Prime Minister Endorses Afghanistan Exhibition

David Cameron today gave his backing to the ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ exhibition of art and photography which depicts the work of 3 Commando Brigade and their Afghan colleagues who served on Operation HERRICK 14 in 2011.

The Prime Minister said: “I am constantly humbled by the commitment and dedication of our service personnel. The brave men and women in our armed forces have made, and continue to make, enormous sacrifices for the security of our country. This exhibition has my full support in showcasing through the lenses of others their indomitable spirit and insatiable desire to make a positive difference for the people of Afghanistan.”

The exhibition is helping to raise money for the NFA and The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

NFA to Benefit From Afghanistan Art & Photo Exhibition

Organised by Commando Brigade and the Services Sound and Vision Corporation, the multimedia exhibition Shoulder 2 Shoulder – Delivering the Offer showcases the work of 3 Commando Brigade and their Afghan colleagues who served on Operation HERRICK 14 during the summer of 2011.

More than one hundred images taken by frontline service photographers, embedded journalists and the renowned war artist Andrew Miller will be on display, many of them for the first time to the public.

Amongst those who have given their support to the travelling exhibition are Chief of the General Staff, General Sir David Richards, and Ross Kemp who was embedded with 3 Commando Brigade on Op HERRICK 14.

Original artwork, limited edition signed prints and an Operation HERRICK 14 photographic book will be sold at each venue and online to raise money both for the NFA and The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

The Association’s Chief Executive, Piers Storie-Pugh, said: “We are delighted to be the tri-service charity of choice for this unique initiative. Fundraising of this nature enables the NFA to continue focussing  on delivering  its  unique support and help to  the serving wounded  and ex-service personnel with disabilities. The courage and dedication of Task Force Helmand’s men and women displayed in the artwork and photographs of this exhibition serve to remind us of those who have served before and those who will serve in the future who may, in time, come to need the help of charities such as ours”.

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The NFA Christmas Party at St. James’s Palace

The Not Forgotten Association was again hugely privileged to be allowed to host its Christmas Party in the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace on 8th December. 

This year’s event was graced by His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, accompanied by Lady-in-Waiting Mrs Pippa Southgate-Sands. HRH was greeted by Field Marshal The Lord Inge and escorted by the NFA Chairman Brigadier Heywood and Chief Executive Piers Storie-Pugh.

During a 1½ hour walkabout His Royal Highness visited every table in the magnificent Throne, Entree and Queen Anne Rooms and spoke to many individuals who had served in all three services in WWII and subsequent campaigns, including those injured in Afghanistan. Everybody was thrilled by his interest in where they had served and what they had done. 

Over 300 beneficiaries – the youngest 21, the oldest 93 - enjoyed a wonderful tea party as guests of the NFA almost exactly 90 years since the first such event in December 1921 which was graced then by HRH The Princess Mary.

As ever the arrangements were made with the full co-operation of the State Apartments staff under their Superintendent, who all went out of their way to make this a happy and successful event. The staff regard the NFA Christmas Party as very special given that the beneficiaries are the serving wounded and the ex-service with disabilities and even say that for them it marks the start of Christmas.

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Chairman’s Christmas Appeal

The Association has launched our Chairman’s Christmas Appeal for 2011. This annual appeal helps us to continue to provide holidays, outings, concerts and adventurous activities, as well as televisions and/or TV licences for those that are housebound.

Chairman Brigadier Richard Heywood said: “Our work is not the normal responsibility of the Government and accordingly I have no difficulty in asking people to give as generously as they feel able to in these difficult financial times. When our Service heroes suffer in the course of their duty it really is beholden on all of us to ensure that they, like their predecessors, are never forgotten.”

To see a pdf version of the Christmas Appeal leaflet with details of how to make a donation click here.

You can also make a donation by clicking on our Donation Form.

NFA Receives Donation From Isle of Wight Lodge

Jim O'Keefe with Piers Storie-Pugh

Jim O’Keefe, immediate Past Master of The Vectensian Lodge on the Isle of Wight and a fervent supporter of The Not Forgotten Association, travelled to London from his home on the isle to present a cheque to the NFA for £1,605.

