THE 422 Air Base Group (422 ABG) Change of Command Ceremony took place at the end of last month – a little later than originally planned.

At the ceremony, Col John Hannah took over the command of the 422 ABG from Col Bridget McNamara.

It was a very simple ceremony with just a handful of people in attendance, and all socially distanced!

RAF Fairford is home to the 420th Air Base Squadron and acts as a Forward Operating Location for bomber aircraft.

More recently, RAF Fairford has also been home to the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron following the arrival of U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft in September 2019.

The squadron is forward deployed to Fairford, and the personnel are aligned to the 9th Operations Group based at Beale Air Force Base in California.

Whilst stationed at RAF Fairford, the deployed command relationship is through the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

The 99 ERS includes over 100 military, civilian and contractor personnel, including U2 pilots.

The 422 ABG, which is headquartered at RAF Croughton, is organized into seven squadrons spread across RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford and RAF Welford.

The 422 ABG enables global command and control; global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and global strike operations.

These missions take place at a unique global communications base (RAF Croughton), the United States’ only bomber forward operating unit in Europe (RAF Fairford), and the second largest capacity munitions facility in Europe (RAF Welford).

LECHLADE Craft Barn has a double celebration in August.

Owners, Jennie Turner-Maskell and Karen Holland, have announced the business has earned the Visit England’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ certification.

The prestigious accreditation demonstrates that the Craft Barn will be adhering to Covid-19 public health guidelines and meeting the required processes to re-start craft workshops.

The Craft Barn has now been running for six years and would normally celebrate with an Open Day.

However, under the current conditions, the anniversary will be marked slightly different with an online competition via Lechlade Craft Barn’s Facebook page and Newsletter.

For more information, visit www.lechladecraftbarn.com or contact Jennie: 07740 416783, jennie@lechladecraftbarn.com.

MEMBERS of Fairford Rugby Club are trying to raise £2,000 to pay for a memorial bench in memory of ex-player and friend, Richard Hadgkiss, whilst also raising money for MIND Swindon and Shine Bright Support Fairford.

The members will be testing themselves both physically and mentally by undertaking a full weekend sporting challenge with over 60 participants split into four teams to cover the most distance on foot and bike over the challenge weekend starting at 4pm on Friday, August 21, and finishing at 4pm on Sunday, August 23.

To find out more: bit.ly/39xZORY.

THERE’S a new shop in Lechlade run by Nikky Reed that not only sells a wide range of cards and gifts hand-made, designed and up-cycled by people with mental wellbeing connections, but also provides a space where mental health is discussed openly and offers support.

The shop is called No Labels and can be found at 6a Burford Street.

Nikky is a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of crafts and hosts various craft sessions, meet ups and tuition.

Find out more at: nolabelsmentalwellbeing.org.

NOT Just Code Limited, working in partnership with Cotswold Taste, has made the decision to make the ‘FreeMyMenu’ app free for businesses in the hospitality sector.

‘FreeMyMenu’ is an innovative app that enables restaurants to seamlessly update their website and printed menus.

Even before lockdown, the ways people searched for restaurants were changing.

When consumers search for a restaurant on their phones, the number one thing they want to see is an up-to-date menu.

As the lockdown eases, it’s never been more important to have up-to-date menus on your website.

The ‘FreeMyMenu’ app enables restaurants to update their website even before the printed menus have left the printer!

By using this app, businesses can also save paper and remove a point of contact between customers and front of house staff by letting customers know they can view exactly the same menu on their phones.

To find out more about this FREE offer, visit: www.freemymenu.com.