Posts Tagged ‘Armed Forces’

Launch of Poppy Appeal

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Cllr Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council with Lt Colonel Philip Creasy

Cllr Susan Carey, Chairman of Shepway District Council with Lt Colonel Philip Creasy

Today, Thursday 22 October is the launch of the 2009 Poppy Appeal and I am at County Hall in Maidstone for the Kent launch hosted by John Davies, the chairman of Kent County Council.  My escort today is my neighbour Lt Colonel Philip Creasy who is a leading light of the Poppy Appeal efforts in our district.

At an event earlier this year I noticed that some people were wearing medals from their families and I was told that family medals are worn on the right whilst medals you have earned yourself are worn on the left.  I am the hoarder in my family and still have my paternal grandfather’s medals from World war II so I arranged to have them mounted and this was their first outing.  You will see that Philip Creasy has medals earned in Borneo and Malaysia as well as an OBE. 

 

Some of the 'chain gang' at the Poppy Launch

Some of the 'chain gang' at the Poppy Launch

The theme of this year’s Appeal is helping the Afghanistan generation of the Armed Forces and their families – today and for the rest of their lives.

 There are over 100 people at County Hall for the launch including serving soldiers who are presented with their poppies by local schoolchildren.

The ceremony is a moving one and John Davies, the County Council chairman urges us all to give generously to this year’s appeal.

 

A giant poppy at County Hall

A giant poppy at County Hall

 

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‘You can be proud of your army.’

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

It is Thursday 23 July and I am at Shorncliffe in Folkestone for a cocktail party and Beating of Retreat at the invitation of Brigadier James.

The guests include people from the emergency response services such as Derek Smith of the Coastguard (who also does good work as a Lyminge Parish Councillor) as well as farming tenants of MOD land such as Helen and Rod Vincent (Helen is also a hard working parish councillor and chairman of Newington Parish Council.) 

There are stands with information on the cadets, the Army Benevolent Fund, the Territorial Army and the Princess of Wales’s regiment which is Kent’s special regiment. 

Peter Sellars and Cllr Susan Carey with a soldier from the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

Peter Sellars and Cllr Susan Carey with a soldier from the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

I am with my friend Peter Sellars from Hawkinge who is a veteran of Dunkirk and who shows a particular interest in the army vehicles as he was involved in the production of army trucks in the 1930s.  Peter and I were given a demonstration of the type of attack faced by our forces in Afghanistan by a young soldier who used weapons captured from the enemy (all made safe of course). 

Brigadier James gave a speech about the work of the British Armyand its current role on active service.  He told us, ‘You can be proud of your army.’  He’s right and I am.

The evening ends with a rousing display of marching and music by the Kohima Band of the 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Roral Regiment.  I particularly enjoyed the Post Horn Gallop and admire the way a tune can be extracted from a horn with no stops.

The Post Horn Gallop

The Post Horn Gallop

Beating Retreat is a routine part of barrack life denoting the end of the working day and the start of Guard Mounting.  It’s origins are from the field of battle where a drummer would stand close to his commander and convey orders such as ‘Advance’, Assembly’ or ‘Stand-to’.  The bugle has long since replaced the drum and the bagpipe is also now part of Beating the Retreat.  It is a simple and moving way to end the day.

 

The Kohima Band

The Kohima Band

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Armed Forces Update

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Last month (June), Shepway took part in raising a flag to show our appreciation of our armed forces, veterans and cadets.  This was a new ceremony and Vice Admiral P J Wilkinson, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff has written to say that virtually every local authority in the United Kingdom took part.

The Vice Admiral writes, ‘It is immensely gratifying for our Armed Forces and veterans to know they enjoy the respect and appreciation of the people of this country, though such sentiments are difficult to demonstrate in an appropriate, public and widespread way: that is why your support for this flag flying event was so important.’

Planning for next year’s Armed Forces Day is already underway and if you have any ideas for next year’s event, do please contact me.

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The start of a new tradition

Monday, July 6th, 2009
Shepway's Armed Forces Flag, Picture courtesy of the Folkestone Herald

Shepway's Armed Forces Flag, Picture courtesy of the Folkestone Herald

On Monday 22 June Shepway joined with hundreds of other local authorities in raising a flag to mark the start of events leading to Armed Forces Day.  This is the start of a new tradition and is intended to show our appreciation for the contribution made by all those who serve in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

As chairman of the council I raised our flag outside the civic centre in Folkestone where it was flown till after Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June.  Joining me for this new ceremony were several of the District Councillors, Bryan Stephenson, Philip Martin, Willie Richardson, Alan North, Brian Copping (a veteran himself) and the Leader of the Council, Robert Bliss.  Representing Her Majesty the Queen was our Deputy Lieutenant, Robert Alston.  And from the Shepway staff our Chief Executive Alistair Stewart along with veterans Steve Makin, Tony and Jan Borgioli, Martin Spence and serving TA private, Louise Mathie.  We were also joined by two local veterans of World War II.

We remember the fallen on Remembrance Sunday and it is good to now have a formal occasion to show our appreciation of serving service men and women.

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Thank you letters

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

I receive several thank you letters from people who attended the Annual Meeting and reception including one from Brigadier James who was particularly appreciative of the remembrance made of the Armed Forces both formally at the start of the meeting when we stood in silence to honour the recently fallen and also Councillor Copping’s ‘kind, impromptu, words’ about the troops during the debate.

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