News
We are pleased to announce that this year we raised £5,512.50 for help for heroes. The cheque will be presented to our patron Colonel David Turner at 1pm on 6th November 2009, in the grounds of The Academy. We have an Apache attack helicopter there for a photo shoot. Everyone welcome
*** Please note that we do not take debit / credit cards, so payment on the day must be cash or cheque with guarantee card. ***
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We are pleased to announce our new Patron for the walk Colonel David Turner, Commander Aviation 16 Air Assault Brigade. Colonel Turner carries the responsibilities of Apache Attack Helicopter Force Commander and Commander Wattisham Flying Station.
Colonel David Turner was commissioned in December 1978 and initially served with the RAOC in UK and Germany. After serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers in Northern Ireland and spending a further year in recruiting, he joined No 282 Army Pilots Course. He qualified as an Army Pilot in 1983 and subsequently served with 4 Regiment AAC as a Gazelle Pilot, Flight Commander, and Squadron Second-in-Command. In 1986 he was appointed Adjutant of 4 Ordnance Battalion and in 1988 he joined the staff of HQ United Kingdom Mobile Force.
On graduating from the Army Staff Course at Camberley, Colonel Turner was appointed to QMG's London Staff in the MOD from where he was attached to the newly established Attack Helicopter Integrated Project Team. Here he was directly involved in drafting the Attack Helicopter Invitation To Tender and shaping the assessment criteria. He returned to 4 Regiment AAC for the second time in 1994 to command 654 Squadron AAC. Promoted into the post of Chief Aviation within HQ Land Command, he assumed the role of Commander Aviation for twelve months, until September 1999, when Aviation Branch was disbanded and responsibilities passed to the newly formed Joint Helicopter Command. At this stage he returned to 4 Regiment AAC for the third time as the Commanding Officer.
Before taking up the appointment as Commander Wattisham Station and AH Force Commander, Colonel Turner worked in the MOD for Director Land Digitization, part of the General Staff, before spending two years as Chief of Staff of HQ Director Army Aviation. He is married to Sarah and has two children - Hannah - a recent graduate of Edinburgh University and Philip, an undergraduate at Newcastle. In his spare time he enjoys painting, gardening, DIY and riding.