RAFA at Gibraltar Air Base - December 2007

Málaga Remembrance Day

British Forces Gibraltar were invited to lay wreaths at the Commonwealth War Graves in Málaga as part of the Remembrance Day service held at St George’s Chapel on Sunday 11th November 2007. The event, organised by the Royal Air Forces Association Benalmadena branch, is a chance for those members of the ex-patriot community, many of whom have strong ex-service links, to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday.

Squadron Leader Mike Kennedy led the small contingent from Gibraltar which consisted of 3 RAF wreath layers, one RAF standard bearer, one RN wreath layer and a bugler from the Gibraltar Regiment. The British Consul in Málaga, Mr Bruce McIntyre laid the first wreath, followed by the service representatives and representatives from the Royal British Legion, Royal Air Forces Association and Royal Naval Association.

RAFA at Gibraltar Air Base - October 2007

The RAF and RAFA Gibraltar fund raising efforts have raised £1,900 for the Wings Appeal Charity, excellent results from a small branch and an operational unit. As a thank you to the people of Gibraltar for all their support a cheque for £500 was presented to the Lady William Hospice in Devil Tower Road on Wednesday 10th October. The new RAFA chairperson, Kate Hart presented the cheque to Selina Victory.

RAFA at Gibraltar Air Base - September 2007


“Air Base Commander, Royal Air Force Gibraltar, Wing Commander Chris Purkiss,Bsc,MBE, presents a cheque for £1500 to Diane Brice, Vice Chairperson, RAFA Gibraltar Branch.”


“RAFA Gibraltar Branch Officers, Diane Brice, Welfare Officer Mike Hamence and Chairperson Katie Hart.”

September 11th saw an informal ceremony at Gibraltar Air Base, when the Air Base Commander, Wing Commander Chris Purkiss, Bsc, MBE, presented the proceeds from the recent RAFA Wings Appeal Concert in Gibraltar, to RAFA Gibraltar Branch Vice Chairperson Diane Brice.

The proceeds were an interim payment from the annual RAFA Wings Appeal. Further collections were made by Branch members over the weekend of September 15th; ‘Andalucia Life’ hopes to publish the final sum collected by the Branch in the November edition.

Until recently RAFA Gibraltar Branch consisted mainly of serving members; there was no need for a Branch Welfare Officer, let alone any responsibility for welfare cases along the Costa del Sol.

The ever increasing number of people relocating to the Western Costa del Sol will include many former Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Air Force personnel and their dependents who are entitled to the Welfare opportunities of the Royal Air Forces Association and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. Welfare cases along the Western Costa del Sol are bound to increase, so it has been decided to share the workload between the Benalmádena RAFA Branch and RAFA Gibraltar.

RAFA Life Member Mike Hamence of the Gibraltar Branch has recently been appointed Welfare Officer for the area between Marbella and Gibraltar, and inland to include Casares and Gaucin. Mike works closely with Benalmádena Branch Welfare Officer Derek Brown to ensure that if any former RAF or Commonwealth Air Force member needs help, it is not far away.