Some of you may remember we held a Big Brew Up event in aid of SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) in the Town Hall in Cullompton a couple of years ago.  Well this year we are holding the event at our new premises at Military House to give you a good excuse to visit us whilst helping this worthwhile charity.

Our Big Brew Up event will be held on Saturday the 11th October 2008 between 10am and 4pm. We will be selling raffle tickets and you could win a wonderful Christmas hamper, well stocked with preserves, sweets, chocolates, wines and of course Christmas cake and pud! Tickets cost just £1 and all monies will go to SSAFA Forces Help so please feel free to pop in and buy a ticket. The draw will take place at 4pm on the 11th.

Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available in return for a donation to SSAFA Forces Help. 

If you are unavailable on the day, please call in anytime leading up to the 11th if you would like to make a donation or buy a raffle ticket.  Your contribution will make a difference to those servicemen  and women, past and present and their families who are now in need of help.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Royal Marines School of Music open day which took place yesterday in Portsmouth's beautiful Guildhall.  Taking the form of a concert and prize giving in front of VIPs including the Mayor with presentations made by the First Sea Lord, I felt very emotional and proud and I didn't even know any of the musicians!  It was a wonderful experience to see and hear the results of three years training as these Bandsmen and women accepted their graduation certificates and we were told which Royal Marines bands they were to join.

After the concert we were treated to a Beating Retreat Ceremony outside the Civic Centre. I sat on the steps of the Guildhall and watched proudly, welling up (as usual) when the band played 'Hearts of Oak'!

I think you have to go some way to beat the sight and sound of a military band!

Things are finally moving a pace with the re-location of the business.  Our new business premises are just off the Honiton Road (almost opposite the Mole Valley Farmers turning), still in Cullompton, at Military House.  The building used to be the offices of the Devon Growers nursery which any locals of a certain age will remember!    Although I do not plan to run it as a shop exactly it will enable me to welcome visitors more easily.   

I am planning to have an official opening  in the next month or so, so as many people as possible will know where we are and what sort of services we can offer.

It would be nice to see you there!

Having finished most of the graphics listed in an earlier blog, we are now working on some new ones.  Yesterday I completed the Kings Regt and the Royal Berkshire Regiment, Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets are almost complete.  The list of outstanding badges is large but we are working our way through them to enable us to offer you an unrivalled choice of high quality products for regiments long gone, but not forgotten!

We are looking forward to meeting everyone going to the Light Infantry Reunion in Shrewsbury on Saturday 14th June 2008.  We will be bringing Light Infantry products, including the Light Infantry Northern Ireland Veteran pin badges.  If you would like to order specific items for collection on the day please get in touch.

 

 

The Light Infantry NI Vets pin badges are now available. Here's a link to the website

http://www.militaryfigures.co.uk/pages/product.aspx?category=15573&page=3&product=16086

If you get together to order the postage is cheaper.  The postage on 4 badges is the same as on 1.  The next band covers 5 to 10 badges and the next 11 to 20 badges.

We look forward to meeting you at the Support Our Paras event this Sunday (25th May) at Old Sarum, nr Salisbury.  It promises to be a great family day out.  You can find out more at www.vision-stream.co.uk/sopara/index.htm.

We are pleased to be able to tell you that the sum of £2,537.33 has been donated to SSAFA so far from the sale of Support Our Troops items. 

Thank you for your support.  It is very much appreciated by us and SSAFA - Forces Help.

Debbie
www.militaryfigures.co.uk

PS. Support Our Troops pin badges are now also available from the National Army Museum in London.