00:00The Royal Enforce Association was actually formed in 1943, during the Second World War.
00:11And it was not until the end of the war that it didn't really begin to develop,
00:17with branches open throughout the country.
00:20Now the war was only over a couple of weeks,
00:24when in October 1945, ten RAF veterans met in the club room of the White Horse Public House in Chichester Road,
00:33not the Beatles, of course, to discuss the formation of a local branch.
00:39The branch's first club was in London Road.
00:43From this meeting, Rapport Branch 381 was formed,
00:47and quickly grew into the thriving organisation of the main object being the welfare of ex-RAF personnel.
00:53The Bob and Regis branch was officially re-incorporated on October 16, 1945.
01:00Over the next ten years, the branch grew, meeting in various public houses,
01:06and raising funds through dances, bazaars, and donations.
01:11But nationally, several RAF branches had opened their branch clubs,
01:16with the aim to promote friendship and financially support the branches in their main welfare role.
01:22This became the aim of the Bob and Regis branch in the 1950s.
01:29But to open a suitable branch club, suitable premises had to be found,
01:35and the council planning consent obtained to adapt them into a licensed club.
01:40Now, of course, this was a tall order.
01:42However, it came to the intention of the branch committee that an old RAF hospital cut,
01:47now surplus the requirements of the nearby RAF Tangier,
01:50who was up for sale at £450.
01:55This was within the budget to purchase, and arrangements were made with the Bob and Regis Council
02:01for it to be sited among the trees in the London Road.
02:05Would you believe next to the wall?
02:08Which hopefully was not a sign from the council that it thought it wouldn't pass along.
02:15The hub was duly moved in, and with a lot of work by the members,
02:19was made suitable as a club premises.
02:22The branch club was opened on March 17th in 1954.
02:26The one drawback was the decision by the council to issue only a renewable plan by the police
02:33of the site, and it was eventually wanted to use the land for road improvements.
02:38By 1962 though, the situation had become critical.
02:44The club itself needed improvements, and the decision was made by the branch committee
02:50to look for new premises.
02:53The house at 8 Longford Road was identified by the branch,
02:57and has been an ideal building to be adapted into the new RAF branch and branch club headquarters.
03:03But the application for permission to go ahead was refused by the council,
03:07and the plan was dropped.
03:09However, undeterred, the branch club committee had been in its premises for another 9 years.
03:16The council eventually giving notice to quit in 1972,
03:20before the site now, which now became Berryville Close, next door to the police station.
03:29In the intervening years, the search for a new premises had been ongoing,
03:32and ended with the opportunity to purchase the Hoffman Gentleman's Club in Waterloo Square.
03:37This is the building you are now sitting in.
03:42This was a pretentious building, purpose-built club, originally opened in 1928,
03:46overlooking the following agreements with views from the company come to see.
03:51The Hoffman Gentleman's Club had ceased functioning when the building was on the market for £21,000.
03:58Purchasing the property, of course, was beyond the means of the branch.
04:02However, having paid £7,000 from its own resources, the ballot was financed over the next 20 years.
04:08Today, the Bodger Ridge's branch is recognised and respected by the Association for its outstanding achievements.
04:15It is very active with both branch and club committees,
04:18and maintains its every increase in welfare commitments, being particularly busy at the present time.
04:23Another fundraising for the Wings of Bill charity, Redleafs, takes place in the branch,
04:29and the branch is one of the top five contributors in the country.
04:35Members have raised more than half a million pounds in support of those in need within the RAF family.
04:41That's both veterans and serving personnel, but also, of course, the staffs.
04:47The branch club offers much to the members.
04:49Activities include bowls, choir, stripple band, breeding group, regular live music, talks, and much more.
04:56And this was recognised by the Association in the presentation of the President's Cup in 2023,
05:02which is the highest award in association with the team.
05:07To ensure that the building is fit for purpose for the future,
05:10it has undergone major refurbishment, thanks to a grant of £150,000 from the Armed Forces Fund.
05:18On the understanding that we encourage all organisations to use the facilities that are providing it.
05:24Thus, the monthly veterans breakfast is attended by 30 to 50 students veterans.
05:29The RNA hold a monthly meeting period, and we have representatives from various charities.
05:35As with all organisations, these times are hard.
05:38And what would increase in cost of living, increase in employees, increase in supplies,
05:45the residents of the committee and its members, as many, that this branch would be successful.
05:52And to that effect, it was decided that the branch of the club would be rebranded,
05:58and it's now known as the 381 Club.
06:01Oh, thank you.
