RICHARD HOLMES FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR DIES

My good friend Richard Holmes died in the early hours of Saturday and what a loss it is for us all.  He was a wonderful man and a great historian.  He was a valiant supporter of the charity and a few months ago I worked out on the back of a envelope that he had probably raised through his many speaking engagements for the charity about a quarter of a million pounds. He had fought Lymphoma for two years but in the end it was pneumonia with complications that got him.  I shall  miss him for his wonderful turn of phrase and his amusing quips which always brought a smile or laugh to his audience. He was probably the the finest speaker I have ever met. We  spent many a day together travelling  on  horses in various parts of the world and I never ceased to be impressed by his encyclopaedic knowledge of just about everything historical. He was to accompany us on the Reivers Ride, a fundraiser in July in the Scottish Borders.  This was to be the third of this series of rides following a formula Richard had thought of. We shall surely not be the same happy party as we were.  Good bye old friend and thank you.


 
 

DIG DEEP

This is Eyford House in deepest Gloucestershire where the Giant Country House Plant Sale will be held on May 22nd. I went there to be interviewed for a short video which will go on the Countryside Alliance website and also our website. The event and it is going to be megga is in aid of the Soldier's Charity and the Countryside Alliance. Its going to be opened by Jilly Cooper who I spoke to to day. She was charming and I have undertaken to write a small piece on the Soldier's Charity. It looks like being a fantastic event at a most lovely location. However I shall be doing the car parking so will be keeping myself busy on the day!!

EASTER RUN

Well, while we are all enjoying Easter Sunday here is Andy McMenemy in Wolverhampton on his 40th Marathon consecutively.
He is in good form having overcome his recent injury.

KATY BIG CURRIED OUT

Katy who ran the Lord Mayor's Big Curry this year left us to day to go to the National Gallery. She did a really good job and here she is being showered with cards and gifts. Kirsty and Erin made cakes and that seemed to have brought all thought of work to the end today. Next stop the pub! Happy Easter all viewers.

A LIFE SAVED

To day I went to the London Scottish for the Veterans Aid AGM and this picture is of Jonathan Fullan and Hugh Milroy who runs Veterans Aid.  Jonathan was in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and served twice in Northern Ireland and once in Bosnia.  He subsequently spent 3 years in the French Foreign Legion, no joke that!  But after this things went badly wrong and he went to prison after an assault. On release from prison he was homeless and Veterans Aid came to the rescue and with the The Soldiers' Charity help with a bursary he went to college and is about to be qualified and full time employmentt is assured in July.  He spoke without a note to the AGM and was an admirable example of how Veterans Aid with our help can save a life.  Meanwhile Andy McMenemy is pounding around Worcester on his 35th consecutive Marathon.

TRAFFIC,ROAD WORKS and RAGE

This was at the start of a lovely day as I walked across Tower Bridge in blazing sunshine to meet SSAFA in Queen Elizabeth Street.  I suppose there is something vaguely intimidating going from Elizabeth Street to SSAFA's offices in QUEEN Elizabeth Street! Howver meeting over my mood deteriorated to one of rage over the traffic, road works, closed streets ets which meant I missed two meetings.  I thought it would be clever to share a taxi with others, thinking I would get there quicker.  Silly boy, it took an hour to go from one Elizabeth Street to the other.  By the way the Bridge lifts 1000 times a day to river traffic and contrary to common belief there is no charge.

MEANWHILE...........

To day I went to Newark and met with the Lincoln Committee. They do a cracking job and have raised over £40,000 this year and they have a very dispersed population and it was interesting to see how they go about their business.  They have a fantastic County Secretary Alyson Wilson who does a really great job gripping Colonels, Brigadiers and the odd General.  She is up to speed on all the social media and I am sorry I didn’t blog her. The real occasion was saying farewell to Brigadier Johnny Walker who has been a stalwart Chairman of Lincolnshire.  Meanwhile Andy McMenemy was running in Hereford yesterday and came in on 6hrs 20 mins.  Today he is in Gloucester on his 35^th Marathon!! Considering he has had a nasty shin muscle injury this is short of miraculous.