RAFCTE CHAIRMAN LEAVES ENTERPRISES ON A HIGH

After five years at the helm, Fred Crawley has retired as Chairman of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE), organiser of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Since 2005, Mr Crawley has played a key role not only in founding RAFCTE but also in growing the organisation into the successful company it is today. He will continue as a Trustee of RAFCTE’s parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and in due course will become an Honorary Vice Patron of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Replacing him as Chairman of RAFCTE is Alan Smith, an existing board member and volunteer supporter of the organisation since the late 1970s. David Bywater and Jim Glover along with Alan, continue as unpaid non-executive directors of RAFCTE.



Alan has held a number of senior positions in retail including Managing Director of Victoria Wine, Superdrug and B&Q and Chief Executive of Boddingtons, Punch Taverns, Somerfield and Robert Dyas. His current non-executive roles include chairman of Fishers Leisure Holdings, a seller of bicycle accessories to independent retailers; director of FLYBE, the airline; and NAAFI, the military supplier of leisure and retail service.

In order to ensure he’d have the necessary time available to fulfil his new duties as Chairman of RAFCTE, Alan Smith retired recently as Chairman of the Royal International Air Tattoo Flying Scholarships for the Disabled (FSD) charity. The new chairman of FSD is Peter Vacher. Alan has also become a Trustee of the Charitable Trust.

Mr Crawley has been a keen supporter of the Air Tattoo since 1977 when it was parented by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. In 2005, following a transfer of ownership, he along with Alan Smith were instrumental in establishing the new company and charity thereby securing the future of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Mr Crawley joined Lloyds Bank in 1942 and held a number of senior positions including Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank California and Deputy Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank. In all, he has spent almost 60 years in the banking and finance industry. Fred Crawley CBE, FCIB, FRAeS is a member of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators. In 2006, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London.

Enterprises Chief Executive Tim Prince said: “Without Fred’s and Alan’s business acumen, - garnered at the highest levels of UK industry - and their belief that establishing RAFCTE was the right thing to do, I don’t believe  the company or the charity would have got off the ground. That Enterprises has gone from strength to strength since 2005 simply reflects their excellent leadership during that period.

“Alan’s appointment ensures that Enterprises will continue to benefit from the guidance of one of the UK’s leading businessmen. We are indebted to Alan, David and Jim for offering their time and extensive knowledge so generously in order that the growth we enjoyed under Fred may continue.”

.