ON Sunday, April 1, the Queen sent the following message to the Royal Air Force – “The (100th) anniversary of the world’s first independent Air Force is of great significance, and it is fitting to pay tribute to the tenacity, skill and sacrifice of the men and women who have served within its ranks over the last century, and who have defended our freedom gallantly.

“Through its enduring focus on professionalism, excell-ence and innovation, the Royal Air Force stands as a shining example of inspiration around the world today and for the next generation.

“May the glory and honour that all ranks have bestowed on the Royal Air Force light its pathway to the future guarding our skies and reaching for the stars.”

The Queen ended the message with the Latin motto of the RAF, ‘Per Ardua ad Astra’, which translates to English as “through adversity to the stars”.

Here in Brecon, celebrations were also taking place in the RAF Association Club on the anniversary. We were toasting the RAF in the ‘Experiment Ale’, specially produced for us by local brewer Brecon Brewing.

On Saturday, April 14 at a short service in the Plough Chapel in Brecon, the Mayor of Brecon, Cllr Ieuan Williams, will present a Friendship Scroll to the Air Officer Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams.

The Last Post and Reveille will be played, and a minute’s silence observed.

Later in the year we will be taking part in what is effectively a relay, carrying a token around RAFA branches in Wales.

The Aberdare branch will be handing on to us in Brecon, and we have to link up with Llanidloes branch. It was interesting that the Queen’s message included a reference to the RAF motto – “through adversity to the stars” – because in March the Chief of the Air Staff announced the RAF’s role in the launch and operation of a demonstrator satellite.

Now in orbit, the Carbonite-2 offers sovereign, full-motion colour video from space for the RAF for the first time.