PRESS RELEASE – ANGLESEY BECOMES 40TH COUNTY TO SIGN ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT
Yesterday RAF Valley and Anglesey became the 40th County to formally sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant (AFCC).
The North Wales airbase welcomed a huge cast of civic dignitaries, community leaders, veterans and service personnel to celebrate the event.
RAF Valley’s Station Commander, Group Captain Adrian Hill ADC RAF said ‘today is a historic day for the military and the community that we have been part of since early 1942’. He added, ‘We are on strong and proud community foundations in Anglesey and this Covenant takes us forward as a family, together’.
Signatories came to the base from all over the Island ; from senior political figures, local schools, military support services, community groups, charities and conservationists. The Anglesey Covenant was also signed by the Island ’s most Senior Citizen, Lord Anglesey, 92, himself a WW2 Veteran.
RAF Valley also announced the innovative ‘Make the Covenant Count Programme’, which ensures that the Covenant concept, is evolving and beneficial to the communities.
The Make The Covenant Count Programme was launched with the announcement of RAF Valley’s leadership of a North Wales Veteran’s Focus Group, supported by the Welsh Assembly, creation of a new Station Community Heritage Centre, partnership with Medrwn Mon – a vital Island charity support group and the gift of £500 to the Rhosneigr Helping Hands Scheme, a fledgling local elderly and veterans support and transport group. 
The RAF Valley Covenant Team is led by Flt Lt Rob Pitt, an RAF Regiment Reservist and part of RAF Valley Support Wing. He said ‘We have an amazing team here to help deliver AFCC from this day forward at RAF Valley’ adding, ‘The success of today is down to the efforts of Miss Babs Hiddleston, an MoD Civil servant with over 30 years military experience; Warrant Officer Alfie Jones, a combat veteran with 36 years of service, Corporal Mark Dixon, an award-winning RAF Photographer and Squadron Leader Albie Fox, a retired Search and Rescue Pilot – the make-up of our team is itself representative of the Covenant already working’.
Anglesey Council Chairman, Councillor Robert Llewelyn-Jones said in his speech: ‘The Island Council proudly undertake to support our military community, by providing a single point of contact to hold the Armed Forces portfolio, ensuring that they are well supported on this great Island ’.
The day was concluded by a spectacular photograph in commemoration and a surprise visit from the Red Arrows.
By kind permission from MCO at RAF Valley
Photos © Crown copyright
