“COVID testing has given me a chance to meet people from across the RAF.”
Corporal Philippa Hartley, a flute player, was deployed to Merthyr Tydfil to help with local testing. Like many others, she was the only person from her unit, which meant she was able to meet a range of new people in different trades of the RAF — at an appropriate social distance!
140 Royal Air Force personnel were deployed to Merthyr Tydfil to give out COVID-19 tests. They were from a range of squadrons, sections, trades and parts of the country, with every group in a bubble of 8.
All the personnel were giving out tests to the public and analysing the results for a fast turnaround. Most days, they would go to a different testing centre, from small walk-in clinics to an enormous repurposed engine house. The town’s leisure centre was used as the main building for testing.
“A lot of asymptomatic people came up positive, which is a good feeling — it’s good knowing that without the testing they wouldn’t have isolated. We definitely made a difference to the spread.
Everyone was so welcoming, wanting to chat with you. In Aberfan, we had a brief about the tragedy that happened there, and you could tell many people were still affected by it in some way.
Being in a bubble of 8 was great. Talking to people again, working with people, it felt like a small return to normality.”
Before this, she was deployed to Birmingham with many other musicians, giving out COVID-19 tests.
Philippa joined in 2014 as a musician. Her brother is an Air Operations Officer who commissioned in 2014 and suggested she look at a career in the Forces. Since joining, Philippa has had the opportunity to perform at huge venues — at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Gateshead Theatre, Bridgewater Hall — and broadcast on BBC1.
Philippa mainly does vocals despite being a flute player, which she loves. On parades she plays the piccolo. Unlike the British Army and Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force does not specifically recruit vocalists.
As a single parent, the RAF was considerate with her deployment to Merthyr Tydfil, offering childcare support if needed. Her children, 11 and 14, are very proud of her.
