BrizeFest is a two-day annual event held to thank station personnel, along with their families and friends, for their commitment to the RAF over the last 12 months and a team from Amey were delighted to be able to take part in the spectacular event.
The festival’s tenth year coincided with the Air Force’s 100th Anniversary, meaning organisers threw their biggest party yet so it was all systems go for our team who played a significant role in the planning of the festival.
Jayne Clark, our Administrator, joined the RAF Brize Norton planning committee as the Amey representative and was fully involved in all the preparations leading up to the event. Our main area of support was to work closely with our supply chain partner, Robert & Prowse, to provide and install Herras fencing and crowd fencing around the site. We also provided skips to help with the waste generated each day.
Along with assisting with the event logistics, we were also given the opportunity to further lend our support by hosting one of the many stalls that offer games, competitions and other activities during the festivities. As SSAFA is our corporate charity partner and Kevin Trethowan, Operations Manager of our supply chain partner, MMS Ltd, is an active SSAFA volunteer we decided to join forces with the local SSAFA team and help them with their stall.
Jayne said “We provided passing visitors with information about SSAFA and how Amey support their mentoring scheme. We also raffled off some amazing prizes which I collected beforehand along with a ‘guess the number of sweets in the jar’ and ‘hook a duck’ for the children. The stall was really popular with everyone and we were all delighted to have raised £450 for SSAFA by the end of the second day.”
Thousands of visitors attended this year’s BrizeFest which included a Proms in the Park concert, live bands, motorcycle display teams, a parachute display, the RAF100 Pipes and Drums (Massed Band) and an incredible flypast by a Voyager, C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules, Dakota and a Spitfire and Hurricane formation.
Gerwyn Jones, Amey’s Area Manager said “Along with the day job of supplying the fencing and skips we personally wanted to give something back to the site. Supporting SSAFA, who provide such vital support to our Armed Forces, is something we’re passionate about so hosting a stall truly reflected the commitment Amey has to our service personnel and their families.”
Squadron Leader Christine Matthews, the officer in charge of BrizeFest said: “BrizeFest and Families’ Day is all about recognising the amazing work of everyone at RAF Brize Norton, and saying a big 'thank you' to them and their supporting families and friends. I hope that everyone at BrizeFest this year felt proud of their contribution and achievements, and most importantly had fun.”