Bexhill RAFA Wings Appeal

This year Bexhill is being cited nationally as an example of how to gain publicity - and get results.

"Wings appeal crisis: 200 tins, four volunteers" is the heading on one of two Bexhill Observer articles from a year ago featured in a whole-page article in the current issue of RAFA's 80,000-circulation national magazine, Airmail.

The magazine's front page "taster" urges other branches to "Use the Bexhill experience to recruit volunteer collectors."

The Observer's stories - plus its leading article which sought to shame the town into rallying to the Royal Air Forces Association cause - are also being used in a power-point Wings appeal presentation by headquarters staff to other branches.

Bexhill's four 2006 volunteers were swiftly joined by others including the then Town Mayor, Eric Armstrong, and his wife Jeanette, town MP Gregory Barker and local Rotarians.

So many volunteers came forward that the current RAFA presentation also includes another Observer story.

It is headlined "3,019 for Wings Appeal from town."

This week delighted Bexhill RAFA president Ken Igglesden (pictured) was looking forward to this year's Wings Appeal effort with greater optimism than a year ago.

Bexhill branch, like those across the country, faces the same difficulties as last year. The need for Wings Appeal to fund the increasing needs of ageing ex-air force personnel and their dependents comes at a time when even able-bodied members are feeling their age. But Ken Igglesden says of the volunteer recruitment for next month's collections: "It's looking better already. Eric Armstrong and his wife have already volunteered again.

"Cllr Stuart Wood has volunteered."

The RAFA president is inviting volunteers to Brew For The Few, a tea party at the RAFA club at Channel View West on Saturday, September 1. The guest of honour will be one of "The Few."

Bob Foster, of Hastings, flew Spitfires in the Battle of Britain and later in the Pacific theatre.

Brew For The Few is a national RAFA initiative which looks like becoming an annual fund-raiser.

Admission to the Bexhill 3pm-4.30pn event will be free with donations invited for Wings Appeal.

The branch summer fair in aid of Wings Appeal will be at the club on Saturday from 10.30am until 12.30pm. Stalls will include cakes, jewellery, books, jigsaw puzzles, CDs, videos, crafts, fancy goods and souvenirs plus raffles. Admission is 20p.

Cadets from No. 2262 (Bexhill) Squadron, Air Training Corps have helped with the street collection for many years. This year, as last, their main collecting effort, however, will be at the Shoreham Airshow, a major money-spinner for Wings Appeal.

An Avia watch donated by Eric Armstrong will be raffled at the summer fair in aid of the Squadron.

Wings Appeal volunteers will be collecting house-to-house from Monday, September 3 to Friday, September 14.

There will be a collection outside Sainsbury's from Thursday, September 6 to Saturday, September 8.

The street collection will be on Saturday, September 15.