a pantomime and mulled wine. We are forever grateful to the RAF Benevolent Fund for their unwavering support to the RAF Family.”

Christmas can be a difficult time for some members of the RAF Family, particularly those who struggle with loneliness and social isolation, so we at RAF Cosford are delighted to have provided to the Veterans a Christmas lunch, festive fun and a space to socialise with other Veterans from the area and staff from the Station. This seemingly small gesture reminds them that they are not forgotten and are part of a bigger RAF Family.

COSFORD’S CREATIVE CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS

The festive spirit was in full flow at RAF Cosford where 2 Christmas wreath and table decoration workshops for 40 people were delivered with a mixture of service personnel and spouses attending, all left with amazing professional looking Christmas decorations.

The workshops were organised and delivered by Jean Hartshorne, Community Development Officer who said ‘the response has been outstanding for places on the Christmas workshops, it has been a pleasure to be able to deliver fun filled workshops where they have learnt a new

skill and met new people too’

Jaki Timmins one of the participants on the Christmas Wreath Workshop said ‘I have learned so much from the workshop, it has really inspired me as I’ve never done anything like this before, I would definitely recommend it’

For information on up-and-coming courses organised by Community Support Contact Jean Hartshorne, Community Development Officer

Email: jean.hartshorne454@mod.gov.uk

If anyone would like further information on Community Support Initiatives at Cosford please contact Jean Hartshorne, Community Development Officer

Email: jean.hartshorne454@ mod.gov.uk

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CELEBRATING

10 YEARS OF COSFORD MILITARY WIVES CHOIR

Do you like to sing? Even if it’s just in the car or the shower!

Are you female with a Military or Civil Service connection?

Then why not come along and join us at Cosford Military Wives Choir. We are based at the Chaplaincy Centre, next to the community hub RAF Cosford. Every Tuesday evening 7pm for a 7.30pm start until 9.30pm with a cake and coffee break.

We are a group of like-minded women who love to sing, chat, and support each other. You don’t have to be a wife; we have a wide membership umbrella that means any female connected to the Military can join us.

No experience or auditions are needed. We provide the music, supportive teaching tracks and cake!

All the musical events, from social evenings to concerts that we attend always include singing and support.

We don’t expect you to do everything just do what you feel you’d like to do. Though from

most of our members feedback they normally want to take part in everything!

This year we have performed at many lovely concerts supporting various charities.

We are also looking forward to supporting the RAF Museum again this year at Remembrance and SSAFA at their Christmas Extravaganza. All welcome.

Over the 10 years that we have been running, we have had some amazing opportunities from recording albums to singing at the Grand National and lots inbetween.

Why not pop along any Tuesday and see what we do, I’m sure you will love it.

If you’re new to the area this is a great way to meet new friends whilst enjoying lots of singing and laughter.

Please contact us for further information: cosford@militarywiveschoirs.org

Find us on Facebook: @Cosford Military Wives Choir or Instagram @cosfordmwc

We look forward to welcoming you along soon.

Kellie, Cosford MWC Choir Lead

WHITTLE FLIGHT VISITS 28 SQN

On Wednesday 17th January a group of Aircraft Technician (Avionics) trainees from ART (Aviator Resilience Training) Section visited 28 Squadron at RAF Benson.

The visit allowed the trainees to gain valued experience of rotary aircraft and of squadron life outside of their Phase 2 training.

The visit included an informative brief about the 28 Squadron and its role, greatly explaining the opportunities / tasks a newly posted Aviator might expect to do. This was followed by a guided

tour inside and out of a Chinook in the maintenance hangar.

They enjoyed an engaging question & answer session with Pilots, WSOPs and engineers of all ranks that gave them a greater insight into day-to-day squadron life, before experiencing boarding a live-running aircraft.

Personnel from DSAE, RAF Cosford and 28 Sqn thoroughly enjoyed the day, with a lot of new information learnt.

TYPHOON ZH590 ARRIVES AT RAF COSFORD

Typhoon ZH590 (known as DA4) arrived at RAF Cosford from the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in November 2023.

Since then, work has been undertaken by the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron and Station personnel to prepare the aircraft for use by aircraft technician apprentices.

DA4 will be used to train the future technicians in numerous ways, such as inspections of material and aircraft surfaces, and as part of the Flight

Line Operations training.

The Typhoon’s composite materials will provide a modern training aid for the foundation knowledge required to maintain 5th and 6th generation combat air systems, and the aircraft will also be used to develop contextual training for future deployments.

Group Captain Cameron

Gibb, Station Commander, RAF Cosford and Commandant Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering said: ‘The arrival of Typhoon at RAF Cosford affords the next generation of RAF technicians access to the complex air systems they will go on to maintain when they reach their Squadrons. This will greatly enhance the RAFs ability to fly, fight and win’.

DA4, one of 7 development aircraft built with varying equipment fits and flight test roles, was initially used as a 2-seat avionics development aircraft at BAE Warton in Lancashire between 1997 and 2006 when it then became a ground instructional airframe at RAF Coningsby. It was transferred to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in 2009.

