Amsterdam and Arnhem September 2025

PARA App

Dear Branch Secretaries,

RHQ are developing a smartphone app that will greatly assist in keeping our branches connected and informed. We are in the final stages of producing the “PARA App”, which will go live on 1 December 2025.

You may already be aware of Military App – a platform transforming the way military units and associations connect and support their wider family. It is already in use by over 17 Army Regiments and Corps, including the RLC, AAC, several Infantry Regiments, and soon the Royal Signals.

After a detailed review of options, we have chosen to contract with Military App to provide a bespoke PARA App. This will serve as a digital home for The Parachute Regiment (serving personnel, veterans, and their families) as well as for other Airborne Forces units and their Associations. It will also allow members to connect with the wider Military App user community of over 20,000 people.

The PARA App will provide:

  1. Improved communications and cohesion across the Regiment (serving, veterans, and families).

  2. Greater effectiveness and efficiency for RHQ PARA, the Parachute Regimental Association (PRA), and SUPPORT OUR PARAS (SOP).

  3. Better accessibility and organisation of Regimental and Battalion sports teams, AT, and other clubs.

  4. Easier access to health & wellbeing, welfare, employment, and training support.

  5. Reduced loneliness amongst veterans.

  6. Dedicated Groups for:

    • All Regimental sports and other clubs.

    • All PRA Branches.

    • Wider Airborne Forces (serving and retired) via unit Association Groups.

A PDF is attached which gives a feel for the material generated during the research phase of this project.

Request for Information (RFI): Please confirm by 12 September whether your branch would like to establish a Group on the PARA App. This could include any established groups you already operate (e.g., walking groups).

Thank you for your support in making this an effective and valuable tool for our community.

Kind regards,

Jean-Marc

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

September Activities

FunFest at The Reid Macewen Activity Centre, Erskine, Bishopton, PA7 5PU on Wednesday

3rd September

 

As part of our Regional Connect week in Scotland we are delighted to be holding one of our very popular FunFest events at The Reid Macewen Activity Centre, Erskine, Bishopton, PA7 5PU on Wednesday 3rdSeptember.

 

From boules and quoits to quizzes with refreshments throughout the afternoon, the FunFest events are designed for veterans of all ages and ability and their guests (over the age of 18).  And what better way to end the day than with Annie Riley and Lloyd Ellery entertaining everyone whilst tea, coffee and cake is served.  

 

Timings are:  

 

  • 11:00 Veterans arrive

  • 11.30 Games commence

  • 12.30 Break for sandwich lunch

  • 13.30 Games continue

  • 15.00 Music quiz

  • 15.15 Tea, coffee and cakes served, with musical entertainment from Annie Riley & Lloyd Ellery

  • 15.45 Prize giving for winning team

  • 16.00 Guests depart

 

We just ask that veterans make their own travel arrangements to and from the venue and wear appropriate clothing and footwear and to be prepared for all weathers! Also if possible to bring picnic chairs although there are tables and chairs available at the Centre.

 

Please could you circulate this invitation to your members asking any veteran wishing to join us to click on the link and complete the Microsoft form Scottish FunFest - The Reid Macewen Activity Centre, Erskine

 

 

Afternoon tea and entertainment at the South Rotunda - Thursday 4th September

 

We are delighted, as part of our Scotland Regional Connect week to be invited by the Malin Group to entertain a group of our veterans and their guests to an afternoon tea with entertainment at the South Rotunda in Glasgow which can only be visited by invitation.

 

Timings are from 1230 to 1600 during which afternoon tea will be served and there will be entertainment by Annie Riley and Lloyd Ellery. This is a complimentary event but we do ask that veterans make their own way to and from the venue. There is on street parking nearby with the alternative of paid parking at the Premier Inn two minutes away. There will be a raffle during the afternoon for anyone wishing to take part. Dress code is smart casual.    

 

Please could you circulate this invitation to your members asking any veteran wishing to join us to click on the link and complete the Microsoft form Glasgow Afternoon Tea Concert - South Rotunda we do hope to see some of your members on the day.

NORTHERN IRELAND VETERANS LEGACY ACT PHASE 2 - LETTER

GUIDE

 

Background.

The petition and resulting debate on 14th July are just the start. The debate solved nothing, but it did have several positives. We know who is on our side and we know who most definitely is not, including the token Labour veterans MPs, put up by the government especially the lady who called veterans naive. 

