The East Cornwall Branch of the RAF Association (RAFA) is closing on December 31. The branch started out as the Torpoint branch after an inaugural meeting at the Wheelers Hotel in May 1974. Membership soon spread well beyond Torpoint so at the third annual meeting the name of the branch was changed to East Cornwall centred in Liskeard. It was a very successful branch helping many local ex-RAF personnel and their families year after year through its welfare work and raising thousands of pounds each year for the national Wings appeal. Though small with a maximum membership of 128, it won many area and national RAFA awards for its work. It was always up at the top of the league tables.

Time, however, has taken its toll and with an ageing and dwindling membership, it can no longer meet all its responsibilities, hence its closure at the end of the year.

P J TAMBLIN

Branch President