ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATION, OUR AIMS
click here for news on Newsletters, Reunions, AGMs
Objectives
- To maintain contact, including home visits, with ex-WAAF, ex-WRAF and serving and ex-serving women of the Royal Air Force.
- To provide practical and other such assistance, wherever possible, to members.
- To arrange meetings, outings and other activities for members.
Membership
Full membership is open to:
- Ex-WAAF who served 1939-49
- ex-WRAF who served between 1949 and 1994.
- serving and ex-serving women of the Royal Air Force who have served since 1994
Subscriptions: Annual membership of the Association is £10 and cheques payable to the WAAF Association should please be sent to The Hon Treasurer, Linda Hamill (see contact page). If you require a receipt or an acknowledgement of your subscription please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your sub.
The Constitution of the Association can be seen in full by clicking for this pdf file Constitution, revised 2019
Current membership is world wide. There is an annual membership fee.
Our Patron is Air Commodore Catherine Coton MA RAF.
Previous recent Patrons have been Air Commodore Cynthia Fowler RAF(Ret), who succeeded the late Dame Felicity Peake DBE AE JP.In recent years the chairmen of the Association have been:
Tracy Watson 2018-
Sandie Faloon 2016-2018
Margery Harley 2013-2016
Eileen Hollidge 2012
Joan Brooks 2009-2011
Ruby Mallinson MBE 1997-2009
Betty Woods 1994-1997Veterans' Badge, Medals, Service Records - 0800 169 2277
The Veterans UK website has information for UK Armed Forces veterans who are entitled to this free badge
The Veterans UK website also has information about claiming your service medals.
Service Records: The Association holds no service records. When someone wishes to look at a service record, this is only permitted by the UK authorities when requested by the person or by next of kin.
The website to look at for such requests is
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
Tartan etc
Association Kilts
Blazer Badges
Kilts and skirts may now be purchased from:
Ruthven Milne, Piob Mhor, Cupar Angus, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH13 9AE: Telephone: 01828 627919
We have asked our Badge Maker to design a new badge for our Association (like the one on the left of your screen).
If you would like to order one please contact:
Alister Reid Ties (ART) tel 01772 204504 or email salesATalisterreidties.com (change AT to @ before sending!).
Price will be £13 plus £2 p&p plus VAT (if we get to 10 ordered, the price will reduce to £11.
Note: We usually wear a black tie.
Personalised lapel badges.
Award Productions Ltd, PO Box 300, Shrewsbury, SY5 6WP, telephone 01952 510053 or website: www.awardmedals.com
Website & Research
Our website is maintained for us by the 207 Squadron Royal Air Force History website's editor Frank Haslam in recognition of the service given by the WAAF and in particular those who served on No.207 Squadron.
To comment on the WAAFA website send an email to web@waafassociation.org.uk . Your message will also be passed to The WAAFA Newsletter editor.
Research: The WAAF Association Newsletter can publish requests for information about former WAAF.
The Aircrew & Groundcrew Research website carries a number of such items.On the left of your screen are links to A WAAF bibliography page and to Useful Sources.
Branches & Local Meet contacts
These are listed in our Newsletter and may change so please email us with your address and we will peovide information on your nearest contact/branch (there are now just three branches).
OTHER
2014
Howard Goodall's Girlfriends, with music and lyrics by Howard Goodall, written by Howard Goodall in collaboration with Richard Curtis and John Retallack, was directed by Bronagh Lagan and presented by The Union Theatre, in association with Aria Entertainment and performed by arrangement with Faber Music Ltd. London. "It is set on a Bomber Command air base in Norfolk in the darkest days of World War II, amongst the volunteer ranks of the WAAF - young women who came from all corners of the UK (and the Commonwealth) to join Britain's first fight for survival against the Nazis: their loves and losses, their fears and friendships, their laughter and their bravery. They weren't just part of history - they made it."
