Framlinghamian 2023-2024 Single page - web 144dpi - Flipbook - Page 236
SOF | WITH THE SERVICES
News from the Armed Forces
CDRE ROB BELLFIELD (K81-83)
2023/24 has probably been the most
is currently the Combat Air Force
interesting year from a geo-strategic
Commander at RAF Conningsby looking
perspective in my 41 years in the Royal
after the Typhoon and Lightning II forces
Navy; those years encompassing the tail
– the 昀椀ghters/bombers. It was great to
end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin
catch up with him at the commissioning
Wall, Perestroika in Eastern Europe,
parade of 809 Naval Air Squadron at RAF
Sierra Leone, 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq,
Marham – the 昀椀rst Royal Navy-badged
Afghanistan again, etc, etc. Maybe this is
Lightning II (F-35B) squadron at Marham.
because as junior o昀케cers we didn’t really
The Lightning II force is jointly manned by
think geo-strategically – unless we were
the RAF and the RN, and there are now
at Sta昀昀 College! We should rest assured
over 500 sailors stationed at RAF Marham
that we have an OF at the very centre
in NW Norfolk. The ‘Navy in Nelson’s
of the UK/US/Ukraine relationship with
County’!
Rear Admiral Tim Woods (Z83-88) as
the United Kingdom’s Defence Attaché in
I much regret that I haven’t managed
Washington – heading up the enormous
to reach out across the Armed Forces
UK Armed Forces presence in the United
OF community this year, but we will aim
States and leading with our political-
for a big splash next year. I continue in
military relationship. I have seen Tim on
post as the Naval Regional Commander
a number of occasions recently, in Su昀昀olk
for London and Eastern England until
and London, as his globetrotting includes
next summer and then will 昀椀nally take
plenty of transatlantic trips. He is relishing
o昀昀 my uniform and look forward to new
the challenge, the responsibility, the trust,
challenges and spending more time in
and the access. He will certainly be sought
Su昀昀olk. I have been able to catch up with
after as an after-dinner speaker when he
a few of my year from Kerrison – David
昀椀nally retires back to his home county of
Ibeson, George Wright, Tim Mosse, Jenkin
Su昀昀olk.
Leung, and Charlie Wright – normally with
John Watterson, our old housemaster.
None of us have changed!
I hear of OFs doing great work across
Defence. Air Cdre Howie Edwards
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