News
YEAR IN REVIEW – 2025
New Patron
Former Sea Harrier pilot, and a veteran of combat missions during the 1982 Falkland Islands Conflict, Commodore Bill Covington CBE, RN (Retd) became the society’s patron in February.
Members’ Day
An inaugural Members’ Day offering a chance to go behind the scenes at FAAM took place during the summer. It included a tour of the Museum’s archive and in-depth presentations from curatorial and conservation staff.
Jon Egging Trust (JET)
The society partnered with JET to facilitate a visit by young people to the Museum. JET helps inspire teamwork, leadership and an interest in STEM subjects in young people. A considerable financial contribution towards the visit was provided thanks to a legacy donation by a society member.
School Visits
A programme of visits to the Museum by primary schools in the South West region has benefited from the society’s continued funding of a School Travel Bursary. This allows children a ‘hands-on’ aviation experience.
Outreach Events
The team travelled across the region to attend several events helping raise the profile of the Museum and our fund-raising efforts that contribute towards it. The society was particularly grateful to have the opportunity to attend Army Flying Museum’s Wings & Wheels event in Hampshire, the AAC having their Wildcat helicopters based RNAS Yeovilton.
Lecture Programme
Our varied selection of aviation and military lectures continued at FAAM, both on Thursday evenings and Saturdays. Subjects covered included the Royal Marines war in South Georgia, the de Havilland Sea Vixen fleet air defence fighter, flying the Hawker Hunter and NATS.
Social Media
Our Facebook Page continues to provide a snapshot of the full range of society activities, with over 900 individuals and organisations now following the society; go to the top of the Home Page for a link.
Primary School Visits to the Fleet Air Arm Museum – School Travel Bursary
When the society received a substantial donation from an overseas member in Canada it came with a condition: the money must benefit youth. After consultation with FAAM, it was decided to allocate the funds to a School Travel Bursary that would allow schoolchildren from within the local region to visit the Museum and obtain a ‘hands-on’ learning experience. The Bursary is administered by the Museum as part of their ongoing school educational programme.
SOFFAAM was delighted to offer this bursary for full or part payment for school travel to and from the Museum, which allows up to a maximum of £450 (+VAT) per primary school per academic year.
Follow this Link to the FAAM Webpage……
https://www.nmrn.org.uk/learn/fleet-air-arm-museum-school-programme
Jon Egging Trust event at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
On 5 and 26 March, two groups of 15 young people from secondary schools in Weymouth were shown into the Learning Centre at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (FAAM) to enjoy a day of learning and creativity sponsored by the Jon Egging Trust and supported by a financial contribution from the Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum (SoFFAAM).
Flt Lt Jon Egging was a Red Arrows display pilot, who lost his life while completing a display at Bournemouth Air Festival in August 2011. The Jon Egging Trust provides ongoing assistance to young people who find difficulty with school engagement and lack focus, confidence, and self-belief. The Trust aims to introduce youngsters to the principles of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for which the resources of the FAAM provide an ideal background. The day commenced with an introduction to aerodynamic principles by Dr Wendy Adams, the Museum’s Interpretation Officer, and the event was overseen by Elliott Bailey, the Museum’s Public Programming Manager. A group of experienced volunteers helped to shepherd and encourage the young people throughout the programme, which included a tour of the Museum before they were set the challenge. This consisted of designing an aircraft control surface together with an electrical actuator, then presenting and explaining their results, to which they showed imagination and commitment. Malcolm Smith, the Chairman of SoFFAAM, said he welcomed the opportunity to support the Egging Trust activities, as they exactly match the purpose of the Society.
Malcolm Smith.
History of the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit – 1942-45 by Lawrence Hayward
One of the many shore-based units that supported Fleet Air Arm operations during WW2 was the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit (NARIU).
We had to carry this story in Jabberwock but Lawrence’s comprehensive document was too long for even a few editions. But we knew the story would be appreciated by our members and visitors to the SoFFAAM website. You can read the full account by clicking HERE. The document will open in a new window as a PDF. The abridged version can be found in Jabberwock 115.
OLOF FREDERICK GOLLCHER – The story behind the photograph by Hanneke Jansen
Hanneke contacted SoFFAAM asking for assistance on a particular Shorts 184 airframe. Unfortunately, the Council Members were unable to assist her directly with the detail that she sought. However, her determination to uncover the story behind a particular photograph led her into a deep research project to understand the detail that this particular image revealed on digitisation.
Her story is told in an abridged version in Jabberwock 110 but for those of you who want to see her full account can do so by clicking HERE to view her original PDF.
Hanneke lives in Malta with her husband Tom and as I was visiting Malta a few months after her original request to the Society, it was important that I visit her and hear about her quest in person. It was such an interesting tale that I felt we had to carry this in Jabberwock. I am indebted to her and Toms kind hospitality and hearing at first hand Hannekes quest in uncovering the detail about Olof Frederick Gollcher and this particular photograph.
Richard James Macauley.