About the 90th Entry Society

Our History

The 90th Entry Society was founded by Sam Weller in 1985, and it is affiliated to the RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association (RAFHAAA). Until November 2009, Sam was running the whole Society and all of its activities on his own, hugely aided by his memsahib, Jane. Increasing problems with his eyesight forced Sam to reduce his Societal activities and a Committee was formed to take over the running of the Society, with Bob Heyhoe working as Chairman, Keith Tippey with the aid of Ray Thompson, creating and maintaining the 90th Entry Web Site.

 

Our Committee

Honorary President		Sam Weller
Chairman		Bob Heyhoe
Treasurers		Al Parker
Deputy Treasurer		Bob Heyhoe
Membership Secretary		Mike Golding
Bereavement Secretary		Nobby Cobb
Newsletter (Desptaches) Ed		David and Sandra Brain
Webmaster		Ray Thompson
Photo Galley backups		Jane Weller
Events Co-ordinator		Mike Golding

 

Trade Representation
We do have other Members who contribute to the activities of the Society, especially with there being a Trade Representative for each Trade, each of whom co-ordinates discussions and activities specific to his Trade, and who arranges meetings hosted by his Trade. The current Trade Representatives are:

Clockwinders (Gen):	Flash Burton
Clockwinders (Nav):	Jim Gordon
Leckies:	Norm Gilholm
Plumbers:	Sam Weller
Riggers:	Jesse Constant
Sooties:	Croc Branchett

Croc also has the duty of being the 90th Entry Bard, and regales us with his Odd Odes on special occasions. Special occasion are reported in Despatches that are available to 'members only' in the Archives.

 

Our Aims
The main aims of the Society have always been to allow 90th Brats to meet up, either by post, electronically, or at reunions or other Gatherings, and to provide a forum for discussions of Halton Days, subsequent Service careers and general aeronautical matters. The primary written forum is the Society’s Newsletter, Despatches, and the current issue now appears on the Web Site, with back issues in the Archives. We post urgent Announcements, through “90th Notes”, sent by e-mail (at least once a month). We do hope that all Members will become active within the Society, and if you become a Member you will be informed about the many opportunities there are for doing this. It is appreciated that many Members may not be able to attend actual Reunions, or get involved in other ways, and it is stressed that active involvement is voluntary.

Society funding

 

We do have the continuing cost of the hosting of the web site to cover, and various admin costs, and we have always offered a 90th Entry Wreath to the families of our Brats when a Brat gets his Final Posting. It was decided that with effect from January 2015 we would have a Subscription Fee of £10 for five years, or £60 for Life Membership, for all Members. The latter was a means of allowing those who wished to make an extra donation to boost the 90th Entry Fund (it also saves you having to remember to renew your Membership every five years!).

We have also commemorated our Entry in the RAF Halton Grove at The National Arboretum.

Halton Garrison Church Window

 

We produced an Entry Banner for use on parades at Halton and elsewhere, and more recently had presented to us our original banner produced in 1959 and this has now been refurbished and used for several reunions and on parade at Halton. We have also made large-scale donations to various military charities.

 

These have all been paid for, as have wreaths or charity donations for Members who have passed away, out of The 90th Entry Fund. This Fund was set up originally, by the then-existing Members paying £50 each to cover the costs of the 90th Entry Window, shown here, but we have continued to accept similar donations, on a one-off, voluntary basis, from new Members, so that all Members have the opportunity of feeling that they have contributed towards everything which the Entry has done which needed funding. We have also raised lots of money through auctions and raffles at Meetings.

 

         Taff Lewis and John Barret carry the banner

If you wish to donate to this Fund, at a financially convenient time for you, please make your cheques payable to “The 90th Entry Fund”. To facilitate a rapid approval of other, occasional payments, which are always for the benefit of all Members, we ask for Members who may disagree with any requested Fund payments to e-mail or telephone the Chairman ASAP after receiving the proposal, and we assume that all others have accepted the proposal. A simple majority decides. It should be noted that all of our social functions are totally self-financing, with no drain on The Entry Fund.

All payments to the society should be posted to the Treasurer. Please email the treasurer for the currnet address.

What we need from you

It is appreciated that many Members have other important commitments, and so it is stressed that this is very much an “Opt In” Society. It should be noted that The Ladies are always welcomed at all of our functions, and they do all seem to enjoy themselves. There is a great deal on offer and we hope that you will participate, but the choice is entirely yours. We do, however, request one duty for all: if you change your snail-mail and/or e-mail address, please let the Membership Secretary know as soon as possible. If you do not receive any mailings from the Society at least once every six months, then do get in touch. We will contact you in the event of important Web Site updates but routine updates will be announced in Despatches!