Support for Armed Forces Day 2022 – Kevin Bradshaw

Great camaraderie and amazing experiences you wouldn’t get anywhere else are the overriding memories Kev Bradshaw has of his time in the services. 

The 53-year-old was a senior aircraftsman, serving as a medic, in the Royal Air Force for six years until 2000. 

While most of his time was spent in the UK, Kev was involved in detachments and exercises abroad which took him to places including Norway, Germany, and the Turkish-Iraqi border. 

He was based at RAF Waddington, Scampton, Halton and Brize Norton. A large part of his work involved being stationed at medical centres, similar to a doctors’ surgery, which were used by service personnel and their families. 

Kev left the service as he was going to have to spend increasing amounts of time away from his young family. 

He said: “While I don’t regret leaving as it was for important family reasons, if I’d been single, I would still have been in.  

“The camaraderie is fantastic and there are great opportunities that you would not get the chance to experience anywhere else.” 

One of his most memorable and best experiences, he said, was being winched on and off of the deck of HMS Edinburgh during a mock RAF Leconfield search and rescue mission. 

His worst was spending several very cold and uncomfortable days sitting in a snowhole near Stavanger, Norway, during a training exercise. 

Today, Kev, who lives in Scalby, in Scarborough, is a supported living manager at Beyond Housing. In this role, his responsibilities include overseeing extra care facilities, a women’s refuge, aids and adaptation services, tenancy sustainment services and schemes to help homeless people. 

He added: “I am a great supporter of Armed Forces Day; it is important that we show our appreciation for and recognise the sterling work that soldiers, sailors, air force personnel and those in the reserves do. 

“June 25 will be a very proud moment for Scarborough with it being chosen to host this year’s Armed Forces Day national event.