Branch History

First General Meeting of the "Comrades of the Royal Air Forces Association" (CRAFA).

The Air Council officially recognised the organisation and Lord Trenchard accepted the Presidency.

King George VI gave his patronage — the Association has been honoured with Royal patronage ever since. The Shrewsbury Branch of CRAFA formed on 1 March.

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force reformed, and the Women's Royal Air Force Old Comrades Association opened its membership to all ranks of the new female air service.

First edition of "The CRAFA Chronicle", the journal of the Shrewsbury–Shawbury Branch.

The two Old Comrades organisations for airmen and airwomen merged.

The organisation's name was changed to the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA).

V-Day celebrations took place at the Empire Air Navigation School at RAF Shawbury.

RAFA membership reached a peak of around 200,000 members and some 565 branches throughout the UK and overseas, organised into nine areas.

Air Marshal Sir Richard Peck KCB OBE became RAFA President, serving until 1952.

HM The Queen became Patron and the Duke of Edinburgh became President.

Branch activities included a cricket team. RAFA acquired Richard Peck House, named in memory of the long-serving President.

25 members attended the AGM at the Old Post Office Hotel. RAF Shawbury received the Freedom of the Borough, and the branch paraded during the Battle of Britain event.

The Shrewsbury Branch was active during the Wings Appeal.

The Prince of Wales became RAFA President.

A series of branch donations to Richard Peck House, including funds for a fish fryer, dining-room furniture, a shower unit and the construction of a bar.

RAFA Central Headquarters relocated to Leicester, reducing the Association's areas to five. The branch donated over £2,000 to Flowerdown House.

The branch donated £1,000 towards refurbishment at the Contact House at RAF Shawbury; the Christmas Lunch featured in the Shrewsbury Chronicle.

At the September meeting the branch was presented with a gold and platinum tassel for the Standard, marking its 75th anniversary — the Shrewsbury Branch traces its history to the earlier RAF Comrades Association.

A packed year: the RAF v RN football match, a visit to the National Waterways Museum, the annual memorial service at Shrewsbury War Graves, the RAFA 70th Anniversary lunch at Wroxeter, RAF Shawbury Families Day, the Birmingham Military Tattoo and the traditional Christmas Social.

The Director of Membership & Operations visited the branch; the Standard Bearer won the Fred Brisley Challenge Cup; and members attended the National Presidential Certificate presentation. The branch held its last meeting at the Reman Club in December.

Following the closure of the Reman Club, monthly meetings moved to the Harlescott Social Club. Members joined 1119 Sqn ATC on a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum.

The branch donated £1,000 from the Welfare Account to the Midland Welfare Team and was represented at the Vennington Show.

Vice-President Rose Davis celebrated her 104th birthday.