Birmingham Branch information updated by the Birmingham Branch Secretary Malcolm Baldwin who can be contacted by telephone on 0121 608 3791 or by e-mail at baldwinmalc@blueyonder.co.uk. 

HISTORICAL INFORMATION FOR THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH OF THE RAF REGIMENT ASSOCIATION

 To date, there are three items on this page under the following headings.

Item 1 A History of the Purchase and Development of the RAF Regiment Memorial Garden
Item 2 A History of the Birmingham Branch Standard Purchased April 1990
Item 3 The Dedication of the Birmingham Branch Standard Sunday 19th May 1991

ITEM 1 A HISTORY OF THE PURCHASE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAF REGIMENT MEMORIAL GARDEN AT THE NMA

The Birmingham Branch of the RAF Regiment Association was the driving force behind the project to have an RAF Regiment Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.  Details of the project can be viewed by following this link.

ITEM 2 A HISTORY OF THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH STANDARD

The Birmingham Branch Standard was the first branch in the Association to purchase a Standard and the Standard and its equipment, cost £600.00.  The purchase of the Standard was financed by donations from Branch members and was ordered early in April 1990.  Our first Standard Bearer Doug Tapsell and the two Standard Escorts Ron Barnhurst and Don Hancock were elected at the Thursday 12th April 1990 Branch Meeting.  The Founding Secretary of the first RAF Regiment Association,Squadron Leader “Mick” Warren RAF (Rtd),  who designed our Standard, generously donated a RAF Regiment belt buckle to be used by the Branch Standard Bearer and two pairs of white gloves to be used by the two Standard Escorts.  Mick also donated a guide “Notes on the use of Standards” for the guidance of our Standard Bearer.

On Sunday 3rd June 1990, the first Standard Presentation rehearsal ceremony was held during the day at the TA Barracks, Haslucks Green Road, Shirley, Solihull.  This was arranged by Warrant Officer John Fawke of 492 ATC Squadron.  John also offered to assist us on the day and provided 492 Squadron Cadets to act as the RAF Regiment Colour Presentation Party and also the 492 Squadron Standard to use for the occasion.  A final rehearsal was held at the Nautical club on the evening of Wednesday 13th June – the night before the Formal Presentation – and was to the music to be used for the Formal Presentation.

The Standard was formally presented to the Branch at the Thursday 14th June 1990 Branch Meeting.  We had arranged to have our monthly Branch Meeting half an hour earlier than our normal 8.00 p.m. starting time, and then to continue with the Standard Presentation.  But on the night, it soon became apparent that everyone would rather talk to the members of the RAF Regiment Standard Presentation Party from RAF Catterick who were already in the Club, than have a meeting.  So we quickly decided to postpone the business of the evening to the following month.

At 8.15 p.m. we mustered on parade for the Ceremony and lined both sides of the Mounbatten Room.  The Standard Presentation Party was commanded by Squadron Leader Terry Noyes.  Warrant Officer Les Chapman carried the Standard and the Escorts were Flight Sergeant R Cunningham and Flight Sergeant M Wilson.  The parade was called to attention by the Birmingham Branch Secretary Malcolm Baldwin who was acting as the Parade Marshall, and our guests all stood up.  The Standard Presentation Party who had mustered outside the room, marched the Standard into the Mountbatten Room and then up the room to where the Birmingham Branch Standard Bearer and Escorts were waiting.

The Standard Presentation Party halted in front of the Birmingham Branch Standard Bearer and Escorts.  Squadron Leader Noyes then took the Standard from Warrant Officer Chapman and presented it to the Birmingham Branch Standard Bearer Doug Tapsell.  Squadron Leader Noyes and the Standard Presentation Party then saluted the Standard.  Squadron Leader Noyes then gave a speech formally presenting the Standard to the Birmingham Branch.  The Standard Presentation Party then marched out of the room.

The Birmingham Branch Standard Party then marched the Standard down the room in quick time to the tune of the Royal Air Force Quick March, to the far end of the room and halted.  The Standard was then marched in slow time to the RAF Regiment March Holyrood, up the centre of the room between the ranks of Birmingham Branch members.  The Birmingham Branch President Wilson Dixon then gave a speech of welcome to the RAF Regiment Standard Presentation Party and on behalf of the Birmingham Branch, accepted the new Standard.  He then presented Squadron Leader Noyes with a framed Commemoration of the event to be displayed at RAF Catterick.  After other presentations, the Standard was then marched off parade and the parade was dismissed.  The Standard was then displayed on a stand on the Mountbatten Room stage.

