Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 235
SOF | WITH THE SERVICES: ROYAL AIR FORCE
Royal Air Force
GROUP CAPTAIN ANTONY MCCORD (R76-83) WROTE:
This is my last appointment in the Royal
The job is varied: ceremonial duties,
Air Force and it certainly is a great way
working on Franco-British policy and
to finish a career: Air Attaché in Paris. We
strategy with my diplomatic colleagues,
have been here coming up to two years
exploiting opportunities for RAF/French
and the majority of the time the job was
Air and Space Force interaction and
dominated by the pandemic but there are
cooperation and engaging with my fellow
worse places to be locked down. In the
attachés. You get to visit great places,
first ‘confinement’, during our one-hour
meet fantastic people and partake in
exercise, we got to see a very empty Paris
some special events. Three examples
but are now getting used to busy streets,
stand out: the Battle of Britain dinner in the
tourists, restaurants, bars, museums and
Residence in 2020 conducted outside to
galleries. It is a privilege to represent
be COVID-19 compliant, part of the team
the United Kingdom and the Royal Air
that in June 2020 brought together the
Force. I enjoy conversing with my French
80th anniversary of de Gaulle’s call to
contacts and try to do as much in French
arms, and part of the team that organised
as possible. However, not being able
the inauguration of the British D-Day
to get out and practise the language for
Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer in 2021.
significant periods last year was a tad
frustrating. But I am getting better. I was
I’ve got just under two years left and a
recently accused of being German when
load of France to explore and am really
speaking with a Frenchwoman, I took it as
looking forward to it.
a compliment!
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