RAF Halton Women take part in International Women’s Day

A group of ladies from RAF Halton took part in a photo shoot this week for International Women’s Day. The image was taken in the Ante Room at Halton House Officers’ Mess, HHOM, with ladies taking part from a number of sections across the Station.

Flight Lieutenant Sarah Hindley, from Operations Squadron, gave a brief bio of her career so far: “I joined the RAF in 1988 as an Air Traffic Control Officer, and completed a tour at RAF St Mawgan before transferring to the pilot branch as it was opened to women. After training on Chipmunks, Jet Provosts, Tucanos and Senecas I was posted to 30 Sqn, RAF Lyneham and completed a tour as a co-pilot on Hercules. I left the RAF in 1999 when I had my first child. After 18 years out, in which I worked as a teaching assistant, a primary school teacher and an examinations administrator, I re-joined the RAF in an FTRS post in 2017, having completed a ‘Kit & Post’ course (now known as the ‘Transferee & Re-joiner’ course). I am now working at RAF Halton airfield as Flt Lt Operations and the Station Flight Safety Officer.

Both Hazel Oliffe, who works in HHOM, and her son Jonathon, a chef in the Warrant Officers and Sergeants mess, have worked at RAF Halton for 20 years. Her daughter, Joanna Day has completed 30 years in HHOM. Hazel said: “I have enjoyed working here and have seen and done things you wouldn’t have anywhere else.”

Three ladies from Airmens’ Command Squadron were in the picture, one of them Emma Roussell, has recently been promoted to Warrant Officer and is the only female Logistics Chef, making her the senior female in the trade, and Flying Officer Rachel Herod, Halton’s Media Communications Officer.

Civil Servants also joined in, Mrs Dionne Barber from Passes and Permits, Elaine Bird, the Station Typist.

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