West Raynham SHQ Veterans Central

Hunter for Veterans Central at West Raynham. 

West Raynham SHQ-Veterans Central is a charity created for the public benefit, to promote social inclusion amongst Veterans and ex-emergency service personnel who are excluded from society, or parts of society, due to ill health (physical and mental), old age, disability, or their social and economic position by preventing them becoming socially excluded, relieving the need of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. 

A number of veterans associated with the Veterans Central charity have suggested that the charities aim of providing a sense of purpose to veterans and of reducing social isolation could be enhanced by acquiring an aircraft. Whilst Veterans Central provides such to work on the building and gardens, it was suggested that there were a number for whom aircraft work is another route to engagement, rather than scraping and painting walls.

The trustees have agreed that this would indeed provide a very useful engagement tool, through the move, maintenance,  display and historical presentation of the aircraft. One of our regular veteran visitors had mentioned that as a long time Hunter pilot, starting in the mid-1950's, he would love to see a Hunter in the colours of his favourite squadron-No 56 Squadron. No 56 Squadron operated the Hunter between May 1955 and January 1961, initially at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, before moving to Akrotiri, Cyprus. Anthony went on to fly a number of other Hunter tours, but No 56 was his firm favourite. 

The airframe (Rigger) veterans have found a suitable aircraft for loan and all that stands in the way now is the funding for the move, ground works on site, and the initial re-paint of the aircraft into 56 Squadron colours. The trustees have stated that all aspects of the funding of this project must be separate from the main charity fundraising, hence this crowdfunding.

The aircraft will be located at West Raynham SHQ. RAF West Raynham was itself a Hunter base, although not for 56 Squadron, and its Hunter period is well represented at the West Raynham Control Tower (which includes a heritage centre that is sometimes open to the public).