Wing Commander David Forbes MBE in the New Year's Honours list

Wing Commander David Forbes

Wing Commander David Forbes DL RAFVR(T) was recognised by the Queen for his voluntary service to young people and ex-service charities in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Wing Commander Forbes is a member of Greater Manchester Army Benevolent Fund Committee and a supporter of Broughton House.

Wing Commander Forbes is also a keen supporter of the veterans and ex-service personnel’s breakfasts which are held once a month at Rochdale Town Hall.

He said: “I am very involved with the breakfasts, they work really well at bringing people together, and it’s not just for the ex-service personnel, family members are very welcome and serving personnel.

“During school holidays members being their grandchildren to the breakfasts.”

“I am also heavily involved with the cadets, the air cadets are great for young people, there are so many activities they can do including gliding once they reach 16.”

“The MBE is for all the work that I do, but I just want to raise the profile of the things I am involved in, which includes Broughton House, which is an ex service nursing home similar to the Chelsea Pensioners, but without the uniforms. The home started in 1916, and received their first residents in 1917 so there are a lot of events planned for this year.”

Cllr Alan McCarthy, Rochdale Council Armed Forces Lead Member said: "It has been an honour to work alongside Wing Commander David Forbes MBE over the past few years on numerous projects.

"His award is richly deserved and I am glad his tireless voluntary work has been recognised."

David Forbes was born in Rochdale in 1939 and educated at Rochdale Technical School and College; he studied Electrical Engineering and served a five-year apprenticeship at Whipp & Bourne Ltd., finally becoming an Electrical Draughtsman.

In 1974 he joined Greater Manchester Council Street Lighting Department and became a Technical Sales Engineer in 1979 until retirement in 2005 and was appointed Fellow of the Institution of Lighting Engineers (FILE) in 2002.

He joined the Air Training Corps as a cadet in 1954, commissioned as a Pilot Officer in March 1963, appointed Squadron Commander of 2200 (Saddleworth) Squadron in 1966 and 2301 (Heywood) Squadron in 1970. He became a Wing Staff Officer in 1976 taking Command of East Lancashire Wing in June 1989 until retirement from uniformed service in March 1998. David became the Civilian Committee Chairman of 1263 (Rochdale) Squadron from 1998 to 2006 and Wing Chairman 1998 until 2003 and was appointed Regional Chairman for the North of England and a Member of National Air Cadet Council in August 2006.

He joined the Royal British Legion in 1998 and became President of Rochdale branch in 2005 and Vice President of Greater Manchester County in 2002. He assisted in organising the Lord Lieutenants' Cadet Poppy Appeal Competition and a Member of the National Steering Group for the Poppy Appeal since 2003.

Wing Commander Forbes has two daughters and five grandchildren and one greatgrand child; he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant 2003.