Objectives
1. To maintain contact, including home visits, with ex-WAAF.
2. To provide practical and other such assistance as possible to members.
3. To arrange meetings, outings and other activities for members.

Membership
Full membership is open to all ex-WAAF who served 1939-49
Associate membership is open to Serving and ex-WRAF 1949 onwards.
Current membership world wide is over 3000. There is an annual membership fee.
Our Patron is Air Commodore Cynthia Fowler RAF(Ret), who succeeded the late Dame Felicity Peake DBE AE JP.

The Future of the Association

from the November 2007 WAAFA Newsletter: The Secretary, Mrs Florence Mahoney writes:

Since the last AGM I have received several letters, some quite hostile, about the laying up of the Standard in the RAF Church and the proposed closure of the Association.

Sadly our Standard had to be laid up because it became physically impossible for ladies of our age group to perform the very demanding role of a Standard Bearer. This was put to members at the AGM and not one person stood up to oppose this decision.

The proposed closure of the Association is for similar reasons, but in particular the falling membership and lack of subscriptions which means we could be in financial difficulties. It has been said that the Committee does not have the right to close the Association but we are elected by the members to make such decisions which we consider are in the best interests of the Association. AGMs are for you, the members, to stand up and query decisions you are not happy with, yet not one person stood up to oppose the closure of the Association. As all officers and Committee members are in post until April 2009, the Association will continue until then when further discussions will take place.

Please therefore pay your subscriptions in January 2008 which will pay for the continued printing of the magazine and administration expenses.

From the June 2007 WAAFA Newsletter: The Chairman, Mrs Ruby Mallinson writes:

Over the past few months The National Committee have been giving careful consideration regarding the future of the W.A.A.F. Association.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Branches are closing as members are finding it difficult to attend meetings, various factors being the cause. Rental of meeting rooms is rising, cost of transport is rising, and in some areas public transport is becoming non existent. The most underlying cause is that members are no longer willing to take on the responsibility of running a Branch.

Overall membership of the Association is decreasing which in turn means that income has reduced, with Association finances being affected. One important item that will suffer is the magazine which has always been the lifeline of the Association, with postal and printing charges constantly increasing and subscriptions decreasing the outlook for the future looks very bleak.

The current editors will be producing their final edition in June and no successor has come forward from the membership to take over the task. However a new editor has now been found from outside the Association.

Now we turn to the National Committee. All the present officers will soon reach the end of their term of office. It has been quite noticeable in recent years that nominations from members to serve on the Committee have not been forthcoming, this is hardly surprising as at the age of mid eighty it is harder to withstand the rigours of travel and being away from home to attend meetings.

The National Committee therefore, have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the next AGM in 2008 will be the final one.

Our members have come from all corners of the UK and many from abroad. I'm sure that we must all agree that we have enjoyed twenty years of camaraderie and friendship, having great times at reunions and AGMs. We have proudly paraded through towns all over the country and joined in events with other veterans re-living and remembering the times we spent together over sixty years ago. We can now add a further twenty years of memories and remember all the friends we have made simply by joining the WAAF Association.

Newsletters
These are usually published in May and November each year. Material for the Newsletter emailed to this website will be forwarded to the WAAFA Newsletter Editor. The deadline for the next newsletter is 7th September 2007.

Reunions
These are held annually at the time of our AGM which in recent years has been at Buxton, Leicester, Southport, Weston-Super-Mare, Eastbourne, Blackpool, and Coventry. In 2007 the AGM was at Southport.

The 2008 AGM, 25-27 April 2008, will be at the Chatsworth Hotel, Steyne, Worthing, BN11 3DU. Some overflow accommodation has been arranged at the Ardington Hotel.

Members must book directly with the hotel and a £50 deposit is required with each booking. The cost is £140 per person for two nights which includes:
Fri 25 April Dinner and entertainment
Sat 26 April Gala Dinnand entertainment
Sun 27 April Lunch and goodbye

It is hoped to include within the price a visit to the Museum at the former RAF Tangmere.

The additional night price is £45/person including dinner & bed & breakfast.

St Clement Danes Annual WAAFA Service: WAAFA Standard
This was held annually in the RAF's own church and the final service took place on Sunday 3rd September 2006 at 11am.

The WAAFA Standard was laid up here during that service. At the handing over these words were said to the Chaplain: "Venerable Sir, I ask you to receive this Standard for safe lodging in this house of God until such time as it shall pass to dust like those whose courage and devotion are enshrined in its history". It is in the Gallery of the church.

Vera Barrett was the Association Standard Bearer for almost 20 years.

The Resident Chaplain of St Clement Danes has written to the Association "Please convey to all WAAF our deep gratitude to them for their service and all their years of faithful support to the Church. We shall maintain the first Sunday of September as WAAF Association Sunday and special prayers."

The Association hopes that as many as possible WAAF will be seen at that first Sunday of September service in years to come.

[If anyone has a good colour photo of the undraped (that is, flat) Standard please contact the editor as it would be nice to show it on this website.]

Armistice Day Parade
For WAAF tickets please apply to the Secretary no later than 30th September 2007.

Branches
We have over 40 branches (listed on the branches page) which have their own varied social events and work with our Area Welfare Consultants.

Veterans' Badge
UK WW2 veterans are entitled to this free badge

Tartan
The tartan worn by some members of WAAFA - supplier's web page

Other
A former WAAF was one of two Bomber Command veterans who unveiled the Ledger Stone in Lincoln Cathedral on 27th July 2006, dedicated to those who gave their lives on Bomber Command.

Research: The WAAF Association Newsletter can publish requests for information about former WAAF and the Aircrew & Groundcrew Research website carries a number of such items.

Mrs Ruby Mallinson, the Chairman of the Association, was awarded the MBE in HM the Queen's New Year's Honours list, December 2006, "For services to the Women's Auxiliary Air Force Association". The Association congratulates her and is proud that it has been recognised in this way.

this page last updated 22 August 2008