Visit the Letters ‘side’ menu occasionally to see who has written to us. The latest letter there is from our late President Gerry Bunn’s wife Patricia after she was made an Honorary Life Member of the Association.
' FROM BROOKLANDS TO BRIZE '
Ian Macmillan & Dick King were delighted to receive their long-awaited book on 10 Squadron's Centennial History from the printers on 12 December 2015.
The Association has donated complimentary copies to OC10, Wg Cdr Jamie Osborne, for his unstinting support of the Association during his tour at Brize Norton and also to Founder Members of the Association: Tom Thackray and Doug Evans, for their long-service and devotion to the Association over the past 31 years.
Further copies will be also awarded to Mr John Rowbottom of Melrose Farm, Melbourne Yorks who has supported the Association from its early days, in donating the land for the Squadron War Memorial and maintaining the area for the past 30+ years. A further volume will be sent to Mr Michael Wood of Melrose Farm for retention in the Melbourne Watch Tower which he and his colleagues have restored as a museum memorial to 10 Squadron.
Ian and Dick congratulate each other on completion of their 3 year task
Signing some of the books
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN
6 June 2022
Dear Members,
Following Gp Cpt Gerry Bunn's sad and untimely passing in April, the committee has addressed the question of finding a replacement for him as the President of The 10 Squadron Association. Gerry held the Presidency for 38 years, in fact, from the formation of the Association by Doug Dent and his World War 2 Halifax colleagues in 1984. After his time as OC 10 Sqn, Gerry continued to provide his full support for the Association and there is no doubt that we will miss his sage advice and encouragement which he gave freely.
After careful consideration by the committee, we decided to invite another former OC 10 Sqn, this time from the Voyager era, to be the new President. Consequently, I am very pleased to announce that Gp Cpt Jamie Osborne MA RAF (Retd) has accepted the honour and is now the President of The 10 Squadron Association. A former VC10 and Tristar pilot before serving as OC 10 Sqn from December 2013 until January 2016, Jamie is currently a Full Time Reservist at RAF Benson where he fills the post of Chief Flying Instructor on Oxford University Air Squadron.
Jamie Osborne in 2015
With best wishes,
Mike Westwood
Chairman of The 10 Squadron Association
On 8 May 2021, the 76th Anniversary of VE-Day, a former Officer Commanding No 10 Squadron was remembered when the 10 Sqn Association's efforts to replace his weather-worn grave headstone came to fruition in a Gloucestershire village cemetery.
Wg Cdr Arthur Whitelock, who designed the original Squadron Badge & Motto during his command from 1929-30, lived with his wife Frances in Cirencester after his retirement from the RAF at the beginning of WW2.
Their ashes were interred in the cemetery at Bibury to the north of their home and the Association has spent two years attempting to find relatives and subsequently to obtain permission to replace the Whitelock's eroded headstone.
A small ceremony to inaugurate the new locally-made stone was held on a day which was probably the wettest May day on record. Improvised plans were made at the last minute to conduct most of the dedication service inside the lovely Bibury church of St Mary's and it was only the final unveiling that was undertaken in the wet, grassy cemetery a hundred or so yards away. Three former OC10s honoured their predecessor, together with a Covid-19 regulated limited number of other attendees.
See a fuller Report here: OC10's Headstone Replaced in Bibury Cemetery
and a selection of photos taken on a very rainy day here: Images at Bibury
