Painting an incredible relationship: the tale of a Suffolk painter

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Like paint on canvas, relationships come in many colors, shapes and sizes. However, the characteristics of the painter are typically indistinct to onlookers.

For one Suffolk painter, admirers appreciate more than just his work, and honored him with a special award, presented by the 100th Air Refueling Wing commander and the British-American Committee chairman at a ceremony on RAF Mildenhall July 8.

British painter Geoff Pleasance was lauded for epitomizing special community relations, and honored by Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th ARW commander, and Sheila Bailey, B-AC chairman.

Pleasance has no military affiliation, but has lived locally for many years and considers visiting U.S. forces his neighbors. For his dedication, he received a specially designed B-AC community relations coin.

"I'm very grateful and honored to receive this coin, and realize how significant this is," he said. "My perspective on it is: if you're around a military unit then you'd better conform to the same ethos, otherwise you will not be an associate member of the club."

Pleasance's work includes detailed murals, painted both in the Galaxy Club and 95th Reconnaissance Squadron. One mural, which he undertook for the 95th RS, captures the history of the squadron, and took more than 140 hours to complete.

For Pleasance, benevolence is a two-way street, he said stating the goodwill that's been extended to him over the past 39 years of working with and painting for the U.S. Air Force means that he's under a rigid obligation to respond in kind.

"I believe that if you're the host nation, then you have a duty of hospitality and that can be defined very widely," said Pleasance. "It leaves them with a better impression of the time they've spent here and they go away with the feeling that people care about them."

(Karen Abeyasekere contributed to this article.)