CHAIRMAN’S NEWSLETTER
February 2025

Further to my November 2024 letter. we have decided not to call for Early Birds. The Reunion Team will be sending out the Invitation and Booking Letter in late-March, and this will initiate the booking process on a first-come- first-served basis. Application cut-off will be 6 June 2025

Many thanks to those who responded to the Questionnaire. The main concerns were the poor quality of the sound system and standard of overnight accommodation, including Sunday breakfast. We have been able to improve the sound system by the purchase of lapel microphones, but can do little about the accommodation except to say it is more convenient and cheaper than a hotel in Sleaford! We are in discussions with the Cranwell caterers on the possibility of a better Sunday breakfast experience.

We are hopeful that our Guest of Honour will be the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton.

The presentations in the afternoon will carry the theme ‘Air Power – Future Capabilities’, with guest speakers from Academe, the Service and Industry; with so much at stake, as we look forward to a challenging security landscape, this promises to be a most interesting and topical discussion period.

But the event will only be a success with your full support. Now is the time for you to encourage others to attend, and especially to make colleagues aware that there are anniversary dates to celebrate. For example, 87 and 88 Entries will be celebrating 60 years on from graduation, whilst 2025 marks 50 years on for the graduation of 19, 20 and 21 GEs. So, let’s make this a memorable and enjoyable reunion.

Lastly, a heads-up: next month Lord Robertson will be delivering his findings in Phase 1 of the Defence & Security Review. This will certainly be a topic for our Guest of Honour at the Reunion Dinner, but in the meantime I shall shortly be announcing a date for a webinar to address the implications for Air Power; more to come.

Warm Regards,

Chris

Sir Christopher Coville

Air Marshal

Chairman CA