In keeping with the proud tradition of Wales & West Region, the recently appointed Regional Commandant Group Captain Dick Allen has spent his first three month’s attending many events throughout the Region.

Group Captain Dick Allen, on leaving school, entered the Royal Air Force (RAF) and commissioned as a pilot. During his time in the RAF, Group Captain Allen has led a varied career mostly associated with rotary wing. His life with helicopters has seen him serve with Nos 78 and 72 squadrons flying many very different aircraft, including the Huey, Jet Ranger, Gazelle and the Wessex.

His career has taken him into many roles and many countries, including the command of the Training Squadron at RAF Shawbury, a brief spell in the Falklands, later returning to RAF Shawbury to command the Central Flying School Helicopter Standards Squadron.

In 1992, he was promoted to Wing Commander, again spending time as a helicopter specialist in the Force Doctrine Office at Whitehall.

He became Group Captain Dick Allen in 1999 returning once more to RAF Shawbury, but this time as Station Commander earning himself the honour of being appointed as an Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen.

Taking early retirement in 2004 to fill a Civil Service post, he was again re-commissioned into the RAF Reserve to take up the appointment of Regional Commandant for Wales & West within the Air Cadet Organisation.

Losing none of his enthusiasm for a busy life, Group Captain Allen has thrown himself into his new appointment. He has been privileged this early in his new career to witness Staffordshire Wing receive the top two accolades in the Air Training Corps: Sir Alan Lees Trophy (for the best squadron in the country) and the Sir Roger Austin Sword (for the most improved ATC Wing within the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme).