RAFA flies into the Scottish Parliament.

Mar 3 2010 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

MEMBERS of the Royal Air Forces’ Association from East Kilbride were among dozens from the organisation invited to the Scottish Parliament recently to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Among MSPs welcoming them there was Margaret Mitchell, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland.

Commenting on the event Margaret said: “The RAFA is made up of serving and retired RAF members, their families, dependants and others who support the work of the organisation and has almost 74,000 members in the UK. There are also over 500 branches in the UK, Europe and abroad.

“The association provides assistance, welfare and friendship to serving members and veterans of the RAF as well as their families and its work is done on a purely volunteer basis.

“The volunteers, like John Sharpe and Archie Caulfield from RAFA East Kilbride, who attended the event, work to care for veterans in their area, taking an interest in their welfare, and helping veterans with day-to-day problems.

“Their work also includes visits to veterans at home to help with whatever problems they may have and, of course, out of friendship and camaraderie.

“The RAFA receives no Government funding, so funds for their work are raised by organising various events including, dances, bingo and bag-packing.

“I completely agree with Squadron leader Walter Baird in describing the volunteers, as ‘unsung heroes’.

“Furthermore it is all the more important to remember just how meaningful the efforts of RAFA and its members are, especially in the light of current conflicts.”