(Featured image is of Professor Chris Baines.)
Before the lunch in the modern Founders’ Hall in the City of London, the Master, Tom Flood, introduced the prize winners from the Royal Air Force AIDU, the digital mapping unit, at RAF Northolt, supported by the Company.
Air Cartographer of the Year 2026 – WO Tim Kikby
Joint winners of Aviation Data Analyst Award 2026 Cpl Tom Stanbridge and AS1 Kim Johnson
They were warmly congratulated by the Company and guests.
After the lunch the Fleet Warden Dr David Lloyd Owen introduced our guests including Professor Chris Baines and proposed a toast to them in Water. Professor Baines responded on behalf of the guests. He is a horticulturalist, landscape architect, naturalist, television presenter and author. He was recently awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour for 50 years of championing wildlife gardening by the RHS president Keith Weed.
He is a child of Sheffield and long time Black Country resident which has given him great respect for water and wildlife.
He said that childhood access to nature is a vital foundation for life. It teaches fundamental issues, water flows downhill, there are unintended connections and consequences. He praised the emergence of a new GCSE in natural history as something to champion.
In advance of the retiring collection the Master introduced Claire Gallie from Lewis-Manning Hospice Care. The Hospice had supported Tom’s partner Paul and was very important to him.
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