MEMBERS of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) in Witney, which looked set to close after 70 years in the town, have decided to continue for another year.

Earlier this month, the RAFA branch announced plans to wind down due to dwindling numbers.

But following an appeal in the Oxford Mail, a special meeting held in the town earlier this month, which was supposed to see the formal disbanding, instead attracted two new volunteers.

Now, existing members say they will give it 12 more months to see if more people come on board.

Secretary Neil Grace, 77, explained: “Retired Flt Lt Ian Broadbridge, the former Commanding Officer of Witney Air Training Corps, has agreed to be our new treasurer.

“And serving Corporal Neil Archer, from Brize Norton, has agreed to be our secretary, while I have agreed to be chairman for the next year.

“I put it to the last eight members who attend our meetings whether we should go on or not and they said we should give it another year.

“Now it just remains to be seen whether any more ‘new blood’ join us in the next year, or whether we will eventually still call it a day.”

The RAFA is a welfare and support service for former and serving RAF personnel.

Founded in 1929 as the Comrades of the Royal Air Forces Association, it has 445 branches with 65,000 members raising money to fund welfare projects totalling £1.2million a year.

Last year, Witney RAFA, which has been in operation since 1943, collected £847 for the RAFA’s annual Wings Appeal.

But whereas its branch meetings were once attended by dozens, they are now down to less than 10.

Mr Grace, a former RAF chief technician, said: “The RAFA has promised to get us lots of new, younger, serving members.

“You would think that would be easy as we are only 11 miles from the biggest RAF base in the world.

“But whether that happens or not remains to be seen.”

New secretary Cpl Archer said: “I am privileged to be working with the Witney branch and I am looking forward to helping move it forward.”

Ken Clarke, area director of the RAFA, said: “Naturally, when long-serving officials step down or are no longer able to continue, there is an amount of upheaval, but we are determined to keep the branch going.

“However, we welcome new volunteers to bring new ideas and impetus into the branch. One of the greatest strengths of the RAF Association is the bond between veterans and serving RAF personnel and we hope to continue this tradition in Witney.”

Anyone interested in offering support to the branch should call Ken Clarke on 0116 266 5224 or email ken.clarke@rafa.org.uk