RAF Cosford personnel spread Christmas cheer to veterans supported by RAF charity

RAF Cosford celebrated the festive season with veterans from the wider Shropshire area by hosting a Christmas lunch and activities, supported by the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Around 70 local RAF veterans received a Christmas lunch and were waited on by uniformed personnel.

Jean Hartshorne, Community Development Officer at RAF Cosford, said: “This year’s event proved extremely successful due to integrating the veteran’s Christmas dinner with the families and junior ranks’ Christmas Fayre, providing a plethora of activities for all to enjoy.

"This included a caricaturist, stalls, mulled wine and even a visit from a herd of llamas. We are forever grateful to the RAF Benevolent Fund for their unwavering support to the RAF Family.”

The veterans also enjoyed a visit from Santa Claus who gifted them with a box of biscuits each.

Irene Greenwood, External Grants Programmes Manager at the Fund, said: “Christmas can be a difficult time for some members of the RAF Family, particularly those who struggle with loneliness and social isolation, so we’re delighted to have provided the veterans a Christmas lunch, festive fun and a space to socialise with other veterans from the area and staff from the Station.

"This seemingly small gesture reminds them that they are not forgotten and are part of a bigger RAF Family.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, providing practical, financial, and emotional support to RAF personnel, veterans, and their partners and dependants. If you know a member of the RAF Family in need, please go to www.rafbf.org to find out how the Fund could help.