The Royal Air Force Association

RAFA Beccles and Southwold Area Branch (1214)
Registered Charity No. 1129736
RAFA Remembers “The Few”

On Sunday 19th September 2010, 70 years after the crucial Battle of Britain, the sound of organ music rang out in a packed St Benet’s Minster, Beccles, in a service to commemorate the bravery of the Royal Air Force pilots, many of whom gave their lives in defence of freedom, Air Cadets and Royal British Legion Standards from many Branches together with the RBL Suffolk Standard entered at the slow march led by the Union Flag.

The Service was conducted by the Branch Padre, the Rev. Dom Antony Sutch MA (Oxon). An address was given by Air Vice Marshall Grahame Jones CBE RAF who also took the Salute in Exchange Square with other Senior Officers in the Parade following the Service, together with Waveney MP Mr Peter Aldous and the Mayors and Civic Leaders of five local towns.

RAF Veterans, the Royal British Legion and members of all three Services, Beccles and Lowestoft Air Cadets, and Beccles Sea Cadets, also paraded and the parade was led by the band of 469 (Lowestoft) Sqdn Air Cadets to a reception at the Royal British Legion Club in Ravensmere.

RAFA Chairman Mr Brian Vousden commented “At this 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, our thoughts and prayers go to the young RAF Pilots and many others who took part in the battle, and in the sacrifice they made giving their lives in the defence of freedom. “We will remember them”.”