Melksham celebrates 100 years of Royal Air Force

THE Royal Air Force celebrates 100 years this year, having being formed on 1st April 1918 by the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, with the Melksham branch participating in the celebrations.

‘Tokens’ containing a pull-up banner, representing the three founding components of the RAF, are travelling from branch to branch throughout Wales, the Midlands and the South West. The token will be arriving in Melksham on Monday 14th May, in front of the Town Hall at 1pm.

It will be met by the chairman of the Melksham branch of the association, Roger Jones. It will stay in Melksham for one week, during which time it will be displayed for the public to see in Sainsbury’s supermarket on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th May. It will then move to Asda supermarket on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th May. The token will leave Melksham on Sunday 20th May, where it will move to Trowbridge.

Chairman of the Melksham branch, Roger Jones said, “We would like to welcome as many people as possible to join us at the arrival of the token and at the display locations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. Also to find out about the great work that the Royal Air Forces Association does in support of all members of the RAF family, currently serving, or having served, from the newest recruit to our oldest veteran and including the generations to come, their spouses and dependent children. We look forward to seeing you.”