Hello, At the time of writing the sun is in the sky and Summer seems to have well and truly arrived here at RAF Odiham, and not before time either – the winter dragged on far too long. Summer brings with it a whole host of things to look forward to, including the amazing Families Day on 09 Aug. The project officer (Si Almond) and his team have put a huge amount of work into delivering what will be one of the best events in recent memory to enjoy. We ask a huge amount of our Service Families here at Odiham, and this is a small way of us saying ‘thank you’ for your forbearance and support.

Isn’t Summer a beautiful time of year? The flowers bloom and the cold of early spring is finally shaken off to reveal warmer days. Not only has the season changed – we have seen a lot of change around RAF High Wycombe as well. We welcomed Lt General Ingo Gerhartz (Chief of the German Air Force) as the new Director of the European Air Group and Air Marshal Paul Lloyd as the new DCAS – who visited station to meet personnel and conducted a walkaround of SLA. It never fails to impress me about the work and effort that many around station put into doing events for good causes. This includes seventeen-year old FS Cadet Evie Collins, who, along with her team pedalled many miles in a sponsored cycle event in our gym raising hundreds, and High Wycombe based Cpl Gary Binns took part in the challenge of a lifetime. Rowing 3200 miles from Lanzarote to Antigua in sixty-one days was a herculean effort and the numerous military charities his team supported will benefit greatly. Well done to all. The new Defence Catering Strategy launched in May has proved overwhelmingly popular with a wider degree of choice and diversity with a pricing schedule to suite every budget. I urge everyone to sample the new food range in our Messes. Our Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris room on One Site continues to attract a worldwide visitor audience and I was honoured to be named the 6000th visitor since its inception in 2015. If you have not had the opportunity to go, please do make time for a visit – it is well worth it. In a full calendar of events during the year, we look forward to Armed Forces Day, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, our Annual Formal Inspection and the Annual Formal Reception where we will give thanks to our supporters who do so much for our station during the year. Our station could not function without the hard work and dedication of our military and civilian personnel and for all your efforts I give my personal thanks. I hope that you enjoy this wonderful summertime.

Looking further ahead planning is also already underway for the Station Heritage Day in September and even Bonfire Night! I am grateful, as always, to those who make these events happen whilst carrying out their busy primary duties. This edition of Mainpoint includes articles on Halton’s history 100 years ago and covers many of the Station events and activities which have taken place over the last few months, including the successful adventurous training ski exercise to Tignes.