Huge Thank You
If you attend any of the Events in 2017, bought raffle tickets, took part in the Auctions, St Georges Day Charity Festival extend a massive thank you, for it culminated in 2017 being the BEST year yet, although official figures are not published yet, they are certain it is going to be a 6 figure sum! (It was! Over £101K)
One of the three charities they support is the www.soldierscharity.org/ formally know as the Army Benevolent Fund it is the Official Charity of the British Army and supports soldiers, veterans, and their immediate families, for life.
Ambassadors
The Festival was honoured to host 3 of the Charities ‘Ambassadors’ in 2017 who gave, sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad, sometimes harrowing, sometimes life affirming stories of their Army experiences and support received by the Charity
If you missed them at the Festival, here are their stories
Stewart Harris
Stewart served in 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards. Whilst on tour in Afghanistan in 2012, a roadside bomb hurled Stewart’s vehicle into a ditch leaving him with brain damage; the impact of which has left him partially sighted and partially deaf read the rest of the article HERE
Major Kate Philp
Kate, a former Royal Artillery officer was the first British female soldier in recent operations to lose a limb in combat, Kate joined ST Georges Day Festival Lunch, you can listen & watch her story and amazing adventure
Alistair Hodgson
Al made such an impact with his talk at the Evening Ball. Al was injured by an IRA bomb whilst serving as a 21 year old Paratrooper in Northern Ireland in 1992…………………..read the rest here
The support to this (and other charity partners) is invaluable, and the link between the celebration and the charity is outlined in this is a statement by
Major General Martin Rutledge CB OBE
Chief Executive, ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity
I welcome this initiative by David Haythornthwaite to celebrate St. George’s Day in Lytham St. Annes. It is a day which highlights the history and heritage of England of which all true English men and women should be justly proud. It will also be an opportunity for us all to come together to celebrate our past and look forward to the future.
The British Army has played a major role in our history and even today they remain involved in a high tempo of operations. There is always a price to pay for such duty and service which the nation enjoys. We are The Soldiers Charity. We give lifetime support to serving and retiring soldiers and their families. They risk so much for us, but for them, it’s just ‘doing their job’. In return, we give them down to earth help and friendship, with no hassle or bureaucracy. That’s what we’ve been here to offer for 67 years.
The St Georges Day Charity Festival Founder David, a local businessman was honoured with an award from the charity this year, which you can read about HERE