There’s a place for you… in the WRAF branch
11th June 2012
A new branch of the RAF Association has been created for former members of the WRAF and they are on the look-out for more recruits!
The WRAF branch was started from the idea of current Chairman Nicky Nelson, with the support of 11 petitioners.
The aim was to promote their existence and the RAF Association as well as fundraising, recruitment and playing an active part in the Wings Appeal.
The branch will act as a global focal point for all those serving and ex-serving RAF women who served in the WRAF and their aims will be to further develop their friendships, esprit de corps and experiences during their service.
Branch Chairman Nicky Nelson joined the WRAF at the tender age of 17 & 3mths and served for four-and-a-half years.
She said: “The WRAF branch really came about because of Facebook. I had already got back in touch with some of the girls I joined up with in 1986 and so I started a group on Facebook for all ex-WRAF.
“I wanted to join an Association specifically for WRAF and so did some digging but could only come up with the WAAF who at the time was only allowing WRAF to have associate membership which was not what I was looking for, I wanted to belong to something that I had been a part of and so did other members of the group!
“So, a quick email was fired off to the RAF Association to find out if such an association existed, and a reply came back from their Membership Manager, Griff Griffiths which said, in a nutshell, ‘No, but we’d love for you to start a branch!’ - so I did!
“The Facebook group has gone from strength to strength, reaching nearly 1140 members to date. Granted not all of them are active, and only a small percentage of them are members of the branch but from small acorns………….!
“The WRAF branch was formed to bring ex-WRAF (and serving WRAF or female RAF members) together. To give them a point of contact they can identify with, to get support, advice, camaraderie etc.
“We have a wonderful committee all ready and prepared to build this branch and we have our first AGM pencilled in for March 2013 in Lincoln.
We look forward to welcoming new members!
The RAF Association is delighted to welcome the formation of the WRAF branch and looks forward to working with the women of the Royal Air Force both past and present who have made such an outstanding contribution to our history.
It is a ‘virtual’ branch that has its own autonomy. However, it is also very much a part of the RAF Association and for administrative purposes is part of the Wales, Midland and South West Area.
You can join the branch as an Ordinary member simply by signing up with the RAF Association and selecting WRAF branch as your local branch.
The branch is also on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/exwraf. To gain access, people need to either be invited by other ex-WRAFs or they have to message the chairman with their service details so that they can verify they are ex-WRAF.
Join the RAF Association's WRAF branch now!
