Just trying to make sure that this item gets as much coverage across the Armament world as possible! I know from experience that we all complain because good jobs/posts never seem to be advertised, they often seem to be the province of the priveleged few.

Well, I'm about to complete a Loan Service tour here in Muscat, I work in the Arm Eng Dept, HQ RAFO. The Dept deals with absolutely everything armament, from storage, role eqpt, SA all the way to EOD. The post recieves LOA and Overseas Loan Service Allowance and is open to Sgt/Chf Tech/Flt Sgt, all you need is EOD, ESAM and preferably an Instructor Q.

No one has yet applied to replace me, If you are interested call Barney Wallace at PMA, he has my details and the necessary gen to get you started on the trail! This is a plum job and if it goes begging we'll loose it forever!

"Giz" Neal

"This year's UK Arm Golf Championships will be held at Boston West Golf Club on the 30th June 2008. It is expected to attract over 100 Armourers past and present, and will be heavily sponsored by several major defence companies. This is an ideal opportunity to catch up with some old friends over a few beers while having a good walk spoilt. If you are interested in taking part or require further details please PM me.

Regards Beaver80"

On July 18th 2008 the 2nd Charity Cricket Match will be held between 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron and a Barnack Select XI. The match will just like last year be played at Barnack Cricket Club near Stamford, the start time of the match is yet to be announced, however its normally around 1800hrs. Anybody interested in coming to join in the festivities is most welcome. Last year was a tremendous success and a good time was had by all - not many sober people left at the end. We even had a streaker (less said about that the better though I think as some people are still suffering from the trauma of seeing Odd Job with no clothes on). I am hoping that as many armourers as possible could attend and help us to raise money - this year am hoping that a donation will be made to Help for Heroes, a totally worthwhile cause. Just like last year the match will take place (bar open pre-match of course), and after the game there will be a disco and more drinking, a raffle and possibly an auction (depending on what I manage to scrounge from generous local companies). The theme for fancy dress this year is the 1970's. So please if you fancy a giggle come and join us. If you need any further information you can contact me via this site or by emailing me at cindyquirk72@aol.com

Thank you

Cindy

Armourer lost an arm in Basra cycling the Big Battlefield Bike Ride Sponsorship!!!

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Big Battlefield Bike Ride- 26th May 2008 to 1st June 2008

Hello I am SAC(T) Jon-allan Butterworth and I work at RAF Cottesmore as an armourer. I was injured last August in Basra where I lost my arm in an Indirect Fire Attack. After excellent rehabilitation at DMRC Headley Court I felt like I had to give something back to help others through, what is a tough and difficult time ahead.
I am going to be part of the DMRC Headley Court cycling team, a team of patients and staff (support riders) will be participating in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride to show their support for the appeal and help contribute to the fund raising effort. Although the team will be made of 10 riders collectively we will only have 18 legs and 17 arms!! By participating it is hoped that:

1. The team will raise a significant contribution to the Appeal.

2. Team members will test their Physical fitness, stamina and mental toughness helping in their rehabilitation journey from injury.

We will be covering 342 miles over 5 days. Cycling from Caen to Calais, we will visit some of the many war memorials and battlefields of Brittany and Normandy. On the final day we will meet cyclists participating in the Great British Hero ride ( please see: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/gbhr.html if you want to ride this) at Blackheath, South London and pedal to the Cenotaph. A fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives or were injured and maimed in conflicts around the world.
We have set ourselves a heady target of £23000, of which my own personal contribution to this target is £2000 so please dig deep, every little will help. You can donate by either cheque, made payable to ‘’Help For Heroes’’, bank deposit or by going to our justgiving website, http://www.justgiving.com/jonallanbutterworth1.

Thank you.

Sender Name: gavin haywood
Sender Email: gavinhaywood@hotmail.com
Message: I wonder if you could help me?We have an elderly gentleman that frequents our local,and he would like gather any information on his time in the RAF so he could try trace old friends that he has lost contact with over the years.
His name is Ollie Webb
He was an Armourer who done his training at Kirkham in 1945 or 1946 where after he was appointed to No4 Flying training School and based in Gwelo,Heany and Bulowayo in africa in 1946 and 1947
He was a volunteer reserve and his force number was 3103453.

Any help you can give us to help Ollie out would be greatly appreciated
thank you
Gavin Haywood

"To all who sponsored me this year in my cycling events around the country, may I take this opportunity to say a huge thank you . Through your generous donations, I have managed to raise in excess of £1000.00 for the British Heart Foundation and your support was greatly appreciated"
'BN'

Update for the last news item .Airbus have now stopped recruiting as of this morning 29 10 07.

This is for all.Resource group are currently looking for another 80 electricians to work on the A380.The electrical qualifictions we hold as armourers stand us in godd stead for the job.In fact at least 8 ex armourers from Saudi now work for airbus as electricians.The Money is far better than Bae who are not recruiting anyway and have already cut allowances in Saudi.If anyone is interested you will need to emphasise all your electrical quals and expeirience ie looming,fault finding ,rectification,installation of cables,use of test equipment.There are no interviews just a chat on the phone as one of the guys is ex RAF so he knows what quals plumbers have.Rest of the details below.


Days 27.50 euros an hour supposed to do 45 but round about 37
Eves 28.00
Nights 30.00

2 week rolling shift mon-fri

Plus 77.4 euros a day living expenses

Monthly payment of 198 euros for flights

Contact avm@resourcegroup.co.uk attn alan dolphin phone no 08704424340 or Simon Larkins.Good luck

Sirs, Ma'ams, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It seems hard to believe that 9 months have passed since we said farewell to our friend and colleague Sgt John Longstaff. John was an armourer on II(AC) Sqn at RAF Marham. Sadly he lost his brave fight with leukaemia in December 2006. When it was discovered that his illness would in fact be terminal a fund was set up to raise money with the intention of sending John, Yvonne, Jessica and Beth on holiday together before the disease overwhelmed him and he would no longer be able to travel. Sadly this could not be the case as the leukaemia took hold far quicker than any of us anticipated. It was decided that the fund would continue to run, all proceeds to be forwarded to Yvonne and the children to use as they see fit. I passed a cheque onto Yvonne in March 2007 and today handed over a final cheque and closed the John Longstaff Fund account.

It is with great pride I inform you that in total the sum of £8008:14 was raised for John's family. I know this money can in no way take away the pain of Johns passing but I sincerely wish it was helpful in making life a little more comfortable for Yvonne, Jessica and Beth. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this fund. Your kindness and generosity is simply outstanding.

Yvonne has asked me to pass on a few words. The following words are hers.

"To just say thank you doesn't seem enough for the overwhelming support and kindness shown to Me, Jessica and Beth during John's illness and since his death last December. I sometimes look back on last year and think what happened!!? one minute everything is going along as normal next thing our whole world is turned upside down,that sort of thing that happens to other people!
A collection was started at the funeral for the Shouldham Ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, £2000 approx. was raised and we intend to present the cheque next month.
We have received the money from the fund that Scotty organised and have decided to use it for the holiday of a lifetime. After much discussion we decided to go to China. We are going next month for 10 days, the trip includes a tour of Beijing, the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, The Terracotta Warriors finishing off with 3 days on the beach. That way we combine history/culture (John would have been proud!) and beach.
I was delighted to be invited to officially open the newly named 2 Squadron Longstaff Lounge, an appropriate and fitting tribute. I had to smile when I discovered that it was Karaoke night, we all know how John liked to sing!
People have asked me about the headstone and when it will be erected. I am expecting to hear about that in the not too distant future. It is hard to encapsulate a man like John in a few words, after much deliberation the inscription we chose is Devoted Husband and Father The Song is Ended but The Melody Lingers On.
Plans for the future, when we get back from our holiday we are moving to Dereham. Jessica gets the results of GCSE's, she intends to continue at Wymondham College and starts 6th Form in September. Beth is returning to Wymondham College to start year 8, and I start at the UEA in September for a 2 year MA in Social Work.
A special thank you to Tommo, Scotty, Laura Brown, the Padre and Tom Smith for helping me sort through all the things that need sorting during such a difficult time. It is a comfort to know that no matter how big or how small the problem, they are at the end of a phone. Although they have been the main people I have been in contact with, I have been told about the numerous enquiries about our well being which is appreciated.
I know that if John is looking down on us he would approve of what has been happening for the last 7 months. X"

Yvonne Longstaff

Yvonne and the girls did indeed go to China and had a great time, Yvonne has started her 2 year MA at the UEA and Jessica and Beth have both retuned to Wymondham. Jessica passed her GCSE's.

Could I please ask that you circulate this e-mail around you Stations/Squadrons/Sections. John had many friends, not just Armourers.

I thank you all.

Brian Scott

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=468619&in_page_id=1770

Please take the time to have a quick look at this.
I just think that the views of the stuck up locals stink and are all wrong. So would be grateful if those who feel the urge or are as disgusted as me could take the two minutes to sign the petition to get this place up and running.
This one is for the daily mail story and comments page.There is also a petition on the 10 Downing street page.

Cheers Jim