We are sad to report that Bryan Suitters, a long-standing member of BAFUNCS died on 2 August 2025 Bryan joined the Executive Committee as Subscriptions Secretary in 1994, and in 1996 he became Honorary Treasurer, a post he held until 2016.  He was elected a Vice-President of the Association in 2016 A cremation service took place on 15 August, but there will be an opportunity for friends, colleagues, and family to pay their respects.at a gathering in St Albans on a date to be decided. An appreciation of his life and contribution to BAFUNCS will be placed on the website at that time

All Members Welcome! Join  us at the Bawdsey Radar Museum for a bespoke tour followed by lunch at The Ramsholt Arms. Find out more about these venues  below.     Plan for the day 11.30.  Meet at the Museum for tea/coffee in the garden. Entry fee is £7.50 for seniors payable on arrival. 12.00   Tour of the Museum. 13.00   Drive to Ramsholt Arms 10-15 minutes away for lunch where a table will await us.  Presently no pre order is required but we will be in touch if this changes. This tour has been kindly arranged by CAM member James Vanier, formerly of ICAO and  a volunteer at the site. Please contact Nicky Rodgers to confirm your attendance by Thursday 4th September at rodgers.nichola@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there! Nicky Rodgers. CAM Regional Representative Bawdsey Manor became the birthplace of radar in 1937, where scientists developed the Chain Home radar system to detect incoming aircraft. This innovation was crucial to the creation of the Dowding System, the world’s first fully integrated air defence network. By linking radar stations, Royal Observer Corps posts, and centralized Fighter Command operations, it enabled real-time tracking and rapid fighter deployment. The system’s efficiency was vital during the Battle of Britain, allowing RAF pilots to intercept enemy formations with precision. Beyond wartime success, the Dowding System laid the groundwork for modern air traffic control and information systems in civil aviation. (Thanks James!) The Ramsholt Arms, nestled on the banks of the River Deben, is Suffolk’s only south-facing riverside pub, with stunning sunsets, a scenic terrace and seasonal food. Travel Car See website for directions:  Bawdsey Radar The Ramsholt Arms, Dock Road, Ramsholt, Suffolk IP12 3AB Public Transport Melton is the nearest railway station on the Ipswich and Lowestoft line. A taxi can be arranged from there. We will provide lifts to the Ramsholt Arms. Contact Nicky for further details. Car parking The car park is close to the museum.  You are welcome to drop off at the museum entrance and then proceed to the car park. Please do call the museum on 07821 162879 if you’d like further information. Access One wheelchair is available on request in advance. The Bawdsey Radar exhibition space is easily accessible for all. Websites:  Bawdsey Radar Museum                     The Ramsholt Arms

London’s next event is a visit to the Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA, at 2pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025. This should be an interesting place to visit and is of course open to all BAFUNCS – Home - Museum of the Home,  where one can see the way Londoner’s homes have evolved over the centuries, and consider aspects of domestic life in all their variety and complexity, with a particular focus on the diverse communities that have made London their home.  A series of historical gardens from the Tudor to the modern garden complement the lovely almshouse in which the Museum is located. Robyn and Frederick Lyons of BAFUNCS London are helping us to organise this visit.  We expect participants to arrive from 1.45 pm, to start at 2pm with an introductory talk by a Museum Curator, followed by a self-led tour.  Robyn and Frederick live very nearby (5 – 10 minutes’ walk) and have kindly offered to host us all to tea in their home immediately after the visit. Travel details will be sent out nearer the time. The cost is £15, so please contact our Treasurer, Carole, (carole.harris@gmail.com), should you like to join us by Friday 22 August 2025.  Numbers limited! Hannah Shabathai, BAFUNCS Regional Representative for London

We can now provide a brief report on the recent Annual Reunion, held in Norwich. This provides a smorgasbord to savour for those members who attended the event – and for those who were unable to do so. Below is the complete folder: A Report on AR 2025 The Photo Album Videos of the Presentations “The World Turned upside down – and what Britain needs to do about it”: Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, in conversation with our President, Sir Mark Lowcock “The values of the Broads National Park and the challenges facing its future”: Andrea Kelly, Environment Policy Adviser of the Broads Authority Andrea Kelly’s Presentation Slides “Climate change, international policy and UK strategies for energy security and climate risk”: Asher Minns, Executive Director, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia  Asher Minn’s Presentation Slides