Jim served in the PMRAFNS for 30 years and latterly spent 10 years with the Defence Medical Welfare Services where he first became involved with the NFA.

As he presented the cheque to Chief Executive Piers Storie-Pugh, Jim said: ‘It is my pleasure and that of my colleagues on the Isle of Wight to continue our support of this worthy tri-service charity. The contribution in wartime from the Isle of Wight was very much tri-service. We hope that this donation will help you to continue your work in providing entertainment and other activities for the ex-service community as well as for those who are wounded and still serving.’

From Wipers to Whitehall

The fourth extra event in the Not Forgotten Association’s 2011 programme was the battlefield tour to Ypres which took place over 11/11/11.

Our group of veterans, beneficiaries and escorts assembled at the Union Jack Club on November 9th and enjoyed the unstinting hospitality of Chief Executive Simon Atkins and NFA volunteer Captain John Lenaghan.

After crossing the Channel the following morning, the group headed for Poperinghe, seven miles short of Ypres. During WWI Poperinghe was the R&R centre for troops on that sector of the Western Front and became famous following the establishment of the ‘Everyman‘s Club‘ Talbot House, better known as Toc H.

Fittingly, we were welcomed in the concert hall where troops had once been entertained and there could be no better setting than the tiny chapel on the third floor of Toc H where our Honorary Chaplain dedicated the Association‘s first ever Standard, which has been very generously funded by Mr Chris Ellard.

On Armistice Day morning the group attended the Service of Remembrance in St. George‘s Church, Ypres before following the Standard to the French memorial and then to the world-famous Menin Gate for a service and the Last Post Ceremony. Our WWII veterans got centre place under the arch and group leader John Brunel Cohen laid the Not Forgotten wreath.

After lunch NFA Chief Executive Piers Storie-Pugh led the group on a Remembrance battlefield tour through part of the Ypres Salient including stops at Hill 60 and Essex Farm where tribute was paid at the graves of Private Barratt VC and Rifleman Valentine Strudwick who died aged just 15. Next day the group headed for what are known as ‘the Trenches of Death’ and the German cemetery of Vladso before returning to the UK.

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A First for The Not Forgotten Association

On 10th November the NFA’s first ever Standard was dedicated by the Honorary Chaplain in the tiny chapel of Toc H, Poperinge near Ypres. In WWI Poperinge was the R&R centre for the troops in the Ypres Salient and Toc H – ‘the Everyman’s Club’ – was run by the Reverend ‘Tubby’ Clayton MC.

The dedication enabled the Standard to be carried through the streets of Ypres to the Menin Gate for the Last Post Ceremony at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month of November 2011. The Not Forgotten wreath was laid by former Chairman John Brunel Cohen OBE flanked by Cyril Banks (ex Royal Navy) and NFA Chief Executive Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh. Cyril said: “Laying the wreath at the Menin Gate on 11th November was one of the highlights of my life, as I thought of my fallen comrades in Burma, on the Atlantic Convoys and in Normandy.”

After the ceremony the group of WWII-to-Afghanistan veterans and beneficiaries went on a battlefield tour visiting Hill 60, site of the Territorial Army’s first VC and scene of the most vicious hand-to-hand fighting, and then on to Essex Farm made famous by McCrae’s poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. Wreaths were laid and poems were recited by members of the group throughout the battlefield circuit.

Group member Jock Bell (ex RGJ) commented: “The tour was one of the greatest days of my life”, whilst Alison Doody, a former member of the Wrens, said: “I was swelling with pride as the deeds of the Great War were shared with us.”

Further tours to Italy and Normandy are planned for 2012.

Track Day at Brands Hatch

The NFA, along with the RNRMC and 40 serving and ex-service veterans, enjoyed an amazing day out at Brands Hatch on 3rd November experiencing the speed and power of high-spec race and road cars including Ferraris, Porsches, a McLaren, a Lamborghini, a Caterham and an F1 Benetton amongst others.

