ON THE 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain the county’s RAF Association branch has warned it could face closure unless it attracts younger members.

The Oxford and District RAFA will be celebrating its own 70th anniversary next month but feared it could be the branch’s last.

Kath Mulligan, who joined the Women’s RAF in 1958 aged 18, said a new chairman and younger recruits were urgently needed.

The former chairman and current publicity officer, 75, said: “After 70 years we don’t want it to collapse, which does happen to other groups. We are hoping to be able to re-enforce it for the future.”

The Headington woman, who was in charge of the officers’ mess and a cook at various RAF bases across the country, said there was a real threat to the branch’s future.

She added: “If we do not get a new chairman, the branch could close in its 71st year.

“It’s the same with lots of organisations that have an elderly membership.”

Mrs Mulligan said many of the branch’s members still pay subs but are unable to attend meetings due to their age; there were about 25 people at its most recent meetings.

She added members are usually retired from the RAF as meetings are often in working hours, but called for recent retirees to join the group.

Since former chairman John Bishop stepped down because of poor health at the AGM in March, no one has come forward to lead the branch.

The branch, which was formed in 1945, holds monthly meetings with a speaker, organises collections, and arranges outings. It was set up as a welfare support organisation to support both current and past members of the RAF ‘family’ so that they are never alone or in need.

About three times a year the branch’s members take day trips to places of interest such as the Imperial War Museum in London and RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.

It also has a welfare officer who supports and often visits ex-servicemen and women and their families in need.

Fred Floate, from Botley, said the attendance had dropped since he joined the association in 1998 to about 20 regular members.

The 78-year-old joined the RAF in 1955 and spent five years as an aircraft electrician.

He travelled to Christmas Island with 58 Squadron to test the H-bomb during the Cold War.

He said: “We regularly had nearly 40 at meetings and talks when I first joined.

“It’s definitely less now, a lot of people have died and everyone is getting older.”

Mr Floate said more people and a chairman were needed to ensure the branch’s future.

He said: “It’s becoming a problem but hopefully some more people will come along.

“We organise some good trips and you meet people with some interesting experiences.

“I even met someone else who was on Christmas Island.”

* Anyone wishing to join the Oxford and District RAFA should call Kath Mulligan on 01865 776152 for more information.