06:03On behalf of the Lord Lieutenant, Sir Lady Emma Barnard, who is sad that she couldn't be here today,
06:09it's a true honour to be here as we celebrate an impressive milestone.
06:15Having just heard about the Association's activities and the history which goes on for some considerable time,
06:22what a remarkable journey this branch has travelled since expanding in the shadow of the Second World War.
06:30Eighty years of dedication, camaraderie and service to the RAF community here in Boca Regis,
06:37enabling this community to meet the challenges of everyday life.
06:43Eighty years ago, a group of individuals that we've heard about, veterans, volunteers and visionaries,
06:49came together with a simple but powerful mission to ensure that those who served in the Royal Air Force
06:55and their families would never be forgotten, never be isolated and always have a place to call their association.
07:04That mission is clearly alive and well today, built on the enduring values of service, friendship
07:12and remembrance. And for eight decades, this branch has upheld those values with pride and purpose.
07:21You've been a lifeline to veterans of all three armed services, a welcoming hand to serving personnel
07:28and a home from home for those who simply need a place to share stories, laughter and memories with those who understand.
07:37In a world that moves faster every day, where connections can sometimes feel fleeting or impersonal,
07:46Royal Air Force Association clubs remain an excuse in their expression that they remain on fire truck anchor.
07:52They are spaces where bonds, forge and service continue, where a young airman can sit beside a seasoned veteran
07:59and instantly feel a natural connection. My visit today reminds me that the Royal Air Force is not just about
08:07aircraft and operations, though we have every reason to be very proud of both. It is most importantly invite people.
08:14It's about the shared values of courage, commitment and community. It's about looking after one another during service and long after.
08:24And it seems to me that that is exactly what the Bognor Regis branch has done and continues to do.
08:35Whether through your welfare support, your fundraising or simply keeping the kettle on and the doors open,
08:41you've made a profound difference in the lives of so many. You've also played a crucial role in keeping the spirit and history of the Royal Air Force alive.
08:51Not just in the stories you tell, and I'm sure there are many, but in the example you set. When the community sees your standards held high,
09:02when they hear your voices at commemorative events, and see your presence at parades and memorials,
09:09they are reminded of the Royal Air Force's key and enduring contribution to our nation's security and freedom.
09:17And they are reminded that behind every aircraft and every operation are extraordinary people.
09:24People like you, who serve and served and stand together.
09:30To the committee members past and present, to the volunteers, supporters and of course the veterans,
09:36and serving members who have walked through the doors of this building, thank you.
09:41Thank you for your service, your dedication and your unwavering commitment to one another.
09:47Happy 80th anniversary and may this wonderful branch continue to fly high for many years to come.
09:54is up to the church, about twelve or so of us who have worked on his task.
09:59We meet every Friday afternoon at a student at York.
10:03The actually partner, is at the world of the PANDEM, and this is our dentist's edition.
10:09It signifies everything that we do in this world, or we hope in this world.
10:54Those packages that came out meant more than just the boxes that they arrived in,
10:57more than just the contents of what they were in.
10:59And I also got emotional doing that because it meant when those things get out,
11:03you knew you weren't alone, you knew you weren't forgotten out there.
11:05And we actually took those packages out to the very edge of command posts,
11:09of observation posts, took them to soldiers on the ground
11:12who were constantly getting shot at, constantly getting mortared.
11:15And for them to know that they weren't forgotten, they weren't alone,
11:17it was a huge relief and a huge benefit to them.
11:20So thank you to all of you for everything you've done over the years for us.
11:24And just to remind you, and as a thank you,
11:27you are also not forgotten by us for everything you've done.
11:29I'm going to send you a...
11:30No, I'm not.
11:36So as a token of thanks, there's just another piece of the shield.
11:40So I reckon over the next 80 years, you've got the blade now,
11:43you've got this part, which I'll talk about in a second.
11:45You'll probably be able to make yourself a Shrinoop.
11:49We keep giving you some of these parts.
11:51So this is a clock that's made out of a Jesus nut.
11:56And for those in the engineering side,
11:58it's the part that goes on the road ahead.
12:01If it falls apart, if it falls away, nothing else works.
12:04Everything falls apart.
12:05I think from Rappapogna, that's what you've done for us,
12:07and that's what you do for your community,
12:08is without you, things do fall apart and don't quite work.
12:11So I think it's quite poignant that we're going to hand it to you.
12:14As I say, this is from 18th Squadron, 9th Squadron.
12:16Actually, it's a fantastic mission of applause.
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