Congratulations to Ricky and Martin who were presented with a SSAFA Medal in Central Station today from Glasgow & Renfreshire Branch Chairman, Charles Scott. Both well deserved and helped raise nearly £800. Proud to class them as Branch Members.
Date - Saturday, 26th August 2023
Time - 10:00 till 17:00
Location - Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
Heathhall industrial Estate
Heathhall
Dumfries
DG1 3PH
Event Overview - We host an annual day for the veterans and current members of the Airborne Brotherhood. The aims of the day is to welcome both the veterans and their families to our site, provide them with a lunch and a drink and allow them to enjoy the collection and the additional displays that we put on for the day. Entry is free for those who are veterans or currently serving.
10:00 - open
11:00 - We always hold a small service of remembrance for those who have passed and in particular remember those who fell at Warrenpoint.
12:30 - Food and Drink ( the drink lasts as long as the drink lasts, the more veterans ….. the quicker it runs out)
Throughout - We expect to be joined by 4 Para and Airborne Assault and our own volunteers will perform weaponry cleaning and handling as well as giving the public the opportunity to handle/wear items of kit (JIM KILBRIDE does an excellent talk re jump kit for which he picks on the public).
We have run the event for a number of years now and each year the number of veterans and visitors increase, the number of display items increases and the number of other organisations that support us increases. We want to continue this increase each year and provide a day that allows guys to come together into a welcoming environment where they can meet comrades, enjoy their company and share their experiences with both their friends and their families.
Increased support from the PRAs in respect of attendance would be greatly appreciated and we would love to welcome you on site.
There will be a parade through Dumbarton town centre, followed by a church service and refreshments in the new council offices on Church Street.
Veterans and Association members should wear blazer and tie or equivalent. Medals and veteran badges should be worn as per Remembrance Sunday.
Veterans and Associations
The Parade will form up in the car park adjacent to Dumbarton Health Centre, Station Road, Dumbarton G82 1PW.
Standards
Contingents are encouraged to carry their standards on parade. Col Steele and Mr J Easton will brief standard bearers in the council offices at 12:45
Church Service
Following the parade there will be a short church service which will be held in the council office on Church Street.
Refreshments
Following the church service West Dunbartonshire Council are kindly providing refreshments in the Council Offices.
Timings are as follows. (All timings are for 01 July 2023)
a. 12:45hrs Standard bearers to council office, Church Street, for briefing.
b. 13:00hrs Parade form up on car park Station Rd Dumbarton.
c. 13:15hrs Col Steele will brief contingent commanders at the Health Centre.
d. 13:30hrs Parade steps off.
e. 14:00hrs Church Service.
f. 14:45hrs Refreshments in council office.
Any Qs please contact Martin O’Hear
Big THANKS to all who took part in our Kings Coronation and VE parade on Saturday 6th May 2023 at the Vets Monument in Knightswood, Glasgow.
Padre George Hunter conducted a lovely service and it was also great to have the Balaclava Pipand Drums, and Coalburn Brass Family Band join us too.
Iceing on the cake was the spectacle provided by the Charity Haven at Vanguard, Horses Helping Heroes with their 3 ponies,
Rosie, Rainbow and Ginger.
Thanks Vicky and Andy, including your wee Princess for the hard work you all put in controlling them
Lest We Forget
You can view the full gallery of images by clicking here.
Big thanks to Dave from Military Merchandizing, after a long wait we can all now see his wonderful gift to Para Vets who drink in the Lincoln Inn here in Knightswood, Glasgow.
Both are in a Special Place, in the Pub and in our Hearts.
Lest We Forget.
On Saturday 15th April a few of our members visited Culloden Moor to commemorate the Battle in 1745 between the Jacobites and English Troops.
Our ex Chairman Frank Camerons clan was on Charlie's side along with others, including French and Irish units.
It was also a sentimental trip for member Ricky Nugent and family as they visited Fort George, where Ricky served in the 60's as a young Cameronian.
All in all it was a great weekend with good friends and loads of laughs, which you always get if in the company of these folk.
On behalf of SSAFA Scotland, our Chairman Martin presents Branch members Wullie O'Neil and Gordon Bonar with SSAFA Thank you for your support medals in recognition of the amount of times over the years that both put in helping raise funds for Britain's Oldest Military Charity.
Well deserved lads, keep up the good work.
Chairman Martin presenting one of our most loyal members, Denis Mc Cormick with a well deserved memento for over 20 years service to our Branch as Standard Bearer and head of Fundraising.
The A Team, raised over £882 in less than four and a half hours in Glasgow Central Station on Sat 1st April 2023.
Thanks lads, a credit to the Reg and Glasgow and West of Scotland Branch P.R.A.
Lest We Forget
Congratulations to some Branch members who were awarded a SSAFA Medal for volunteering over the past 10 years, in all types of weather to support mainly SSAFA Glasgow and Renfrewshire Branch, We'll done!
Branch AGM and New Committee voted in.
