I am an RAF veteran who served for 20 years between 1972 and 1991. I was a helicopter pilot and flew 6 consecutive tours of duty in the UK, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Cyprus. I flew Search and Rescue missions around the UK and The Republic of Ireland in RAF Sea King helicopters and the highlight of my flying career was command of 84 Squadron at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
I am currently the Chairman of the 84 Squadron Association an active group of ex-84 Squadron veterans and others with a connection to the Squadron.
The Squadron was formed in 1917 at East Boldre, a few miles from your Abbey and it may be for that reason that 2 of the Monarch's Standards presented to the Squadron are laid up in your Abbey including the one the Squadron had in my time as Officer Commanding.

The older of the two Standards in your care was presented to the Squadron on 5th January 1956 by ACM Sir Francis Fogerty, who had himself joined the Squadron in 1922 and was its OC in 1935 at RAF Shaibah in modern day Iraq. The second Standard was presented to the Squadron on 23 October 1980 by ACM Sir Keith Williamson, AOC Strike Command, at RAF Akrotiri. This is the one I remember from my time as OC and I recall attended its laying up Service at the Abbey on Sunday 27th July 2003. The third Standard, which was paraded recently at RAF Akrotiri for the retirement of the Squadron’s Puma helicopters, was presented in November 2001, 84 Squadron’s 84th year in operation.

Sqn Ldr Paul G Critchley RAF Ret'd

Further information, click on the link:

History_Flyer_V3_compressed.pdf