North Wales Coast Branch of the Aircrew Association to lay up its Standard
Holy Trinity Church, Sunday 8 May, 10.30 am
On 8 May, the North Wales Coast Branch of the Aircrew Association is laying up its Standard at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno. Membership of the Association was open to anyone having been awarded a flying badge who was serving or who had served in the RAF, the Army, the Royal Navy or the forces of commonwealth and other nations. The national organisation recently resolved to disband the Association because of a dwindling number of members, many of whom were World War 2 veterans. Last year, the worldwide membership was 4500, down from a peak of over 40000 in the mid-1990s. With 75% of members being aged 80 or more, it was inevitable that the Association was experiencing a loss of energy and was becoming unviable.
The North Wales Coast Branch which meets at Llandudno’s RBL Club had, at its peak, over 60 members. However, in line with the national organisation, continuation has now become impractical and as a consequence, the Branch is disbanding this year. Its Standard is to be entrusted to the care of Holy Trinity Church at the 10.30 am service on Sunday 8 May and will be laid up in the church’s Memorial Chapel. The Rector of Llandudno Parish, the Rev Prebendary John Nice will receive the Standard for safe keeping from the Branch’s Chairman, Arfon Evans. The Branch’s Chaplain, the Rev Prebendary Robert Griffiths, Rector of Rhos-Cystennin Parish, will be the guest preacher.
Members, ex-members and other interested persons are welcome to attend.