Look forward to be led by new Chairman Martin O'Hear, along with Vice Chairman Davie Panayotou and Fundraiser Colin Abbott.
Big THANK YOU to Frank Cameron, Robert Cowan and Denis Mc Cormick for their service to the Branch the past 20 years
Lest We Forget
ASA Forces Charity have arranged a Remembrance event at Prestonfield Primary School, Edinburgh, EH16 5LJ
To present our Mark Wright ( 3 Para) GC Memorial Bench to his old primary school.
So that every child passing through the school is taught Mark's life story, his courage, bravery and sacrifice.
Date: 10th November 2022
Starts: 1:30pm
Ends: 2:30pm
His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant/Provost Cllr Robert Aldridge will unveil the Bench. We wondered if the Parachute Regiment would like to attend this event?
We would also welcome support from the Parachute Regiment now and in the future. So if you live near this location or even further afield we would really appreciate you joining us for this special occassion.
Members may recall we took a trip to Normandy a few years back and in our company was Pte John Lamont, H.L.I. and his Comrade in Arms and we watched them both go down to the Beach they landed on.
Sadly John passed away recently, and that's them both now gone, Lest We Forget.
The arrangements for John Lamont's funeral are as follows:
Tuesday 1st November 2022
Woodside Crematorium, Paisley.
14:30 Hours
The family have intimated that they would like a military presence at John's funeral. Accordingly standards are welcome, and our regimental pipers/Bugler have been requested. All on this list are welcome, and the family have expended an invitation to raise a dram to John's memory at the Royal British Legion Club in Renfrew after the funeral ceremony.
The Royal British Legion, the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces community, has today launched a new grant scheme for veterans and their families who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The initiative will provide non-repayable emergency grants of up to £2,400 a year (£200 a month), and is available across the UK.
It's estimated there are 2 million UK armed forces veterans, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Defence, though the Royal British Legion hasn't said how many might be able to benefit from the new grants. When we asked about the total funding available, the charity told us there was no set cut-off and that it wants to help as many members of the Armed Forces community as it can.
For further support with your energy bills – including if you're not part of the Armed Forces community – see our full Energy bill help guide.
In general, the Armed Forces community includes those who have served, or are serving, in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force, as well as their families, dependants and carers – which can include children, current and former spouses and partners, widows and widowers.
However, the Royal British Legion uses a broad definition of "Armed Forces community" – so even if you're not sure you fit in one of the categories above, it's worth checking your eligibility on its website or by calling its helpline on 0808 802 8080.
If you're currently getting any means-tested state benefits, such as universal credit, pension credit or income support, you should qualify automatically.
But you could still be eligible for a grant even if you don't get any benefits – the Royal British Legion will check your income and expenditure to assess your needs. The charity told us that it encourages anyone struggling financially to apply, as it has flexibility to consider support for people who don't meet the means-testing.
Apply for a grant online or call the Royal British Legion on 0808 802 8080.
If your application is successful, you'll get up to £200 a month for up to 12 months – the exact amount and duration will vary depending on your circumstances. You won't have to reapply every month, just once.
In most cases, you won't be paid in cash. Instead, you'll get one or more of the following depending on your situation:
Vouchers to top-up your gas or electricity prepayment meter.
A virtual credit card you can use to pay utility bills (the card would be restricted to this use).
Vouchers for food, clothing or household items.
Replacement white goods.
The charity said it's taking action after seeing a 20% rise in requests for support with urgent needs, such as food and household costs, over the past 12 months. It expects this to continue to increase over the winter months.
Some members of the Armed Forces community are more vulnerable to rising costs than others, according to the Royal British Legion, with its research previously finding that working-age veterans were more likely to be sick or disabled than other UK adults of the same age.
Keep an eye out for Inside Central Station on BBC one which features the memorial wall unveiling.
Available on BBC iPlayer
Festival of Remembrance Dundee 2022.
The above event will take place on Saturday 5th November in the Caird Hall starting at 1900. Tickets £12 each from city square box office or on line.
All Branch P.R.A. members please note some good news, we are ALL invited by Capt Mark Bennie to visit 4 Paras Hall after the Armistice parade this year, including family members. Food will be laid on as well.
Big THANKS to Capt Mark
The Annual General Meeting will take place at our Club on Sunday 6th November at 1.30pm for members only.
All invited, where Annual fees are due too.
The following arrangements have been confirmed for the recently departed Terry Kenyon:
Date: Monday 3rd October 2022:
Funeral Service at the Sacred Heart Church, Brooke Street, Chorley, PR6 0NG
Burial at Gregory's Church, Weldbank Lane, Chorley, PR7 3NW
Gathering afterwards at St, George's Club, Trinity Road, Chorley, PR7 2DW.
Regards
Derek (Secretary Central Lancs PRA)
Terry and mucker John Burnside Snr ( R.A.F.) visited Glasgow City Chambers on our return from paying our respects to "The Queen Of Scots" at St Giles.
We both signed the book of condolence, if you live near why don’t you?
Lest We Forget
