QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST COMMENDATION FOR RAF CORPORAL
RAF Corporal Dave Molyneux has been awarded a commendation by the Air Officer Commanding Number 1 Group in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2004 for his exceptional contribution to both the services and the community.
Corporal Molyneux, who has just completed a four-month tour with 1435 Flight at MPA, is returning to Leuchars, Scotland to collect his award at a formal presentation to be held in the Officers' Mess.
Wing Commander Richard Duance, the Commanding Officer of Falkland Islands Air Wing at MPA, had the pleasure of breaking the news to a surprised Corporal Molyneux. He said, "It gave me great pleasure to present this award to Cpl Molyneux which, by his response on the day, he clearly did not expect. His contribution to both the Service and the community at RAF Leuchars has been considerable and it is most satisfying to see it recognised through a Commendation from Air Officer Commanding 1 Gp."
Cpl Molyneux was described as the 'driving force behind many innovative continual improvement initiatives' by Wing Commander M Quigley, the Officer Commanding Engineering and Supply Wing at RAF Leuchars who also said that Cpl Molyneux's 'enthusiasm and professionalism had been an inspiration to others'.
As well as his exceptional performance in the workplace, Cpl Molyneux was recognized for his selfless dedication to charity work. In support of the Rose Lane Community Centre, St Andrews, he voluntarily used his qualifications to write risk assessments for its renovation and he was instrumental in helping to support the Christian Charity 'Kids Aloft' to send 40 children to Scotland from Belarus, near Chernobyl, whose inhabitants continue to suffer from the effects of contamination. Doctors estimate that every week spent away from their polluted environment can increase the children's life expectancy by a year. It also provides them with new clothes, medicals and a trip of a lifetime. Cpl Molyneux and his wife hosted two 12-year-old girls from an orphanage as part of the scheme.
The charity 'Families First' is another organization that has benefited from Cpl Molyneux's initiative. At a primary school in St Andrews, he helped to set up a breakfast club providing food for children who arrived without having had breakfast.
Cpl Molyneux undoubtedly makes an impact wherever he goes and during his tour in the Falkland Islands, he chose to use his short amount of leave not to go away on holiday, but instead to spend his time using his DIY skills to complete various renovation jobs at the Tabernacle Church in Stanley and also at the Seamen's Mission.
Promoted to Sergeant in September, Cpl Molyneux is an exceptional, modest man who thoroughly deserves to have gained the recognition he has achieved in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Capt. J. Hamlin, MPA Media Ops
