An extension to the "Cardington Lounge" (itself converted from the stable block of the original dwelling house) is named after the late Mr W Lowe MBE, Chairman of the Bedford Branch from 1962 to 1988. He was also well known locally as the Aids and Adaptations Officer for Bedfordshire County Council (Social Services Department).

A more recent feature of the Branch HQ building, following extensive conversion works to accommodate the local office of "Age Concern", is a new, spacious meeting room named "The Horner Room. This commemorates a former long-serving member of the branch, the late Warrant Officer "Wilf' Horner. As wireless operator, he was the sole survivor of Lancaster bomber "J-Johnnie" of 35 (Pathfinder) Squadron RAF, which crashed in flames near Villescrenes, France, on the night of 4/5 July 1944 whilst on a operational mission. Horner escaped by parachute and became a prisoner of war. At a subsequent commemorative service held at the memorial in Villescrenes, Wilf was presented with The Madaille du Merite by the French War Veterans' organisation. On a later occasion his widow, Lillian, was given a New Award, a posthumous Croix du Merite, to honour Wilf's bravery.

The Bedford Branch HQ Building is also reputed to be the haunt of its own resident ghost - to date its identity remains a mystery!

The original Bedford Branch of the RAFA (then known as "The Comrades of the RAF") was formed on 22 November 1937.

It has used, in turn a number of premises in Bedford as its Branch HQ; namely a building on the corner of St Mary's Street and Duck Mill Lane (now the site of "The Moat House" (County) Hotel, the former "Flying Services Club" at 26 St Johns Street and the "George and Dragon" public house in Mill Street. Since 1977 its current Headquarters building, with a Members' Club, has been at 93 Ashburnham Road, which was originally a large Edwardian dwelling house named "Ivy Dene", built by a successful Bedford plumber for himself and his family.

It was officially opened by Marshal of the RAF, Sir Thomas Pike, then National president of RAFA.