Top speeds along the straight approaching 125mph, late braking and fast cornering ensured that guests (young and not so young) emerged from the cars in a state of euphoria (and a little scared!).

Many thanks to Gary, Martin and Andy for sponsoring the track day and to all the owners, drivers and professional support from among others FF Corse, JMH and the Brands Hatch staff.

Thanks also to British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal for spending the day with us and driving some of the lads around the circuit.

To see photographs of the Track Day at Brands Hatch in our Gallery section please click here.

Rosie and Team Complete New York Marathon!

Taking part and raising funds for The Not Forgotten Association were: Daniel who lost his left foot in Afghanistan and, running on a prosthetic running blade, finished in an incredible 5 hours 24 minutes; Baz (4 hours 21 minutes); David (4 hours 13 minutes); and ‘Ash’ (3 hours 55 minutes).

Our heartfelt congratulations and sincere gratitude go to each and everyone for their fantastic achievements and fundraising efforts.

The team with their race numbers

We did it!

NFA’s Work Highlighted at Chindits Reunion

The Not Forgotten’s Chief Executive, Piers Storie-Pugh, recently spoke about the Association’s work at a Chindits Reunion in Exeter.

There were eight Chindit veterans present, the oldest of whom – Bob Walsh of the 81st (West African) Division - is 97 years old. Piers Storie-Pugh expressed how pleased the Association is to welcome Chindit veterans to its events such as the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Our Chief Executive is pictured (left) with John Hinchcliffe who used to run boats up Burma’s Irrawaddy River and has pledged to offer his support for our events in the local area.

Group Visit to Highgrove

On 12th October a coach party of Not Forgotten beneficiaries drawn from all three services and including a number of ladies experienced a wonderful day visiting the gardens at Highgrove, the official residence of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Following a delicious 3-course lunch at the Horse Guards pub in Brokenborough, the group enjoyed the privilege of exploring these remarkable gardens which have been transformed over the last 25 years into one of the UK’s most inspiring and innovative garden landscapes.

Normandy Battlefield Tour

Our Chief Executive and Events Director accompanied a group of 34 guests on what proved to be a memorable and at times very moving trip to the D-Day Landings area.

The tour party, whose ages ranged from a 93-year-old Army Commando to a 22-year-old Royal Marine, included three D-Day veterans. As they recounted their experiences while standing on the exact spots where they had landed in 1944 you could have heard a pin drop. The whole group, particularly the younger veterans, felt very privileged and honoured to be with them.

Other highlights included local French people offering impromptu handshakes and ‘thank yous’ to the veterans, being treated to lunch by Madame Gondrée at her café at Pegasus Bridge, evenings of conversation and singing  and the wreath-laying ceremony at Ranville Cemetery.

To see photographs of the Normandy Battlefield Tour in our Gallery section please click here.

Visit to Airkix Manchester

The indoor skydiving experience provided by Airkix is always popular with our younger guests. In September we added a visit to Airkix in Manchester and were able to entertain some new faces from the Royal Irish Rangers, the Royal Logistics Corps, those nominated from the St Athan and Catterick Regional Rehabilitation Units and members of BLESMA injured just last year.

Everybody had a wonderful time and enjoyed the ‘elevating’ experience, which was followed by dinner and an overnight hotel stay. Our guests returned home with a very positive impression about the Not Forgotten’s work and keen to take part in future events!

To see photographs of the visit to Airkix in our Gallery section please click here.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party, 15 July 2011

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HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of The Not Forgotten Association, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, met many beneficiaries and serving personnel from all three services at the charity’s annual Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on Friday 15th July. The Princess Royal also met a group of injured Royal Marines from 40 Commando who had just completed a gruelling 150 miles row along the River Thames. HRH The Princess Royal  and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence spent over two hours chatting to guests and their presence on this special day was hugely appreciated.

To see photographs of the Garden Party in our Gallery section please click here.