RAF OPERATION Merry Christmas has been a great success – and brave men and women from RAF Odiham will value the hundreds of messages of support from readers of The Gazette on Christmas Day.

That’s the view of Flight Sergeant Jim Fowler, of C Flight 27 Squadron at RAF Odiham, who accepted a sack-full of mail generated by our readers in response to our campaign.

The 31 members of C Flight are now in Afghanistan, where they will join more than 130 other colleagues from the north Hampshire base in spending the festive period away from their friends and family as part of a 10-week frontline tour.

While it is bound to be a challenging tour of duty, the spirit of the personnel will be lifted by the many letters and festive greetings, and other cards of support and appreciation from kind-hearted Gazette readers of all ages.

Flt Sgt Fowler, who performs a vital role as an air loadmaster on a Chinook helping to deliver supplies and first aid to British soldiers on the ground, accepted the mail sack from Gazette reporter Chris Gregory, and thanked everyone who took the time to write a card or letter.

The 31-year-old, from Chineham, said: “I think the campaign has been a great idea. We have got good morale anyway but it’s just nice to know that other people other than your friends and family are thinking about you. It means a lot to people out there.”

Operation Merry Christmas generated more than 400 letters from readers who were keen to show their support and appreciation.

Sharon Wythe, of Quilter Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, was the first person to respond to the campaign when it was launched in October, writing a two-sided letter on behalf of herself and her daughter Sophie.

The 39-year-old also persuaded the 1st Popley Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, where she acts as a leader, to send in letters of their own.

Other groups followed suit, including residents of the Old Raven House care home in Hook and the Westside Senior Citizens Club in South Ham.

A lot of letters came from Buryfields Infant School and Mayhill Junior School, both in Odiham.

Mayhill Junior head teacher John Gawthorpe said: “It was really impressive the way the children took up the idea.

“About six or seven pupils in each of our classes have relatives in the RAF so the strains and stresses are well understood by the whole school community.”

Pippa Peatman, acting deputy head teacher at Buryfields Infant School, said: “It has been a lovely experience and it was very good for their learning in writing for a purpose.”

Gazette editor Mark Jones said: “We are delighted that our generous-spirited readers have shown their support for the Operation Merry Christmas campaign, and it is clear that their kind thoughts and best wishes will be much appreciated by the courageous personnel from RAF Odiham, who will be in our thoughts this Christmas.”