HRH The Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG KCVO

HRH Prince Andrew, HRH Prince Phillip & Past Master Duncan Simpson

A special Livery Dinner was held at the Royal Air Force Club on 27 March 2002 to celebrate the 50 years of Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. If not a City Hall, the venue was, nevertheless, redolent of aviation history and provided a spacious setting in which the Guild could mark a notable event. With more than 100 Guild members in attendance a Court meeting was held to mark the laying down of the Patronage by Her Majesty, its assumption by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and the filling, in turn, of the role of Grand Master by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York. 

A refined version of the ceremony adopted for the installation of the new Master each year enabled the formalities to be completed with dignity and assurance. The new Grand Master received his Badge of Office from his predecessor, was robed by the Beadle and swore the Oath of Allegiance before the assembled members.

HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, swears the oath of 
allegiance on assuming the duties of Grand Master

Before closing the Court meeting, the Master, Duncan Simpson, presented the new Patron with a pair of cufflinks as a token of our gratitude for his continuing interest in the Guild and participation in its activities over 50 years.

A reception followed the ceremony, during which Prince Philip unveiled a specially commissioned portrait which had kindly been donated to the Guild by the artist Richard Stone. The profile met general approval, not least from its subject and from Prince Andrew, both of whom spent some time discussing its finer points with the artist.

The Ballroom of the RAF Club was comfortably full as the top table processed into place. Grace by the Guild Chaplain, Peter Mullen, was apt and concluded: Bring out the best wine, for the Prince is come

Our new Patron, Grand Master and IPM surrounded by 15 Past Masters

And the wine, like the menu, was indeed good, the Club chef having excelled in the presentation of the roast sirloin of beef. The Loyal Toasts, proposed by the Master, took on a special resonance on this occasion. In his address, the Master said 'We are assembled here this evening to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's fifty years as Patron of our Guild - which followed six years as Grand Master. It is also 50 years since your Royal Highness succeeded Her Majesty as Grand Master.'

'This occasion is undoubtedly the most significant in the seventy year history of the Guild and I would ask Your Royal Highness to convey to Her Majesty our sincere thanks for her Patronage and interest in our affairs over so many years'. Turning to Prince Philip's long tour as Grand Master, the Master noted that 'during this time you have attended countless Banquets, functions and taken part in our deliberations; your opening of our new offices in Warwick Court is fresh in the memory.'

Duncan referred to Prince Philip's flying training, saying that there was no doubt that the Harvard/Meteor sequence was demanding for those in regular Service training but to do it part time required particular determination, application and skill. He went to say 'Sir. You earned your brevet and you continued to fly many types of aircraft in the years that followed. Your occupation of the left-hand seat on arrivals did not escape notice and suggests that your log book might be the envy of many around this table.'

The Master welcomed the new Grand Master, saying 'your flying career as an operational pilot in the Royal Navy is well known. In both war and peace you have flown helicopters from ship and shore. There can be few more testing flying careers in the Armed Forces. I have it on good authority that you were the second Royal Navy pilot to become operational using night vision equipment - which included formation flying at night at 50ft and l2Okt; the mind boggles.'

The Master presented HRH Prince Phillip with a pair 
of cufflinks to mark his completion of fifty years
as Grand Master

The Master welcomed representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong and spoke of the wide spectrum of aviation present. He made particular mention of our oldest Liveryman, Sir Arthur Marshall, and noted with regret the absence due to ill health of Sir Michael Cobham and Sir George Edwards.

HRH Prince Philip gave the first response for the Guests in a speech virtually without precedent. It is indeed rare to find an Immediate Past Grand Master as speaker and His Royal Highness admitted to mixed feelings. He was sad to be giving up the Grand Mastership but said 'The Duke of York will do you proud'; he added that he would certainly convey the Master's loyal message to Her Majesty the Queen. Fifty years ago, in 1952, he had flown his first solo in the Chipmunk and had continued to fly until in 1997 when he flew a BAe 146 between Carlisle and Islay for the last time.

Prince Philip said that his log amounted to three volumes and his flying career spanned 5,986 hours. Some 600 hours were on helicopters. He had flown himself around the world in the 146 'and I don't recommend it.' He had acquired the statutory 57 varieties with fixed-wing types varying from Chipmunk to Concorde and helicopters from the Hiller to Blackhawk.

Concluding by saying that it had been a marvellous time and he had enjoyed every minute of it, the Patron said 'My Chipmunk is now in the museum at Cosford. I sometimes think that I'll probably be stuffed and put in it!'

The Grand Master began as he meant to go on: "Right, you lot. We'll have a few changes", a reminder that while he was following in his Father's footsteps he had already been flying for 24 years since his first solo - which had taken place on a Friday, 13th. He had been one of a select group of pilots to undergo grading training before joining the Royal Navy for which purpose two Chipmunks had been sent to RAF Benson in 1978.

Referring to the Master's mention of his night flying, he said that the low-level formating on a Lynx over water was flown without lights. He said that even with the sophisticated equipment of the Lynx "you still have a stopwatch and rely on the Mk 1 Eyeball."

Referring to his new role, the Grand Master said 'I know what the Guild does and I know it is one of the largest companies. it has also its international aspects. I want to come and see what the Guild does on a day-to-day basis and will attend the Trophies and Awards Dinner if I can. He concluded by proposing the toast to the Guild: "may it flourish root and branch for ever".

H.O.F

Updated 06-Jan-2009
AWR