Royal Air Force Charitable Trust

RAFCTE

Board of Directors
Mr Fred Crawley CBE FCIB (Chairman)
Mr Alan Smith (Deputy Chairman)
Air Commodore David Bywater

Tim Prince
Chief Executive
Tim Prince

Tim Prince was born in February 1949 and worked for the DTI / CAA as an Air Traffic Controller from 1966 to 1978.  He was a founder member of the Air Tattoo at North Weald Aerodome in 1971 and is now Chief Executive of Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises and overall Director of the Royal International Air Tattoo.  Tim is also a founder member and Trustee of the RIAT Flying Scholarships for the Disabled.

Caroline Rogers
Commercial Director
Caroline Rogers

Caroline Rogers joined the company in 1990 following five years in management in the catering industry. She joined as Special Events Manager, was subsequently promoted to Deputy Director Business Development and is now on the board as Commercial Director. Her areas of responsibility include all marketing activity, sales - including sponsorship and corporate business development and PR issues. Additionally, her department manages any special projects, the RAF Band concerts and all VIP event and guest management

David Higham
Finance & Trading Operations Director
David Higham

David Higham was born in Southport, Merseyside on the 12th February 1946 and was educated at King George V Grammar School, Southport prior to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. He joined the Company in May 1997 and later that year was appointed Deputy Director Trading, prior to becoming Director Trading & Finance in January 2005. David’s has a background in both financial and general management, having worked for both medium-sized companies as well as multi-nationals. 


Company Secretary &  Ground Operations Deputy Director
Chris Murray OBE

Chris Murray, OBE, served in the Royal Air Force for 35 years, retiring in 2008 as a group captain.  Chris filled a range of appointments in the field of accounting and personnel administration during postings in the UK, Germany, Sierre Leone and the Middle East.  He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2001.  Chris joined RAFCTE in 2008 as Company Secretary and Deputy Director Ground Operations.  He is also Secretary to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.




Deputy Director Personnel, Admin & Trading Ops
Christina Iddon

Chris was born in Wick, Caithness in April 1957.  In 1975 Chris joined the Women’s Royal Air Force and trained as a telephonist before serving at RAF Stations Lyneham, Uxbridge, Upavon and Benson.  During her latter service she also undertook the additional station duties of WRAF Admin, before leaving in 1981 having achieved the rank of Corporal.  

Chris joined IAT (as it was then known) during late 1987 initially fulfilling the role of Head Receptionist.  Her progress within the company has since seen her undertake a myriad of positions including Customer Services Supervisor; Database Manager; Direct Mail & Response Manager and most recently, since January 2006, the position of Deputy Director Personnel, Admin & Trading Ops

RIAT Chief of Staff
Brian Hughes
Brian is retired RAF Group Captain and former Head of Security for an international bank.  He has worked on the Air Tattoo in various capacities since 1976 and has been its Chief of Staff for more than 10 years.  He oversees Security, Emergency Services and Media Liaison and during the Tattoo runs the Show Operations Centre.  The latter is staffed by a small group of very experienced RIAT volunteers who look after the day to day co-ordination of the Event and the airshow management’s response to emergencies.  Brian has also managed Security and Emergency Services for the Australian International Airshow.

Deputy Director HI & Catering
Wally Armstrong

Wally was born in Edinburgh in 1944 and attended Berwickshire High School and Galashiels Academy. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1962 and served firstly for a short period as a Police Dog Handler and then trained as a Caterer. Whilst serving with NATO in Holland he was awarded the MBE for services to NATO. He left the RAF as a Squadron Leader Catering Officer in 1994 after service in various parts of the world culminating in the last four years being responsible for In Flight Catering for the Air Transport Fleet based at High Wycombe but which necessitated world wide travel. 

Wally joined RIAT as a volunteer Catering Manager whilst still in the RAF in 1997, subsequently joining RAFBFE - now RAFCTE - as a short term contractor in 1984. Since then, after a series of changes/promotions he became Deputy Director and has been responsible for all Catering Services and Hospitality International our Corporate Hospitality Division.

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