The Best Family Service Ever!
We were blessed during July to host our friends from Goldsboro, North Carolina. Doc and Judine Heidicker came over to the UK to attend the dedication of the 121 and 133 Eagle Squadron badges at the RAF Club in London.
Doc is the Wing Historian at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina whose history lies in the airfield at Kirton in Lindsey as far back as World War II. Whilst over here they spent 10 days with us in Market Rasen. “What to do with them?” we asked ourselves. We knew we could fill their days with enough RAF events but we wanted them to experience community life and be part of something special. It was during a conversation with Sue Deacon that she invited us to attend the Family Service on Sunday 08 Jul to celebrate the RAF’s centenary. Doc and Judine admitted that they had not been to Church in a while and were intrigued to find out what was involved.
The Family Service was the best Service that I have ever attended. The warmth that we received when welcomed to the Church was very special to us. From the moment the Service commenced to the moment we left, we felt we had been part of something special. Doc and Judine enjoyed themselves immensely commenting how important it was to involve the local children in the centenary celebrations; they will become our future one day and it is important to remember the sacrifices made by so many on our behalf.
The best part of the morning, for me, was Pete. I wasn’t expecting to see a puppet but it was absolutely magical and I laughed at his antics. I am not sure how he managed to get into the cockpit of a Red Arrow when some of us, who have worked at RAF Scampton for 14 years, are still waiting!! The flying of dedicated paper aircraft was a lovely touch as well.
Thank you very much for the invitation to join you at this very special service. The Scampton community is an extremely special one very dear to our hearts.
Gill Angel
(Community Development Officer) RAF Scampton.
Editors note: We’ve just heard on the news of the Ministry of Defences decision the close RAF Scampton because the investment needed at the base would be better spent improving the RAF’s existing core sites. Sad news indeed, especially for all the 600 staff employed there and, in this its centenary year.
Images featured are the poster and a collage of photos from our celebration of 100 year anniversary of the RAF. All self explanatory really!