BOBSLEIGH

The return to Elite sport and GB bobsleigh, for myself, has been more successful than anyone thought possible. Overcoming the initial injury was a physical challenge but nothing could prepare me for dealing with the mental aspects involved with such a high-risk, adrenaline filled sport and how my body would react.

As a team, we have achieved 4 ‘top 6’ wider podium finishes in the 2-man discipline, out of 5 races. We also secured our first Top 10 result in the 4-man discipline. These results have placed us in 6th overall in the European Cup combined rankings and 5th Overall in the 2-man discipline. The only teams ahead of us are the powerhouse nations of Germany and Switzerland. IBSF Ranking.

The success of these results has proven that, as a team we have

world cup potential, meeting the standards set by the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton federation to qualify the team to race against the very best and make our 2-man World Cup debut. This took place in St Moritz, Switzerland on the 13th of January at around 1pm and was televised to over 25,000 subscribers on YouTube.  (https://www.youtube.com/@ IBSFsliding) Along with another World Cup race in Lillehammer Norway.

Our success so far has also put us on track to potentially qualify and be selected for the IBSF World Championships in Winterberg between 17th February – 6th March 2024. Attending World Cups and World Championships are strong supporting markers in achieving UK sport funding and securing Elite Athlete status within the RAF Sport pathway. We are proving as a team that we have some real potential to

be a competitive international bobsleigh team and that the goal of qualifying for the 2026 Olympics is not out of reach.

Our season began in Sigulda, Latvia in late October for some initial ice training in preparation for the last 2-man race of 2023.

The initial nerves of being back inside a bobsleigh, at a track I had never slid at before was tough. In the first couple of days, I did make a mistake which resulted in a crash. However, this turned out to give me a bit of relief and confidence that my neck was strong and that the injury I had last year was a freak accident. During the crash I did cut my knee open, this required 11 stitches and meant that I had to sit out from sliding for a week. This time away gave me the opportunity to watch other sleds and lines and re-focus my efforts. We ended up finishing in Sigulda with over 25 runs on ice and fully

confident for the European Cup races in December.

Our first races of the season took place in Lillehammer, Norway, with one the busiest racing schedule of the IBSF calendar - 6 races in 7 days. Lillehammer is a track in which I have a lot of experience at, with over 100 runs on ice here we headed into the races quietly confident. Our 2-man equipment is quite competitive and with a solid start I knew we could turn a few heads. The first 3 races saw the team take 6th, 9th & 6th again, outperforming our start times I drove us from 17th place up to a top 6 position on 2 occasions in a field of 31 sleds. Beating the other GB and Marine Pilot who were ranked above us within the GB setup, and only a few hundredths away from 5th place.

With a relatively inexperienced crew we set out on performing in the 4-man races too, with the goal to secure a top 10. We achieved this on the last races placing 13th, 11th, 10th. With further investment in our 4-man equipment in the future and improvement in our starts and experience we expect to build on our results into 2024.

The last races for myself and the team took place in Sigulda, Latvia. A double 2-man race at one of the most technical tracks in Europe which usually sees a smaller field of teams due to its location. After our recent podiums Sigulda opened the opportunity to prove that we as a team were not a one-track wonder. Due to my performances in Lillehammer the federation recognised our potential and

allowed myself to race with a slightly better brakeman. This improved our push time enabling us to have the 5th fastest push time, ensuring we had the best opportunity to improve and

challenge for more podiums. We placed 6th in race 4 and 6th in race 5 matching the Swiss team to a hundredth of a second.

The final challenge of 2023 was to return to the track Altenburg, Germany in which my accident took place. This was probably the toughest few runs of my bobsleigh career to date, the work and runs which total nearly 75 runs beforehand kept me steady and allowed me to fall back on my training. We finished up with 10 runs on track and confident that we would be in a good position to race here again in the opening races of 2024.

The hard work and determination to get back to competing and the years of commitment developing myself both physically and mentally to perform at the highest level, is finally paying off.

The opportunities for myself to compete at the 2024 World Championships are becoming

more and more likely, I’ve been released from work until the 5th Feb 2024, and it has been a massive ask for AVTF to support that time, both on staffing levels and the impact to trainees. I am truly grateful for their support and that of the station so far.

I am hoping that AVTF can support me further and extend my return-to-work date until the World Championships have been completed. The World Championships coincide with my commitment to support RAF Bobsleigh at the interservices. This is unfortunate as I know the experience I could bring to the squad would be invaluable, however, the opportunity to race at a World Championship is something that cannot be missed.

Updated Calendar 2024

RAF COSFORD STARS ICE HOCKEY CLUB

On 3rd February 2024, the RAF Cosford Stars Ice Hockey Club played an away game against Peterborough Warriors. This was their first in the ‘Laura Carrillo Memorial Cup’, a league dedicated to one of our players. It was a tough but enjoyable game for the Stars who, with help from the RAF Vulcans, were able to field a competitive team whilst introducing developing players to games.

The game ended 6-2 to the Warriors, but the Stars are looking forward to the rematch later in the year.

RAF Cosford Stars train on Monday nights at Telford Ice Rink and teach both service pers and civilians from novice all the way through to advanced.

If you would like to learn how to play, please contact them through their social media pages @RAF Cosford Stars Ice Hockey Club.

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