Celebrating women in a man’s world at RIAT

1. RIAT 2024 - Women in a man's world 

The RIAT 2024 themes were 50 years of the F-16; 75th anniversary of NATO and 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

But how about another theme – smashing stereotypes in aviation?

As it seems women are now taking on roles normally attributed to men in the aviation industry.

One of the VIP guests at RIAT was Jessica Gagen, who holds the title of Miss United Kingdom, but she is not just a beautiful face.

She’s also an Aerospace Engineer, Ambassador for National Numeracy and STEM. She was invited to speak at the airshow about STEM and how it can inspire the next generation of female scientists, engineers and pilots.

Floortje van den Heuval is a Cloud Physicist, who was on the British Antarctic Survey at Rothera Research Station in the Antarctic Delta in 2022.

She flew on the Twin Otter aircraft, which was fitted with skis for ice-landings and with scientific equipment to make cloud images via lasers probing ice crystals. Floortje, who has a PhD in polarimetric weather radar and an MSc in Environmental Sciences, is planning to return to Antarctica in November.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), there was a dedicated ground area at RIAT to showcase modern RCAF assets and historic aircraft. With new graphics, the CF-18 aircraft provided the backdrop for the six-man and one-woman crew of the Canadian CF-18 Demo Team: Captain Christine MacNeil, Public Affairs Officer/Narrator posing alongside Alex Racine; Etienne Allard; Captain Caleb ‘Tango’ Robert; Xavier Mailhot; Dany Sansoucy; and Safety Pilot, Jean-Luc Volodensky, aka Picard after Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard.

Jessica Gagen, Miss United Kingdom Floortje van den Heuval with the Twin Otter aircraft Crew of the Canadian CF-18 The Open Garden and Teas event held at The Bull Pens at the end of June was blessed with gorgeous weather and a total of £915 was raised for St Mary’s Church. Many thanks to Andy Wilkinson for opening her garden to the public, for her hospitality and the hard work involved in organising the event. Thanks also to everyone who attended: generous visitors, donors, bakers, cake-makers, ticket sellers and washing-uppers!

2. New tomb trail at St Mary's Churchyard

Fairford History Society announces a brand-new Tomb Trail at St Mary’s Churchyard. The first of this year’s Trails will take place on Saturday July 27 at 2pm (meet at the War Memorial).

More trails are planned for August and September. The £3 contribution will be shared by St Mary’s Church and Fairford History Society. If you wish to attend, please contact enquiry@fairfordhistory.org.uk.

All are welcome to come and pray together every Monday at 5pm for the world, the nation and our community along with any prayer requests that are placed in the prayer box in the Lady Chapel in St Mary’s Church, Fairford. Meeting for about 30 minutes in the Chancel. Please use the north door.

3. How to help people get about 

Could you help people get to their medical appointments or to the Edna Dawes Lunch Club? You could drive your own car or the minibus.

This could be weekly or monthly – whatever suits you. Any additional medicals required will be reimbursed by the Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities. Please contact Katie Bull on 07713 607106, edlc@friendsoffairford.org.uk or Val Harvey on 07540 798226, transport@friendsffairford.org.uk if you can help.

4. Does someone you know need extra care and support? 

Does someone you know need a little extra care and support at home? At The Care Net, the staff offer person-centred care to individuals living at home.

Personal care, medication support, meal preparation, light domestic duties, social visits, which include taking someone out into the community. The team are all trained and experienced, and dedicated to those who need them. Why not call and speak to Karen or Becca on 01367 705081 to see if what they offer can help you.

5. Chance to win family ticket to Steam Show next month 

Cotswold Airport, one of the main sponsors of Fairford Steam Show is giving you a chance to win a family ticket to the Steam Show taking place over the weekend of August 17 and 18.

All you have to do is ‘like’ and ‘follow’ @fairfordsteamshow and @cotswoldairport on either Facebook or Instagram and share the posts tagging in a friend you’d like to take along. The winner will be drawn and announced on social media on August 5.

6. Councillor goes back to primary school 

As a former pupil of Hatherop Primary School, County Councillor Dom Morris always looks forward to giving some of the local school children a lift home on the tractor and trailer he uses at his Quenington farm.

Later on, in the afternoon, the children were treated to a refreshing swim in a Quenington resident’s swimming pool after which, Cllr Morris got back to his farm just in time start Combining on the first day of the harvest.

Hatherop Primary School is currently on a mission to raise a huge £1.5 million for urgent work to improve safeguarding and increase space. Cllr Morris said: “It can’t be right that our children are being educated in the same prefab classroom that taught me in the late 1980s!” If you are able to contribute, please get in touch with Cllr Morris at Dominic.Morris@gloucestershire.gov.uk or the school on 01285 750318.

7. Fairford's new business plans first charity golf day 

Fairford’s new business, JPA Financial Planning is holding its first charity golf day on Friday August 2.

The event will take place at Wychwood Golf Club – one of the premier golf venues in Oxford – and has been organised to support the company’s designated charities: St James’s Place Charitable Foundation and Naomi House & Jackspace.

St James’s Place Charitable Foundation funds charities across the UK and overseas working with children who are disadvantaged physically, socially or economically. The Foundation also funds hospices, mental health charities and cancer support charities. Naomi House & Jacksplace provide expert hospice care to nearly 550 life-limited and life-threatened children, young adults and families across central southern England.

If you or your business would like to sponsor a hole and showcase your company’s promotional material, seize this opportunity and reach out to jpa.adminservices@sjpp.co.uk. Your contribution will directly support these charitable causes.

JPA Financial Planning is a local family business run by husband-and-wife, Chris and Gemma Homer. It provides holistic financial advice on all aspects of finances. The company relocated from Faringdon to Fairford earlier this year and their office at 27a London Street, Fairford GL7 4AQ is open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm.