Reading a bedtime story to young children has been one way for families to stay
close for generations, but if mum or dad is absent for days, weeks or months at
a time, bedtime can be the moment they are most missed. That’s why the RAF
Association started its Storybook Wings scheme – and it really works.
Serving RAF personnel who are away from their children for any work-related
reason, whether it’s a week-long course at Cranwell or a lengthy tour of duty in
Cyprus, can record a bedtime story along with a personal message to help keep
them connected to their children at home.
The recording of the parent’s reading of The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry
Caterpillar, The Snail and the Whale or any one of scores of other available titles,
goes to a team of volunteer editors around the UK, who add suitable sound
effects and music to make the finished programme even more memorable.
One long-distance dad, a Warrant Officer serving in the Falklands, explained
what a difference Storybook Wings was making to him and his son after he had
become a dad for the second time around:
“Remembering back to the early 90s on a previous tour, my son effectively
didn’t know me for about six weeks.
“I have a new relationship now and a new baby, and he has Down’s Syndrome,
so change for him is huge.” Minimising that change with the help of Storybook
Wings was “just invaluable,” he said, “listening to the story in the UK, he perked up
straightaway – he recognised the voice and all of a sudden he’s shouting ‘Dadda!’
That is vital for me, and for him on my return in a couple of months’ time.”
Storybook Wings
brings families
together at bedtime
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