A CELEBRATORY event to mark the centenary of the RAF has been held at the West Wales Airport, Aberporth.

West Wales Airport, Air Cadets Ceredigion, Thales Group, QinetiQ, Ceredigion County Council, Ministry of Defence Aberporth and the RAF at Aberporth worked in collaboration to hold the event.

The celebrations began at 12 noon with the raising of the Royal Air Force ensign with the salute taken by Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams.

A parade and general salute was made by 1429 Cardigan and Aberporth, 561 Ardwyn Aberystwyth and District Squadrons, RAF Air Cadets, with the inspection of the parade carried out by Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams OBE ADC RAF; Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Sara Edwards; and the chairman of Ceredigion County Council, Cllr Hag Harris accompanied by Ceredigion County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Paul Hinge.

During the event guests observed a fly-by of Hawk aircraft from RAF Valley and viewed displays, created by QinetiQ, Thales and Air Cadets Ceredigion, detailing the history of the RAF at Aberporth and the work currently being undertaken at the Range.

Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams OBE ADC RAF said: “It was a great privilege for the RAF to be in Ceredigion today to celebrate the RAF centenary with the local community.

"It was special that we were at the site of the former RAF Aberporth station, now West Wales Airport.

"It was particularly poignant for us to be able to carry out a ceremony today of raising the RAF Ensign at Aberporth, a ceremony that was last carried out by the RAF in 1984 when the RAF Ensign was lowered and RAF Aberporth was closed.

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