Join our club

>What are your main aims and objectives?

To promote friendship through the comradeship engendered by its members, welfare by charitable means to all serving and former members of Her Majesty’s Air Forces, their spouses and dependants together with widows and widowers and dependants of those who died whilst serving or subsequently.

>Where do you meet, and how often?

The Branch meets twice a month, on the second and fourth Thursday at Dunstable Conservative Club, commencing 8pm, for social meetings. The Committee meeting is held on the fourth Tuesday of the month commencing at 7.30pm, held at the Dunstable Conservative Club and members are welcome to attend.

>What sort of people are your members?

Members are represented by serving members, ex-members of the RAF and members of the public that have an interest in the RAF Association and its objectives, or who got to know us through members and decided to join us. We have about 190 members of varying age, the majority being late sixties to early eighties. Younger members are especially welcome.

>If someone was considering membership, what you say to convince them to sign up?

Come and see what it is like to be with members of Dunstable RAFA. You will find a warm welcome, chatty atmosphere and interesting people. The social evenings are relaxed and informal and on occasions take on a theme such as a race or a quiz night.

>Please give us an idea of your activities in the last six months, and what do you have lined up for the future?

The branch has been represented at a number of civic ceremonies, Area and National Conferences and functions organised by the branch and other ex-service associations. Recent visits to the RAF Regiment Museum at RAF Honington and Hendon Museum were organised , we attended a Branch Dinner, the Armed Forces Day celebrations, Dunstable Car Rally and The Festival of Transport. Our plans for the future are to take part in a visit by a branch from Essex, a visit to the Combined Military Services Museum (including a visit to a branch club), Summer Dance, Country and Western Night.

>What sort of cost are involved in membership?

Membership cost for a full member (ex-member of the RAF) is £18 per year and a four year membership is available. Associate membership is £12.50, with quarterly membership magazine, and £7.50 without the magazine. This level of membership is also available for four years.

>Are you part of a national organisation or affiliated to a bigger group?

We are the local branch of the main organisation based at Leicester. There are over 500 branches throughout the country and branches located in Europe, Australia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Harare, Hong Kong and Tokyo

>If someone would like to join, who should they contact?

Our membership secretary Barry Stone (01582 658976), or John Gilmour, Chairman (01582 560887). Our email address is [email protected] and our web address is www.rafadunstable.co.uk