We also, a result of the illogical position adopted by the Secretary of State for NI has adopted, believe that he is hiding some dodgy, undisclosed deal with people we can all figure out. We now need to drive on to Phase 2.

This government now realises the depth of the trouble it is in, as well as realising that ignoring a large swathe of the white working class in favour of almost everyone else, may not be smart politics. This is the bruise that we must keep punching – hard. 

Intent.

To exert pressure on the government, through MPs and the now demoted from Cabinet Veterans Minister, plus a cross-party selection of members from the Upper House, to see the merits of our case, the flaws in their reasoning, and encourage them to take the right action.

Action.

Please send a letter/email to both the Veterans Minister (Al Carns):

al.carns.mp@parliament.uk

and also, your own MP. You can find their address by googling their name as xxxx MP. You may want to contact Dan Jarvis the Security Minister who served for a good few years in the Parachute Regiment:

dan.jarvis.mp@parliament.uk

Draft Options.

Please feel free to adapt any of these so they do not all look the same! Also use the bits you need rather than all of it – let’s make variety the spice of their life!

Introduction

Maybe explain your interest briefly.

I would like to know where we now stand following the 14th July debate. Could you please enlighten me.

The act was put in place to draw a line and protect veterans.

The only people to benefit from repeal are those who caused all the trouble.

What are the next steps?

Where do you stand?

Words are cheap. We want action.

[For Carns - You have beaten Everest while in post, now please beat this injustice].

Main.

If former RUC officers believe that effective prosecution of terrorists is not possible, how are you going to deliver the results for families that you claim to want?

Who really believes that prosecution of terrorists is possible and what do they know that experienced police officers, whose families are among many of those suffering, seem to be unaware of?

The Secretary of State keeps hiding behind a law being unlawful – this does not make sense.

Parliament is sovereign and it makes the law. Lawyers do not. How did a judge manage to find this act unlawful? Had the government’s law officers not approved it before it was passed?

Was that judgement really in context and truly impartial? Is all this legal action delivering fairness or justice?

Looking to the future, where do you stand on the Overseas operations Act?

What are you doing to give credibility to claims that this government will always look after its service personnel when you are taking deliberate action to do the opposite?

This action is a betrayal of veterans and their families. 90% are working class yet this government seems not to be interested in them. You could believe that they are more interested in anyone else. 

Do you think Reform would look after veterans better?

Has some deal been made with Sinn Fein that we are not being told about?

Isn’t Dennis Hutchings enough?

How can you square Tony Blair/Jonathan Powell and comfort letters for terrorist murderers with what is being proposed by Hilary Benn? Would those have passed the criteria that the judgement rested upon?

[For Carns: In March you said you had spoken to the Northern Ireland Office to make sure that veterans’ welfare and legal services are provided. Please explain exactly what this means as it looks like a form of damage limitation for when you repeal the act.

Conclusion.

We feel let down by a government that said it would always act in our interests. The actions speak for themselves.

What are you doing about this?

How can you expect to retain our confidence?

Good luck to us all! Please pass on as you see fit. 10 each would be a good target.

Simon Barry

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd)

VJ Commemorative Event - 15th August

Folk, Those of you who didn't manage along to our Branch meeting 6th July note we have been invited by the City Council to attend a VJ commemorative event in Glasgow Cathedral on Friday 15th August commencing 11am, with a reception afterwards.

If you would like to attend please let me know asap.

Also note: The following day is our VJ parade in knightswood, commencing 10:30am - hope to see you there too.

TIMINGS AND PROGRAMME – ARMED FORCES DAY Saturday 28th June

10am – Organisations hosting stands given access to allow setup

11.15am – Standing Parade contingent muster Thistle Street entrance car park

11.45am – Parade Marshall to bring contingent to position

12.00pm – VIPs to be piped to dias

12.02pm – Neilston Pipe Band to parade through standing contingent and end at either side of dias

12.07pm – Neilston Pipe band Drum Salute

12.10pm – Buglar

12.12pm – Lord Lieutenant Speech

12.15pm – AF rep speech

12.20pm – VIP party process off dias piped into College

12.25pm – Contingent and public – Civic Reception City of Glasgow College

Information stands, Activities & entertainment

12.30pm – buffet and refreshments available

14.00 – End of Reception opportunity to network and visit info stands

15.00 – END OF EVENT #

There will be no access to parking on the College grounds, but parking is available at the Mosque closeby and is £3 charge per day.

VE Day Parade 2025