BICYCLING UP THE HELMAND RIVER

These boys are bicycling the distance of the Helmand River some 800 kms. But they are doing this Bishops Cleeve rather to the surprise of the locals. One local gave £100 and wished them luck. Well done 81 Sqn of 29 Regiment another innovative idea.

MCKENZIE and MACKENZIE

Two enthusiastic boys from 59 Sqn 29 Regiment both called Mac or McKenzie make friends with Sue. The response from the public has been encouraged by the way 29 Regiment have put so much effort in. Here att good band of them were under the eye of Sergeant Curry.

GLOUCESTER SUPPORT

The ACE RAPID REACTION CORPS HQ are doing their bit in Gloucester and seem to be getting att good response from att generous public who were all reminded this morning that it has been 10 long years since we went in.

TETBURY RAFFLE

HQ Sqn 29 Regimentt RLC have att novel idea. Sergeant Skaites(she is in the middle of the picture) thought up the idea of a raffle of a simply huge hamper. There was a queue of Tetbury shoppers with notes to buy tickets. Sergeant Skaites was clearly enjoying the success of her idea. Lucky winner will have the prize delivered to their door.

HAPPY BAG PACKER

Here we are with a good soldier making friends with the folk of Cirencester. It seems popular with all and the check out girls love the change. This man told me he had one person put £50 in the bucket. How kind people are.

TESCO DESPATCH

Great efforts by 47 Sqn at Cirencester to day when we have the run of every Tesco store in the land. They have a relay of rowers for the two days. A great idea as many people come up to see what is going on.

THE WARRIOR LINE UP

A happy line up by all. It was all go with a good deal of press including BBC News on which we got a brief appearance. The boys and girls moved on to celebrate and judging by brief reports they are having att good time and they all deserve it. I have set them some srious work though." Tell me where we go from here? "

Check out the news footage on BBC News at Six


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015jn07/BBC_News_at_Six_06_10_2011/?t=25m14s 

AND HERE THEY COME

At about 2.30 on cue the wounded warriors swept into Horse Guards att great speed. It was windy and sunny and the boys and girls were in really upbeat form. One American lady joined us to day who had lost an arm; a really plucky lady who I saw later carrying her own suitcase! I went to help and nearly got slapped for my trouble.

SUPPORTING SOLDIERS

To day we held a really helpful conference on how the Army supports soldiers who are wounded, injured and sick. It was heartening to hear of the real progress being made in all areas. The part played by this charity, Help for Heroes, the British Legion and SSAFA. All very impressive.

RUNNING AT RUNNEYMEDE

Here are the Soldier Ride participants getting ready for the final leg. A few sore heads after last night but spirits high. They are being accompanied by a BBC TV crew and they should get to Horse Guards by 1430.

AMBASSADOR DOES US PROUD

Ambassador Louis Susman and his wife hosted a lovelyl reception for Soldier Ride last night in his residence, Winfield House.  It was a great party and perhaps the most impressive and most pleasing was seeing the rapport between American and British at all levels. There was much laughter and the banter of a shared experience at two levels, that they were all wounded but also they had biked to gether through the streets, meadows and lanes of England. Although far from over it has been a very successful exercise.  To day they finish the UK leg on Horse Guards at about 2.15 and BBC 6 o'clock News will be there to welcome them to London. Shown here is the coin/medal which the Wounded Warrior Project give to supporters, it has a powerful message and it is good to be working with them.

WORLD CURRY FESTIVAL

Well, I wonder if you knew that such a thing existed.  Who’d have thought it?  Anyway we the Soldiers’ Charity were the partners for the event in Leeds last week.  It was an amazing affair.  We organised a field kitchen and handed out 7000 curry samples, yes 7000!   The Gurkha Chef,  Sergeant Sange Tamang  from the Gurkha Logistic Regiment played a blinder and did some cooking on the stage.  Well over £5500 was raised in collections on the day quite apart from the contacts made.

BARCLAYS MAKE 'JOGLE GLOBAL

The Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance team reached Land’s End last Friday in blazing weather and this photo shows team leader for the final week, Dave Cookson, at Wyvern Barracks on a command task (although it looks as though he is raking the lawn!)  Apparently the scenario was the team’s bikes had been stolen and they had to solve the mystery by following a trail of clues.  What is great news is that they have raised over £102,000 to date in support of Individual Recovery Plans, which is well over twice their target.  Brilliant stuff. 

THEY MADE IT

All riders made it on the first leg and three hearty cheers to them all. Had att sitrep from the redoubtable Penny who said that they had a few blow outs and a broken chain but spirits far from broken. To morrow on on to Windsor.

QUEEN TO BRITISH MILITARY TOURNAMENT

Just been announced that Her Majesty is to attend the BMT and we are both honoured and delighted. She will attend the friday evening, December 2nd. I will be there make sure you are by visiting the website www.britishmilitarytournament.com

THE OFF

Soldier Ride just about to go and they are all in fine form. Lots of banter. It was great to see these men and women getting on so well and learning so much from each other.

SOLDIER LEADER

Colonel Gregory Gadson is the Director of US Army Wounded Warrior Programme which is the official programme for the wounded in the States. He is in great form and raring to go.  He is a most inspiring character and I look forward to getting to know him better as the week goes forward.

SOLDIER RIDE PREPARE

Well here we are at Tedworth House as the Brits and Americans get ready for the first leg of Soldier Ride. There is lots of banter and good humour. Its a beautiful day for it.