East Midlands
Get all the news from Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
See all events taking place in the region.
The Grand Christmas Draw which raised over £6,000!
Round-up 2009
Yet another record breaking year for the East Midlands, with our supporters enjoying over 25 different events. East midlands committees continue to hold exciting events from Beating Retreats, Big Curry and two Charity Bridge Days major additions to the years programme. This year’s prestigious Band Concert at Lincoln Cathedral was a great success and Nott’s added a concert at Southwell Minster to their programme.
All events have been well supported with numbers attending up on previous years. Public collections have gone well this year much of this is due to the forces being so popular with the general public. Donations from both Regular and Territorial units within 49 (E) Brigade are up on last year. Generous donations from 16th Regt RA, Chilwell Station, Grantham Station and 73 Engr Regt (V).
Next year we have an ABF The Soldiers’ Charity day at Leicester Tigers v Ldn Irish on Saturday 6 March, which is a first for the region.
Hot off the press this years Grand Christmas Draw raised over £6,000, congratulations to the winners who have been notified and thank you to all those who purchased tickets to enable the region to raise this fantastic amount.
The Band of The Rifles performing a Sounding Retreat at Haddon Hall
A reception and Sounding Retreat followed by a supper was enjoyed by over 170 supporters at the very popular Haddon Hall on a warm June evening. The Band of The Rifles preformed an outstanding retreat on a small but very pretty lawn in the hall’s garden. The salute was taken by the Commander 49 (E) Brigade, Brigadier Jim Richardson.
Foremarke Hall in South Derbyshire was the venue for the annual Big Curry. The event is always held in February and this year the weather was cold but bright, ideal for a good warm curry. We must thank the Derbyshire ACF who were once again outstanding in their support for this event particular and all the others events held by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in the County generally.
Gurkha Soldiers at the summer luncheon at Lubenham Lodge
This year’s annual summer luncheon was held at Lubenham Lodge near Market Harborough in early June. We were fortunate to have two Gurkha Soldiers this year and they proved very popular with our supporters with raffle takings up due to them selling the tickets.
16 Regt RA very kindly allow us to have a reception and Big Curry in their officer’s mess. In March we had over 160 supporters attend this very popular event. They were treated to an outstanding curry hosted by the mess staff. We must thank the Regt for the support they give throughout the year to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
The salute at Petwood Hotel, taken by Tony Worth the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.
This prestigious summer Reception, Beating Retreat and Supper event was enjoyed by 150 supporters in the excellent surroundings of the Petwood Hotel, the former Officer’s Mess of the Bam Busters of World War II fame. The salute was taken by Tony Worth the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire supported by the Commander 49 (E) Brigade and the late Richard Todd OBE of the Bam Busters Film fame.
At the Beating Retreat in the grounds of St Andrews Hospital.
The Band of the Army Air Corps gave an excellent Beating Retreat in the grounds of St Andrews Hospital Northampton, with the salute taken by Lady Juliet Townsend LVO the Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.
Some 130 guests braved a chilly but dry evening to watch the performance but were rewarded with a lovely dinner in the Hospital Grand Hall.
Thrumpton Hall was the setting for this year’s Beating Retreat on a warm sunny evening by the Band of The Life Guards. The grounds of the hall was an ideal location for the band to perform this very popular ceremony to150 ABF The Soldiers’ Charity guests. The salute was taken by Sir Andrew Buchanan Bt the Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.