IT WAS a proud moment for Royal Air Force (RAF) group commander Anne-Marie Houghton’s family, some of whom live in Holsworthy, as she led the centenary ‘RAF 100’ celebration parade.

The RAF performed their full parade rehearsal in Central London as part of their 100th anniversary celebrations. Stepping off a 4am, the full contingent of 1,000 personnel marched down The Mall to Buckingham Palace Forecourt, in preparation for the Centanary Parade on Tuesday, July 10.

On the day the Queen presented a new ‘Colour’ to the RAF to mark the occasion and the spectacle ended with a 100 aeroplane flypast.

The parade was led by Anne-Marie who was born in Barnstaple in 1968. Her father George Dawe was a policeman and her mother, Patricia Dawe (neé Barfett) was born and grew up in Holsworthy and was a nurse at the old NDI (North Devon Infirmary) Barnstaple.

Anne-Marie has been in the RAF since 1986 and in 1991 as flying officer she became the RAF’s first female officer to qualify as a navigator. Following this she went on to serve on the ‘Hercules’ at RAF Lynham, as a navigator instructor at RAF Cranwell, and the squadron leader of one of the AWACS squadrons at RAF Waddington. As a group captain she has recently been involved with the team connected with the new aircraft carrier and her postings have taken her to many parts of the world, including the USA, the Falklands, Cyprus, Oman, Saudi, Afghanistan and Iraq — to name a few.

George and Patricia said they were filled with pride to see their daughter lead proceedings. They said: “Anne-Marie continues to fill us all with immense pride. From being the first Female Navigator in 1991, to the first female Operational Squadron boss in 2010, to now being the Parade Commander of RAF 100. It’s just fantastic.”

Anne-Marie, who was sadly widowed in 2001, still has family connections with Holsworthy. George said: “My wife’s brother, and therefore Anne-Marie’s uncle, is Mr Philip Barfett who is probably known to many in the area through his association with the Holsworthy Theatre as both a performer and a producer of shows.

“Her great aunt is Mrs Marge Hunt, who also still lives in the town and was for many years associated with the British Legion and the annual poppy appeal. Mrs Shirley Osborne is also her aunt. In addition to these people, anyone with a Barfett or Chidley family connection is probably a cousin.”

George added: “My wife and I are very proud of her achievements, as are her two brothers, Grahame and Philip.”

The Post spoke to Marge Hunt, 88, from Holsworthy, great aunt to Anne-Marie, who said she was only made aware that her great niece would be on television the Monday before the event. Her pride in Anne-Marie’s accomplishments was evident: “I was quite moved actually to see her leading the parade, I never expected it — it really is such a big achievement.

“I am so proud of her. Her granddad would have been proud of her as well as he was in the RAF during the war. She is a very accomplished lady and what she puts her mind towards she will do.”