 A very enjoyable evening then followed with a buffet provided by Marie and Graham Garvey who also gave the Standard Presentation Party packed rations for their return journey to RAF Catterick.  The members of the Standard Presentation Party were also each presented with Limited Edition Wolverhampton and Dudley Brewery Centenary Presentation Packs of beer, specially brewed for their centenary. 

 The enthusiasm displayed by our members that evening was absolutely tremendous.  Our members were so proud of our new Standard that they were queueing up to have their photographs taken in front of it.  The Ceremony was also filmed by professional photographers Len and Andrew Goode both in video and stills formats for later purchase by our members.

When the Standard Presentation Party were about to leave the Club and Squadron Leader Noyes was saying farewell to the Branch President Wilson Dixon and the Branch Chairman Dave Ball he said;

 “It was a marvellous ceremony and the standard of drill and the turnout were a credit to the RAF Regiment".

ITEM 3 DEDICATION OF THE BIRMINGHAM BRANCH STANDARD
Sunday 19th May 1991

The Birmingham Branch Standard, which was the first Standard in the Association, was dedicated by the Very Reverend Peter Berry, Provost of Birmingham, at a service held in St Phillips Cathedral, Birmingham, on Sunday 19th May 1991.  The service was attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, Councillor and Mrs Bill Turner.  The Principal Service Guest was the Deputy Director of the RAF Regiment, Group Captain M A Basnett who was accompanied by Mrs Basnett.

The service was followed by a parade led by the Shirley Pipe Band from the Cathedral, along Colmore Row, past the Council House where the Salute was taken by Group Captain Basnett accompanied by Mrs Basnett, the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress.  The parade continued along Colmore Row before turning right into Chamberlain Square where the parade was brought to a halt and dismissed.  The parade was then followed by a celebration buffet meal at the Nautical Club. 

The Rolling Photographs There are 12 photographs and numbered 1 to 12 they are as follows. 1. Birmingham Cathedral Church of St Phillips 2. Shirley (Solihull) Pipe Band 3. 492 (Solihull) Squadron Air Training corps 4. The Standard Bearers outside the Cathedral as 492 (Solihull) Squadron ATC Cadets who were acting as Ushers leave the Cathedral 5. Provost of Birmingham, the Very Reverend Peter Berry, watches the parade March Off 6. After the March Off, the Parade about to Left Wheel into Colmore Row 7. The Standard Bearers proudly led by the Birmingham Branch Standard 8. Members of the Association proudly led by Birmingham Branch Members.  All kept in step by Parade Marshal John Wilkins 9. Shirley Pipe Band Pipe Major passing the Saluting Base, Group Captain M A Basnett taking the Salute 10. The Birmingham Branch Standard Bearer and Escorts approaching the Saluting Base 11. Other Standard Bearers approaching the Saluting Base.  Suffok Branch Standard nearest pavement 12. Association Members approaching the Saluting Base, led by Warrant Officer Harry Hathaway RAF (Rtd) Birmingham Cathedral Church of St Phillips At the heart of the city, this fine 18th Century English Baroque parish church by Thomas Arthur, with its famous stained glass by Burne-Jones, in 1905, became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of Birmingham.  The popular churchyard, beautifully restored in 2001-2002, has a perimeter of cast-iron railings, with a double row of Plane Trees.

The Parade
The Parade Marshal was the Royal British Legion, Birmingham County, Parade Marshall John Wilkins and the parade was led by the Shirley Pipe Band, a local volunteer band with the highest standards and traditions.  Their playing and turnout were immaculate.  Immediately following the band were the Standard Bearers.  Including the Birmingham Branch Standard, there were fourteen Standards on parade. 

The Birmingham Branch Standard led the Standard Bearers of course, followed (at that time) by the only other RAF Regiment Association Branch Standard, the Suffolk Branch whose Standard Bearer was partnered by the Birmingham Central Branch RAFA Standard Bearer.  Following them were ten local RBL Standard Bearers.  Following the Standard Bearers were the members of the Birmingham Branch and other RAF Regiment Association members. 

Bringing up the rear of the parade, last but by no means least, for their bearing and deportment would have given credit to any Regiment parade, was 492 (Solihull) Squadron, Air Training Corps. They were led by their Standard Bearer.