Cenotaph Parade

The Aircrewmans Association, as a Service Association, has been granted permission to parade its standard at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the annual Festival of Remembrance and to take part in the Cenotaph Service and Parade on the following Sunday morning. This is followed by the laying of a further wreath at the Fleet Air Arm memorial on the Embankment.

Post Parade report 2007:

We can report that the event went of well although, disappointingly, we were only 9 strong again. Having not read the small print we found that we were not eligible to parade our standard at the Royal Albert Hall every year and that in fact we can apply again in three years time so at fairly short notice we managed to divert our standard bearer to Lee on Solent for the parade there - we await the post parade report for that.

Back to London, Accommodation was once again sorted by John Fagin - In fact we are in debt to both him and John Sheldon for all the organisation this year. Transport left Yeovilton on Saturday afternoon with Fagbin, Blondog, Splash and Jay and they picked up the lone traveller (thanks lads) at the railway station on passing. Accommodation being in short supply on this particular weekend there were to be found a couple of people in each room "sharing" a double bed but we managed. Once we were sorted and having greeted travellers in the forms of Pete "Wally" Hammond and Dave "Pondlife" Wallace we were off to rendevous with Ian  Williams and Pete Imrie who had managed to snaffle the last two places at the UJC! The usual "get together" ensued with singsongs, a quick foray into the local neighbourhood (We soon got over that as the kitty could not stand the prices) and some friendly banter with the other organisations attending the UJC.

The return journey to the hotel was nearly uneventful on our "Family Quicksaver" tickets, the only disturbance being one of the local D- - - H - - - ds who decided he didn't like the look of Jay but failed to realise the fact that Jay was in the company of some 70+ combined stones of passive but fully prepared "Gentlemen". His mates did at the last minute however and were at pains to wish us good night and a nice weekend!

Up bright and early on Sunday - another trek through that housing estate and arrival at Horse Guards to find someone had nicked our marker board. That sorted we fell in and did the business and apparently got a good mention and visual on the telly. That was followed by the second wreath laying at the FAA Memorial on the Embankment, reached by a "Regulated march off" from Horseguards to beat the police traffic restrictions - our thanks to Mick Holdsworth for the organisation of this and we must remember the efforts of "Billy Cotton" who decided to be the duty GI - who could forget the efforts of Billy Cotton!

So our second succesfull year at the Cenotaph concluded we retired for some "Sea Time" ( A pint on a floating bar) and re-muster at the UJC for the washup (£1 a pint to marchers) before departing for home.

It would be very satisfying to achieve a full contingent next year and we really need to start planning now as the accomodation is the biggest hurdle, so please, think on - represent your Association in remembering fallen comrades at the National ceremony - and have a bloody good run ashore at the same time!!!

Lee on Solent Parade report:

The following was received from our Standard Bearer Roger Bigden

Thought that I should inform you that the ACA Standard was successfully paraded at the above on Remembrance Sunday and  the presence of our Standard was appreciated.

The Navy is definitely making the effort to maintain this Act of Remembrance, Cdre J Stanford, Assistant Chief of Staff (Aviation) came over from Fleet HQ at Whale Island to take the Salute and there was a good gathering of onlookers, who also took part in the Service of Remembrance.

There are two parades at Lee, the RN one, known as the 'Daedalus' Parade is at the FAA Memorial.and the other is the town's own to the memorial opposite the shops.  There were three standards present, The FAA Association Main Standard was carried by Barry Simmons, with the local L-o-S FAA Assoc' Standard carried by Ron Chadwick. We were behind the Guard, Volunteer Band and Unarmed Platoon all from Sultan. The three standards, Barry leading (he knows the routine!) led the FAA Assoc' Platoon and one or two others (FAA Officers Rep etc) for the March Past. The weather was good, if very windy for the parade and the rain started as we got back to the cars! Jesse James made a welcome attendance and Jan Lock bravely laid the TAG's Wreath without Rita being present, as she was laid up sick.

GIBRALTAR

Photo is of one of our ACA Life Members - Commander "Jim" Hawkins at the Remembrance Parade at Gibraltar 2007