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TRH attend the annual summer gathering of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association

14th June 2007

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today attended the annual Battle of Britain Fighter Association (BBFA) summer gathering and were greeted warmly by veterans.

Their Royal Highnesses met the surviving members of the aircrew who fought bravely in the Battle of Britain, at Bentley Priory in Middlesex.

The Prince of Wales is Patron of the Battle of Britain Association and is Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Veterans and their families enjoyed tea and cake as Their Royal Highnesses moved separately around the reception, before being treated to an aerial fly-past by two Spitfires.

For many of the veterans it was not the first time they had met a member of the Royal Family.

Wing Commander Tom Neil, who had earlier joked with The Prince that he was "a very young fellow", revealed that his son had been at Cranwell, the Royal Air Force college, with His Royal Highness.

Squadron Leader "Joce" Millard said that he had already met The Prince on several occasions and said that he was "very chatty".

Flight Lieutenant William Walker, who turns 93 this year, and is thought to be the oldest surviving member of the BBFA, said that he had met The Duchess at past BBFA events and was hoping to get a chance to meet The Prince too. 

He said: "I love meeting people and if they happen to be royal so much the better!"

In September 2006, Their Royal Highnesses attended a service at Westminster Abbey to remember the battle and, in September 2005, officially unveiled the Battle of Britain monument on Victoria Embankment, London.

Between 10th July and 31st October 1940 the RAF and the Luftwaffe fought for supremacy over Britain.

The RAF pilots were often scrambled to do battle three, four or five times a day.

Winston Churchill famously declared: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many, to so few."

The Few were 2,353 young men from the UK and 574 from overseas. Some 544
lost their lives in the battle.

Bentley Priory became famous during the battle as the Headquarters of Fighter Command.

The Battle of Britain Fighter Association was formed in 1958, with just over 1,000 aircrew members. 

In May 2007 there were only 145 surviving members.

The veterans have set up a trust and hope to raise £10 million to ensure that the Bentley Priory is maintained as a permanent exhibition to the Battle of Britain.