'Girlfriends' ran from 29 October - 22 November 2014 at the Union Theatre in Southwark, Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm.2011
Diana, Countess of Ilchester, née Simpson, for many years President of our Association, died on 1st March 2011 aged 89. Her Memorial Service was at Westerham Church at 2pm on 22nd March, attended by some WAAF members. She was well respected and will be sadly missed.
http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/where/westerham/Countess-Ilchester-dies/article-3310673-detail/article.htmlPorthcawl's Yvonne Cornelius, 90, receives WWII Medals
from the BBC SE Wales News 12 June 2011: A 90-year-old woman who served during World War II has received her medals after waiting 70 years. Yvonne Cornelius, of Porthcawl, served as corporal in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. At the 70th anniversary dinner of No3 Welsh Wing of the Air Cadets, held at Swansea's Liberty Stadium, she was finally presented with her medals.
About claiming your medals2009 - We carry on!
Chairman's Report - Mrs Joan Brooks
Hello Ladies, I am most pleased to be addressing you as your National Chairman.
For those members unable to attend the recent AGM a Retiring Committee Resolution that the WAAF Association should cease at the conclusion of the 2009 AGM was overwhelmingly defeated by the members present. Your new committee were elected unopposed.
The committee have decided to leave the membership subscription unchanged for the present. However, the Membership Secretary will be reviewing the lists, as we are aware that some members have not paid their current subs due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of our Association. Iris, the Treasurer is looking forward to receiving them. This seems a good moment to suggest that if members would like a reply when writing to a committee member, they enclose a SAE. Postage is a very big item and that would help considerably.
We are returning to the Royal Court Hotel at Coventry for our 2010 AGM. As time was short, the Committee had to act quickly and we were fortunate to be offered the dates shown. A show of hands at Worthing indicated approval. So get you bookings in quickly to avoid disappointment.
I shall look forward to meeting many members at the WAAF Service at St Clement Danes in September and I hope to be able to march with you at the Remembrance Day Parade.
To conclude, for the benefit of members not present at Worthing, I repeat - this is your Association and the committee will welcome your ideas and suggestions (and complaints) and discuss them fully. Enjoy your summer.
Joan2009 - the Future of the Association
adapted from the Summer 2009 WAAFA Newsletter in which the Newsletter Editor wrote:
Well, Ladies - I'm just back from your 2009 reunion and AGM at Worthing where the matter of the future of the Association was discussed at some length and in much detail. There was clearly much passion amongst the delegates with wide-ranging debate about the viability of the organisation particularly in terms of falling membership numbers and reducing finances.
Your National Committee brought a resolution proposing the closure of the Association as from the end of this year's AGM. Following the proposal, which is reproduced in full in the printed WAAFA News, together with the committee's opinions and reasons for making this proposal and a lengthy debate, a vote was held of all the delegates attending the AGM.
The result of the vote was an overwhelming majority to continue the Association with the new committee members.
So, there you are - the Association will continue with an almost new Committee. Congratulations to those who offered to stand for office!
Chairman: Mrs. Joan Brooks
Vice-Chairman: Ms Eileen Hollidge.
Secretary: Mrs Ann Peacock
Treasurer: Mrs Iris Catlin
Committee Members: Mrs Marjorie Harley, Mrs Vera Morgan, Mrs Iris Sheppard.
The above members were voted on to the new committee at the Annual General Meeting at Worthing on 24th April 2009Of course, very many thanks go to the former Officers and Committee members who have led your Association over previous years. Without their help, leadership and plain hard work, it is certain you would not be here in 2009 to make this decision!
Meanwhile, it is business as usual in the office! If you wish to raise any matter about the printed WAAFA News, please write or e-mail. Interesting letters may be quoted or published, but if you do not want your comments to appear in print, please mark your letter NOT FOR PUBLICATION. Please remember to enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you wish photographs to be returned - and remember there are now different stamp prices for different sized envelopes! It is also worth bearing in mind that for safety's sake it is a good idea to keep any war-time and /or original photos that you treasure at home and send a good photographic copy.
2006
- A former WAAF was one of two Bomber Command veterans who unveiled the Ledger Stone in Lincoln Cathedral on 27th July 2006, dedicated to those who gave their lives on Bomber Command.
- Mrs Ruby Mallinson, a former Chairman of the Association, was awarded the MBE in HM the Queen's New Year's Honours list, December 2006, "For services to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force Association". The Association congratulated her and was proud that it had been recognised in this way.
this page last updated 19 Oct 19