The Royal Air Force Memorial Fund. (Flight Magazine June 19th 1931)
The second meeting of the Executive Committee of the Fund for the current year was held at Iddesleigh House, on May 6. Sir Charles McLeod, Bart., chairman and honorary treasurer, was in the Chair, and there was a very full attendance of members of the Committee, including the deputy chairman, Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, G.B.E.
The usual financial statements were presented to the Committee, and in this connection it was noted that grants for relief of distress for the four months from January 1 to April 30, 1931, totalled a sum of £5,302, representing a considerable increase on former grants in aid.
The Committee welcomed a new member in Air Commodore B. C. H. Drew, C.M.G.
It was reported that the Vanbrugh Castle School, Blackheath, S.E.3, supported by the Fund, had reopened for the summer term on April 21, with a full attendance of 39 boys, and there is a long waiting list for admission to the school.
It was reported that the Grants Sub-Committee between March 11 and the date of the meeting had dealt with 50 cases at their meetings, and that, in addition, the secretary, with his limited powers, within the same period had dealt with 105 cases of appeals for help.
It was reported to the Committee that the Annual Report for 1930 to the number of 1,550 copies, had been distributed to everyone concerned, including all the units of the R.A.F. between April 1 and 14.
It was also reported to the meeting that the recently appointed High Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada, the Hon. Howard Ferguson, had accepted office as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Fund.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee was fixed for Wednesday, July 1, 1931, at the offices of the Fund at 3 p.m.
The usual meeting of the Grants Sub-Committee of the Fund was held at Iddesleigh House on May 14. Mr. W. S. Field was in the chair, and the other members of the committee present were : Mrs. L. M. K. Pratt Barlow, O.B.E. ; Air Commodore B. C. H. Drew, C.M.G. The committee considered in all 23 cases and made grants to the amount of £324 13s. 6d.
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
(Flight Magazine July 24th 1947)
Vanbrugh Castle Re-opens
AIR VICE-MARSHAL SIR JOHN CORDINGLEY, Controller of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and former Director-General of Manning at the Air Ministry, last week reopened the Benevolent Fund's school for the sons of deceased airmen at Vanbrugh Castle, Blackheath. The school, which was closed at the outbreak of war, and which suffered bomb damage, will accommodate 48 pupils.