Welcome to day 1 of the first ever Rainy Day Olympics. Up first on BBC1 is Tiddlywinks, or press the red button for the Making Excuses to Your Dog and Ignoring its Whines competition.
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And on BBC2 we still haven’t finished the first round of the men’s RISK competition 
MMH:
Scotland took the Calcutta cup and Raeburn shield in one day, just need to keep them both now
THREE GOLDS FOR GB!
Two just today.
Our best Winter Olympics on record, beating our previous record by 2 golds!
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And another very close 4th.
It’s been great so far.
What is it about the British that makes us particularly good at speeding headfirst down a hill at speed?
The 2 things we appear to be good at as a country (in sports anyhow) -
Going downhill rapidly
Events that involve sitting down (cycling, rowing…)
Anything else is beyond our abilities.
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And driving around a tarmac road fast
Though I suppose that’s sitting down too
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Yeah - competitive sitting down.
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Well, we have some closure at last.
Went down a lot of rabbit holes with no rabbits, but his Casualty Folder at the National Archives came up trumps. That pushed the search in the right direction, which did show some unusual family circumstances. I’ve fleshed out the details a little - if anyone searches for him in the future, they might stumble on this! 
He was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, 12 Mar 1916 - this was gained initially from his Casualty Folder via the National Archives. However, he was actually born Jack Edward Houston GROOM, & family circumstances seem to show that he was brought up by his mother’s family.
He married Sonia Miriam Rubenstein 16 Apr 1942 at Norwich; the address listed on his marriage certificate matches the one on the 1921 Census. She married twice after his death & settled in Canada, dying 27 Nov 2008.
He enlisted as an apprentice fitter in 1932 but was commissioned for duration of hostilities as pilot officer (on probation, 14 Aug 1940, from the rank of flight sergeant. His commission was confirmed with promotion to flying officer, 14 Aug 1941. His Distinguished Service Order was promulgated 08 Jan 1943.
Might continue a little digging when his birth certificate arrives & I can also then update CWGC, which was the original plan!
EDIT - after a very long shot of trying to track down any relatives in Canada via an attorney’s office (letters returned from last known address), an even longer shot via soshial meejah hit the tgt - a reply today after a month! Step-daughter & daughters will be in contact - I hope there are more details & perhap memorabilia to come!
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IACE 2026 applications open - I think we have several exceptionally strong candidates! 
Spent a little time adding names / Commonwealth Match stickers to 96 tgts - yep, that’s 6 teams (although 2 planned firers shot this last yr). Assuming no drop-outs, that will be 22 Gold Shooting Badges! 
It was also quite hard allocating the teams, I have my fingers crossed that my first 4 teams will have scores within 10-15 points of each other. Last yr, the No 3 team beat the No 1 team!!
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This is the operative word….
Bit like… ‘once he’ll freezes over’… 
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Im fairly sure the bader system and rafac training breeches SyOps and data protection regularly…
Let alone how many sqns should have MoD approved DIAPs in place and dont!
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Ah, just been reminded that there was already an application process promulgated in mid-Dec 2025, with a much more extensive set of requirements + completion of an MS Form. Cut -off for applications was mid-Jan 2026, with submission via Reg HQs to RAFAC HQ by end of Jan.
The one just issued = different, with cut-off on 13 Mar. Not enough applicants??
I’ve emailed the sponsor to ask what’s going on - do cadets who have already applied have to re-apply using this new process?
Anyone got any insight?
I think the application that was just issued was for cadets to help/assist/host IACE cadets who are visiting the UK.
Host Cadets will be based at RAF Northolt to assist volunteer staff
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TVM! Ah, I might have mis-read it - let me re-look.
Still a great opportunity mind you, and a chance to meet peers from all around the world
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Overseas IACE places have been allocated.
This is to support the UK IACE Inbound program
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