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.