Women in The RAF – Stars Through Adversity

PRESS RELEASE – Next month will see events all around the world celebrating International Women’s Day, held on 8 March each year.  This annual celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of women while calling for greater equality. This year, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is teaming up with the RAF for an event entitled ‘Women in the RAF – Stars through Adversity’.Focusing on the life stories of women who served and are currently serving in the RAF, this one day event will highlight the vast opportunities and the wide range of roles available for women in the RAF today and will be attended by Air Commodore McCafferty.Aimed at secondary school students studying GCSE’s and A Levels, the event will take place on Tuesday 10 March at the RAF Museum Cosford. Students will participate in a number of interactive workshops throughout the day and get a feel for some of the careers available.  Workshops will be run by RAF Personnel and will explore everything from Air Traffic Control, Aircraft Engineering, Comms and Intelligence, Logistics, Life Skills Development and ‘Hands-on’ ICT.

 A highlight for students will be the opportunity to meet Rose Davies, a 98 year old ex WAAFwho served as a radar operator during WWII plotting the movement of troop ships. Rose will be speaking with students about the work she did and her experiences during numerous postings.Also speaking with students and sharing personal experiences will be Julie Brierley, ex RAF Avionics Mechanic now an Education Assistant at the RAF Museum Cosford.  Julie served in the RAF for nine years between 1990 and 1999 and was the first female Avionics Mechanic onto 17 Squadron Germany.  Julie’s tours of duty included a post in Incirlik, Turkey and two tours of Saudi Arabia.

 RAF Museum Cosford Learning Assistant, Lisa Fawcett said:“The aim of this unique event is to engage with young women and to showcase the excellent training, opportunities and life skills that are available within the RAF. Through participation in the career workshops on offer, access to RAF resources and by speaking with past and present personnel, we hope to inspire young women to follow their ambitions and showcase aviation as a possible career path.”Any schools who would like to participate in this free educational event can book their place by emailing lisa.fawcett@rafmuseum.org or by calling the Museum on 01902 376242.

 For more information about the RAF Museum Cosford, please visit the Museum website www.rafmuseum.org.