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©Kirton News 2025
News from the Boston and District Branch of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA)
The June meeting was a social event and saw Mark N put together a quiz for the members present. The committee arranged a “breakfast club” for members which was well attended and held, as ever, at the Four Crossroads Inn, thanks go to the staff of the Inn for laying on a great spread. This will be a regular feature for the branch
The branch was saddened to hear of the passing of RAF Veteran and long-standing member of the Boston Branch, Ralph Ottey, at the age of 102. Ralph came over from the West Indies to serve during the war. His funeral took place at the Centenary Church, Boston on 11 June, members of the Branch were in attendance.
Members of the branch were invited to RAF Coningsby and RAF Waddington, along with members of the Cleethorpes branch. They visited a number of Sections at both Units, including 29 Sqn, BBMF and Air Traffic Control and enjoyed lunches in the Junior Ranks Mess at Coningsby and the Officers Mess at Waddington.
The President, Chair and other members attended the Flag Raising Ceremony for Armed Forces Day at the War Memorial in Boston on 22 June 26.
The Branch also set up a stall at the Armed Forces Day event in the Memorial Gardens on Sat 27th June. Also attending were members of the RBL and Cadets from the Boston Detachment of the Army Cadet Force. The branch raised £115 and gained a few new members.
Armed Forces Day Stall
On the 2nd July Boston held its Annual Bike Night and, as in past years, the branch set up a stall in order to highlight the work we do with RAF Veterans around the district. A good night was had and a number of flyers passed out to potential members.
Boston Bike Night
A reminder that the Boston and District Branch covers from Kirton to Old Leake and Wrangle, Woodhall Spa to Spilsby, Horncastle and Coningsby/Tattershall and we meet every second Tuesday at the Four Crossroads Inn at Wyberton. We meet on every second Tuesday of the month at the Four Crossroads Inn on Swineshead Road, Boston, PE20 1SF. You don’t have to have been in the RAF to be a member and, if you joined RAFA many years ago and are unsure of where you were registered, or you have moved to the area, contact our membership representative:Mr D E Coates, Email: derek680@btinternet.com
A Message from Father Paul
I always feel that September is a bit of a strange month, feeling that it is a month of transition between one thing and another, a time when we know all is about to change, whether we like it or not.
We try our hardest to hold on to what is left of the summer, knowing that the chill in the evening air is just the start of things to come. The same could be said for our lives, as we feel those long hot days beginning to pass by remembering those days spent on a lonely beach, knowing our working lives are before us once more, where any chance of a break is far out of our sight.
We may look at this month and feel gloomy, but not all transition are for the worst, change can be for the better, particularly as we see the leaves change, and the ground takes a sigh of relief as rain falls once more, and our lives are filled with hope.
It is the same hope that the Church celebrates on the 14th September in the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. With the beauty of the crosses we find in our churches, around our necks, within our homes, we can be in danger of over-romanticizing the cross to extent that we forget what the cross used to be.
The cross was a sign of oppression used by the Romans to supress the people, it was the most barbaric form of execution that slowly and painfully killed those who hung upon it as they suffocated to death. With this being the case, why would we exalt such a form cruel execution, particularly as it was the way in which Jesus died.
If the story of Jesus stopped with his death on the cross, then it would have remained a vile form of torture, that stripped people of everything even their lives. However, through his resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, therefore, the image of the cross has now transitioned from an evil form of torture, to a sign of love and hope.
A sign of God’s love for us as he gave us his only son that we may find reconciliation with him, a sign of hope that as Jesus Christ was raised to eternal life so may we. The next time you see a cross do not disregard it as just a thing of beauty, but recognise it as a sign of transition, a sign of change from evil to good by the very resurrection of Jesus.
This is a sign of transition not just in the life of Jesus, but also in our own lives as we are transformed by the love of God. Be transformed by Christ Holy Cross and know God’s love for you as he brings you out of darkness into his most wonderful light.
Country Music Comes To Kirton
What a wonderful afternoon was had by all on Sunday 12th July when Kirton Town Hall hosted an afternoon of Country Music, a first for Kirton. To complete the afternoon, homemade refreshments was served which was most enjoyable and went down a treat.
The event was very well attended, leaving most people asking when the next one would be held which is a sure sign of how successful it was. We would very much like to congratulate ‘The Town Hall Committee’ for organising the event. It wouldn’t have been an easy task to take on but please be assured, your efforts are very much appreciated and we look forward to more in the future.
Barbara Sharp, Shirley Limb, Joyce Hall, Margaret Harmston and many more
Defib available at Boston Seeds
A defibrillator is available at Boston Seeds or use during office hours Monday- Friday 9-5 pm and has been updated on the Lives app.
This now means that there is a defibrillator available on this side of Kirton for any medical emergency. It is located on the front of the building, next to customer parking and is easily accessible.
As this has to be linked to a power source, we were unable to have this fitted anywhere else.
If this needs to be used, we would ask that we be made aware that this has been used when it is brought back to the site so we can order any new pads that may have needed to be used.
Boston Classic Car Club, The Most Successful Annual Show Ever!
Sunday, 9th August 2026 saw the most successful Annual Show ever from the Boston Classic Car Club. With well over 500 classic owners exhibiting trucks, light commercials, motor cycles and of course, cars galore (as well as a double-decker bus!), the show ground at Orchard park field was packed with interest all around. The oldest cars dated from 1916 onwards (and yes, there were several examples of transport from the early years of motoring to be seen) and other examples from every decade right up to the early 2000’s modern classics. Whatever interested exhibitors and visitors alike was there in abundance.
Visitors flocked into the field with numbers well in excess of 2000 and the overall opinion was one of enthusiast support for the show and the exhibits alike. Free car parking was well used and efficiently organised by the Boston Sea Cadets for the fourth year running. The Cadets are the chosen charity for the year, for the Club and they will also benefit from the proceeds of the raffle held during the day.
There was entertainment during the day with singing from Abba Infinity, as well as numerous trade and food stalls spread around (including two ice cream vendors who did a roaring trade!) and to top the day off there was a flypast from a Spitfire of the BBMF at Coningsby which was greatly appreciated by all.
Prize giving resulted in even more interest from exhibitors than usual with approximately half of vehicles attending being judged in one category or another. Although many trophies were handed out, the overall winner of Best Car of the Show for the Boston Classic Car Club was Suzy Mitchell with the magnificent example of her 1960’s Volvo P1800.
All in all the Boston Classic Car Club Show 2026 was a great success and was well appreciated by all those attending.
