Battle of Britain
The Prince of Wales was represented by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns at a Battle of Britain service of thanksgiving and rededication held yesterday in Westminster Abbey.
The Dean of Westminster officiated, assisted by the Rev Graeme Napier, Minor Canon and Succentor.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Air Staff, and Flight Lieutenant A P Millikin, 54 Squadron, RAF Coltishall, read the lessons. Flying Officer N J Lofthouse, a trainee fast jet pilot from No 207 (Reserve) Squadron, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, read a prayer.
The Right Rev David Connor, Dean of Windsor and Bishop the HM Forces preached the sermon.
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The Royal Air Force Ensign was borne in procession from the West Door to the Altar by Flight Lieutenant R P Quaife, RAF Leeming, escorted by Flight Lieutenant E B Williams and Flight Lieutenant M P Searle, RAF Leeming.
The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was borne by Flight Lieutenant P J Lee, RAF Coltishall escorted by Wing Commander R G B Summers, Wing Commander P C Farnes, Flight Lieutenant A G Burdekin, Flight Lieutenant O V Burns, Flight Lieutenant A E Gregory and Flight Lieutenant J K Down, Battle of Britain Veterans, and by Flight Lieutenant A H J Tennant, Flight Lieutenant A J King, Flight Lieutenant B F Keen, Flight Lieutenant S A Harrison, Flight Lieutenant J Woodward and Flying Officer J A Field, RAF Coltishall.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster and her Consort and Mr Ivor Caplin, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, accompanied by Mrs Caplin attended.
The Leader of HM Opposition was represented by Mr Gerald Howarth, Opposition Spokesperson for Defence, accompanied by Mrs Howarth.
The Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party and Mrs Trimble attended.
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Among others present were:
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Viscount Trenchard, Lord Newall, Odette Lady Dowding, Lord Dowding, Marshal of the RAF Lord and Lady Craig of Radley, Lady Glanusk, the Hon Rosie Dowding, the Hon Yuki Dowding, Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael and Lady Beetham, Marshal of the RAF Sir Keith and Lady Williamson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge (Commander in Chief, Strike Command), Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall (Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff) and Lady Bagnall, Sir Kevin Tebbit (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence) and Lady Tebbit, Air Chief Sir Michael and Lady Stear, Air Chief Marshal Sir David Cousins (Controller, RAF Benevolent Fund), Air Chief Marshal Sir John and Lady Day, Air Chief Marshal Sir Douglas Lowe, Air Chief Marshal Sir John and Lady Aiken, Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas and Lady Kennedy, Air Chief Marshal Sir David and Lady Parry-Evans, Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony and Lady Skingsley, Air Chief Marshal Sir William and Lady Wratten, Air Chief Marshal Sir John and Lay Allison, Air Marshal Sir Colin and Lady Terry, Air Marshal Sir Peter and Lady Norris Air Marshal Sir John Sutton (president, RAFA) and Lady Sutton, Air Marshal Sir Joe French (Commander in Chief Personnel and Training Command/Air Member for Personnel) and Lady French, Sir Donald and Lady Spiers, Sir Kenneth Macdonald, Sir Charles Masefield (president emeritus, BAe Systems) and Lady Masefield with Mr D Olver (chairman) ad Mrs Olver; Lady Foxley-Norris, Lady (John) Thomson, Lady (Charles) Ness, Lady Rosier, Lady Stirrup, Lady Squire, Mr and the Hon Mrs Peter Campbell, Air Marshal G L Torpy (Chief of Joint Operations) and Mrs Torpy, Air Marshal and Mrs C Loader, Air Vice-Marshal and Mrs D Williams, Air Vice-Marshal B H Newton (honorary inspector general, RAuxAF) and Mrs Newton, Air Vice-Marshal B Thornton (director-general, Logistics, Strike Command) and Mrs Thornton, Air Vice-Marshal D Walker (Assistant Chief of the Air Staff and Mrs Walker, Air Vice- Marsha S G G Dalton (Capability Manager, Information Superiority) and Mrs Dalton, Air Vice-Marshal C H Moran (Air Officer Commanding HQ No 1 Group) and Mrs Moran, Air Vice-Marshal R C Moore (Air Officer Administration/Air Officer Commanding Directly Administered Units) and Mrs Moore, Air Vice-Marshal D R G Rennison (Chief of Staff, Support) and Mrs Rennison, Air Vice-Marshal S R C Dougherty (director general, Medical Services) and Mrs Dougherty, Air Vice Marshal P D Luker (commander, Joint Helicopter Command) and Mrs Luker, Air Vice- Marshal S W Peach (director-general, Intelligency Collection) and Mrs Peach, Air Vice-Marshal and Mrs AA G B Vallance The Ven Ron Hesketh (Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon, RAF), Mrs Bruce Millan, Mrs David Connor, Lieutenant General R Keys (USAF), Mrs Olivia Hughes (Pathfinders Association), Air Commodore P Brothers (Chairman Battle of Britain Fighter Association) and Mrs Brothers with Mr M Smith (secretary) and Mrs Smith; Group Captain W B Williams (director, Nursing Services and Matron-in-Chief, Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service), Air Commodore T E L Jarron (secretary general, RAFA) and Mrs Jarron, Group Captain R G Kemp (Inspector, RAuxAF) and Mrs Kemp, Air Commodore J P Chitty (Commandant, Air Cadets) and Mrs Chitty, Air Commodore R Brompton (chairman, RAF Halton Apprentices Association) and Mrs Brompton, Captain Richard Felix (Master, Guild of air Pilots and Air Navigators) and Mrs Felix, Group Captain P S E Tootal (Secretary, Battle of Britain Memorial Trust) and Mrs Tootal.
Mr R Case (Augusta Westland) and Mrs Case, Mr Martin Broadhurst (Marshall of Cambridge, Holdings), Dr J Ferrie (Smiths Group) and Mrs Ferrie, Mr J Howe (Thales UK Defence) and Mrs Howe, Dr S Howes (Society of British Aerospace Companies), Dr I Thomas (Boeing UK), Mrs Jenny Green (RAF Widows’ Association) with Mrs Penny Long (chairman); Mr M Johnson (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) and Mrs Johnson, Mr R Crawford (Imperial War Museum) and Mrs Crawford, Air Commodore N Bairsto (Tornado IPT Leader) and Mrs Bairsto and Major-General M C Gould (commander, 3d USAFE) and Mrs Gould.