Branch History
The Royal Air Forces Association is a charity and membership organisation of serving and former members of the RAF, their families, dependants and all those supporting the aims of the
Association. It is the largest single-service military membership organisation in the United Kingdom and has almost 67,000 members in 90 countries and 270 branches. The Association provides help and advice, assistance, comradeship and, where required, welfare and care for the whole of the RAF Community. We also have a youth programme through the RAF Air Cadets, Combined Cadet Forces (RAF), Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets, Air Scouts and Air Explorer Scouts.
Last year, the Association helped 80,000 people in our RAF Community to overcome struggles ranging from loneliness, physical and mental wellbeing to financial problems. Here in France, we endeavour to care for those who need our help and support, befriending, visiting and signposting solutions and aid.
The Royal Air Forces Association Sud-Ouest France Branch was formed after the Second World War by the Marquis d’Amodio and other French (former RAF) aviators from the Base Aérienne 106 Mérignac. Although the branch is bilingual, formal meetings of the committee and the annual general meeting are conducted in French but with translations in English provided. We have many French members, a few of whom proudly served with the Royal Air Force at RAF Elvington, near York, during WWII in the Groupes Lourds RAF Squadrons 346 (Guyenne) and 347 (Tunisie). Several sons and daughters of our French RAF veterans are also members of the Association.
RAFA Sud-Ouest France embraces serving and ex-serving members of the Royal Air Forces, l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace, family members and friends of the branch. Our 160+ members live
all over SW France, from the Loire Valley to the Spanish border, Portugal and in the UK. We also have a dedicated internet following of friends all over the world. The 2023 committee:
| Honorary Presidents | Air Commodore John MAAS CBE, Dick TAPLIN MBE |
| Honorary Vice-Presidents | Dr Jean-Paul CHURET, Michel UMBRECHT |
| Chair | Beryl DENNETT STANNARD |
| Vice-Chair | Chris GOSS |
| Honorary Secretary | Terry DENNETT |
| Assistant Honorary Secretary | Ann WALTERS |
| Honorary Treasurer | Ian GAWN |
| Assistant Treasurer | Beryl DENNETT STANNARD |
| Standard Bearer | David BROWN, Richard JUDSON |
| Chaplain | Revd Hazel DOOR |
| Honorary Welfare Officers | Beryl DENNETT STANNARD et Terry DENNETT |
| Befrienders | David CLIFTON, Ian GAWN et Jane GAWN |
| Honorary Members | Paul BOGAERT, Chairman, Amicale des Anciens et Amis des Groupes Lourds |
| Ian REED MBE Ld’H ONM FRAeS, Director Allied Air Forces Heritage Group | |
| Alastair ROBERTS MBE, Former HM consul, Bordeaux |