Vikings Cup Golf & Family Fun Day

The Forest Hill Golf and Country Club will again be hosting the Vikings Cup and Family Fun Day on Saturday 25th September.

Special prizes will be awarded to the winners of three events: The Vikings Cup, The Chris Gray Memorial Trophy and the Gaz O'Donnell Trophy.

One of the organisers of the event is Mrs Helen Gray whose son, Pte Chris Gray, was killed in action in 2007 whilst serving with 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment ("The Vikings") in Afghanistan.

The event is open to the public and will include The Royal Anglian Regimental Drums, The Black Knights Parachute Display Team, Army climbing tower, military vehicles, rifle shooting range and many other attractions for the whole family.

All monies raised will go to The Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Fund.

Vikings Cup and Family Fun Day

Southend United's Camouflage Day

Southend United Football Club is urging its supporters to turn up in camouflage kit at their match against Torquay United on 4th September to show their support for Britain's Armed Forces.

The Blues' new manager Paul Sturrock came up with the idea for "Camouflage Day" which will include a number of military-themed events - a combat display on the pitch, a special Blue Belles army dance and camouflage face-painting.

Local hero Sgt Billy Moore MC from The 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment will also meet the team and tell them about his exploits on the frontline in Afghanistan.

A collection in aid of Help for Heroes will also be held at the ground.

If the Gulls' supporters turn up in combats as well, then both sides will be united in showing their solidarity with the guys fighting in Afghan.

The Blues' boss said: "We all applaud the work that the armed services are doing at home and abroad. It is not just about them but also about the families and the communities they live in who are all affected. This is an opportunity for the football club and its fans to show its support."

Nice one, Paul!

Thurrock Gazette: Southend United fans urged to wear army clothing
Southend United: Salute your Southend

Armed Forces Memorial winner!

The new Armed Forces Memorial has won Best Heritage Project at the 2008 National Lottery Awards. The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects - both large and small - make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them. The winners of the awards are determined by popular vote. The Memorial is a wonderful tribute to the men and women of the UK's Armed Forces who have died in the service of their country since WW2; it is a worthy winner of the Best Heritage award.

Link> The National Lottery Awards 2008
Link> The National Memorial Arboretum

Link> Armed Forces Memorial

Big Salute at Beached

The British Forces Broadcasting Service teamed up with this year's Scarborough Beached Festival to raise money for Forces' charities. BFBS staff and service personnel were at the music festival last weekend selling wristbands and rattling collection tins in aid of the Big Salute campaign. BFBS Radio DJs, back from broadcasting to Forces in Iraq, also joined in the event taking over the MC-ing on Friday night.
The Big Salute campaign is aimed at showing respect, admiration and support for those who have served their country and been seriously injured or are suffering from less visible scars.
According to BFBS, Scarborough is a Forces-friendly seaside resort, with many local businesses displaying a ‘Heroes Welcome' sticker, and promising a warm welcome, and in some cases a discount, to military personnel.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and that those tins were really heavy.

Link> Beached Festival
Link> The Big Salute: Beached
Link> Scarborough Evening News: Beached music festival on Saturday
Link> MoD: Big Salute rocks the Beached festival
also
Link> AV: BFBS Big Salute

Peterborough Salute the Armed Forces

The City of Peterborough is busy planning for an event-filled day dedicated to the Armed Forces. The aim of the day, to be called the Peterborough Salute and to happen sometime in September, is to raise funds to build a lasting memorial to local servicemen and personnel from nearby RAF Wittering who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Events being drawn up for the day include a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a procession of tanks, performances from RAF and Royal Marines bands and other musical groups and a range of events for children and families. Event organiser, veteran Paul Bell, hopes that the day will raise between £30,000 and £40,000 for the memorial. The memorial is intended to have particular resonance with young people (oh dear).

Some of the money raised on the day will also go to Help For Heroes and other Armed Forces charities.

The Peterborough Salute is sure to counter the unfortunate reputation the city earned when servicemen from RAF Wittering were assaulted in the city's streets and were consequently ordered not to wear their uniforms in public.

Link> Peterborough Today: Armed forces day will fund a new memorial

also
Link> AV: 'Wear it with Pride' campaign
Link> AV: RAF uniform ban in Peterborough

PARAS 10: 'P' Company challenge the general public

To mark the first time since WW2 that all four of the Parachute Regiment's battalions have deployed on operations in the same theatre at the same time (in Afghanistan), Pegasus Company, the Parachute Regiment's selection wing, has revived its annual 10-mile race.

This year however there is a major difference. In line with the recommendations which have come out of the National Recognition Study, the Paras have opened the event to the general public.

There will be two races: a 10-mile run to be completed in the fastest time and the much tougher 'P' Company Challenge. This second run matches one of the core physical selection tests for entry into the Parachute Regiment with entrants following a gruelling 10 mile route carrying a bergen (rucksack) weighing 35lbs.

The event is open to anyone over 17 and will take place at Catterick Garrison on Sunday 14th September.

So, come and have a go if you think you're fit enough!

Link> PARAS 10
Link> Army.MoD: The Parachute Regiment

BFBS: The Big Salute

The British Forces Broadcasting Service's annual charity fundraiser, The Big Salute takes place over the week starting Sunday May 4th. Billed as the Forces' own 'Red Nose Day', the global event is aimed at getting members of Britain's Armed Forces and their families and friends to help raise money for Service charities.

The nominated charities for 2008 are BLESMA (The British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association), Combat Stress, Headley Court, Veterans Aid (which helps homeless ex-Servicemen) and St Dunstan's (which helps Service personnel with sight loss).

Some celebrities already supporting the event are Ewan McGregor, James Blunt, Al Murray, and the Osbournes.

Helen Williams, BFBS Television Controller, said: "We wanted to show our respect, admiration and support for those who serve their country, particularly those who have been seriously injured as a result. And we want to encourage all members of the British Forces community to join in with our campaign." Details and where to buy wristbands and t-shirts are on th Big Salute website:

Link> BFBS: The Big Salute

Royal Logistic Corps - Easy Riders

A team from 5 Training Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps are to embark on a round-Britain motorcycle ride to raise money for the 'Help for Heroes' campaign and to raise the profile of the RLC TA. The team will be using 'Army-issue' Harley Davidson bikes and will be following Britain's coastline for about 4,200 miles. The ride will be starting in Grantham, Lincs on 6th June and finishing at the TA100 Centenary Event at Lincoln on 19th June.

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way

Link> MoD Oracle: RLC TA Bikers Provide 'Help For Heroes'
Link> MoD Army: Royal Logistic Corps - Territorial Army
Link> Help for Heroes