ABF Curry Lunch at Haileybury

Many thanks to all those who supported the ABF Curry Lunch.

Our special thanks to Sir George Norton KCVO CBE DL, Grenadier Guards General, who took The Salute from our Cadets, and spoke to each of them personally, in a very engaging manner. That’s a skill. He also spoke about the importance of the ABF and our Cadets in our communities with particular reference the the values they stand for, and their alignment with the values that so many of their ancestors gave their lives to defend and protect.

He presented an Award to Royal Green Jacket – Garry Murray for his exemplary work in that community.

(Please Pictures in the Gallery Below. If anyone would like a copy, please email me on nick@welhatchamber.co.uk quoting the number of the picture.)

Our thanks also to our speaker James Nicolson (No H), who gave an excellent presentation about the experiences of Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, how brave and determined those boys were, how many lost their lives or were badly burned or otherwise injured. With pictures and stories about individual pilots, with particular reference to his Uncle, aslo James Nicolson, who was the only fighter pilot in WW2 to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Interestingly his Commanding Officer originally recommended a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross). However his bravery; that included being hit by cannon shells, then with his hurricane on fire, he pushed his throttle hand into the flames, and pursued the Hun, who had just shot down his colleagues, came to the attention of both Winston Churchill and The King, and his DFC was upgraded to the Victoria Cross by no less than Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC & Bar, DFC

Keith Park was a New Zealand-born officer of the Royal Air Force. During the Second World War, his leadership of the RAF’s No. 11 Group was pivotal to the defeat of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Prime Minister Winston Churchill said

“never… was so much owed by so many to so few“. It was Keith Park who led “the Few”.

Let us hope that we and our children can live up to the Courage these men and women showed, and ensure that we take full advantage of the opportunities they have created for us.