Royal Air Force Support to the swearing in of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
The Royal Air Force
supported the swearing in of the new Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
On Monday 13 March
2017, former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, was
sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. The occasion was marked by a
ceremony at the Royal Court and then a church service at the Parish Church of
Saint Helier. Personnel from the Queen’s Colour Squadron (63 Squadron Royal Air
Force Regiment), LXX Squadron Royal Air Force, and Royal Air Force Music
Services travelled to Jersey to support the event.
The Queen’s Colour
Squadron provided a Lining Party in Royal Square for the new Lieutenant
Governor as he made his way from the Royal Court to the Parish Church of Saint
Helier. In the evening, the Queen’s Colour Squadron performed a Continuity
Drill Display followed by a Sunset Ceremony. A flypast was conducted by LXX
Squadron in an A400M Atlas aircraft as the Union Flag was lowered. Guests were
afterwards hosted for dinner by the Lieutenant Governor in Government House
with the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra providing an ensemble of music. Flight
Lieutenant Matt Bowerman, Queen’s Colour Squadron Second-in-Command, was the
Parade Commander and the Lieutenant Governor took the salute.
The Lieutenant Governor
is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, for a five year term, to be her personal
representative and impartial adviser. His responsibilities include representing
the Queen on ceremonial occasions, hosting royal, ambassadorial and VIP visits
and being a point of contact between the Island’s authorities and the UK
government. Air Chief Marshal Dalton’s appointment to the role was announced on
20 December 2016 following the end of General Sir John McColl’s tenure.
The Queen’s Colour
Squadron (63 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment), based at Royal Air Force
Northolt, are the Royal Air Force’s only ceremonial unit. Custodians of the
Queen’s Colour for the RAF in the United Kingdom, they are responsible for
representing the Royal Air Force at the highest profile ceremonial occasions;
providing Guards of Honour for our own Royal Family, as well as visiting
royalty, heads of state and dignitaries. The Squadron also has an operational
role as 63 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment. The RAF Regiment are responsible
for providing Force Protection to deployed airmen and aircraft. Air Chief
Marshal Dalton is the current Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force
Regiment, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The Airbus A400M
Atlas, flown by LXX Squadron based at Royal Air Force Brize Norton, has been in
service in the Royal Air Force since November 2014. Capable of carrying a load
of 25 tonnes over a range of 2000 nautical miles, the A400M supports the
deployment of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force and gives the RAF a tactical and
strategic-airlift aircraft capable of supporting all three services and is
interoperable with other nations.
Editor: Flt Lt Doug McCorkindale
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017