A Jubilee Concert with Music Fit for a Queen will be held at the Minster in Axminster May 26th 7:30pm….. The concert is in support of the Baton and Care for Casualties charities.

Among others composers the Choir will be presenting music by Parry and Purcell, also featured will be the Trumpeters and Timpanist’s from the Salamanca Band of the ‘Rifles’ Exeter.  There will be several readings during this special presentation, one by the Baton’s founder Alan

For more information please go to the Choirs website here.

More information to follow

We were proud to see the world famous Royal Air Force Parachute Display Team (Falcons) based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, holding the Baton and displaying its message in support of our cause when they launched the 2012 Season with a fantastic display at The Leys in Witney watched by some 500 pupils from the local schools and an equal number of enthusiastic teachers, parents and members of the public and the Town Mayor Mr Eaglestone who was Guest of Honour.

The 10 members of the team were determined that the weather was not going to get in the way of their first public display although as the Drop Zone Safety Officer explained it was touch and go right up to the last minute: “The weather conditions have been dreadful to be honest simply because it has been so changeable” said Flight Lieutenant Jon Conner. “Within a five minute period we have had rain, sunshine and thickening cloud all of which had the potential to force us to pull out of the display. Luckily after several ‘dummy runs’ over the area the weather conditions eased just enough to give us the window we needed”.

The weather had also delayed the Ratification which is the formal approval given by a Senior Officer before the team can perform at public arenas. In fact, this approval only took place 3 hours before-hand and was reviewed by Air Commodore Jon Ager who said:” I was delighted to be able to ratify the RAF Falcon’s display for the 2012 season in some very challenging weather conditions. Despite strong and variable winds, the team performed superbly and accurately. Having seen them jump over many years, I know that 2012 will be another successful season for them and I wish them the best of luck.”

Speaking after the jump, Officer Commanding the RAF Falcons Flight Lieutenant Ben Lonsdale had this to say: “It was a huge relief to get the guys down in what were very challenging conditions. They did a fantastic job and kicked off our new Season with a very exciting display. It was great to have so many people from Witney, especially pupils from the local schools, turn out to support us – we could hear them cheering as soon as we exited the aircraft – and that really made all the difference”.

The RAF Falcons are recognised as the UK’s premier parachute display team. They are based at No.1 Parachute Training School RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. No 1 Parachute Training School trains ALL UK military parachutists from all services. The Unit trains personnel from the regular and Special Forces in everything from static line jumps under the traditional dome shaped parachutes to High Altitude High Opening techniques.

Members of the RAF Falcons are all volunteers from the School who have qualified to be Parachute Jump Instructors (PJI). Volunteers enter a selection process which consists of up to 30 freefall parachute descents that are critiqued and assessed on the following criteria; exit, freefall skills, canopy control and landing accuracy.  Candidates also need to demonstrate teamwork, leadership and the potential to become a freefall instructor during their tour on the team.

On the 28 April 2012 cyclists from 99 Squadron departed from RAF Brize Norton with a Baton and cycled almost 500 miles to Landsmeer in the Netherlands to take part in a ceremony to commemorate the crew of Wellington Bomber T2879 which crashed close to Landsmeer in the Netherlands on the 29 Sept 1941, sadly all on board were killed.  The Royal Air Forces Association’s aim is to ensure that that their sacrifice does not end in suffering, poverty or loneliness.  Whether it’s an injured Airman fighting to get back on his feet, a young daughter missing her parent away on an overseas operation or a WWII veteran needing a shoulder to lean on RAFA are here to help.

Last year the team raised £30000 for RAFA and Help for Heroes by cycling John O groats to Lands End cycling 1000 miles, climbing 42000ft in 11 days.  Please have a look at the teams YouTube video which shows their trip last year, what they are up to this year and about what they do as a Squadron.  You can also sponsor them here, follow them on Twitter or on Facebook.

The Baton has shared a special relationship with the Taunton Sea Cadets since it started and last weekend they carried the Baton with their best Drill Team performance for 30 years!…Our heartfelt congratulations to Officers and Cadets for such a consistent effort this year, we are all so proud of the unit.

The effort put in by those who give up their own time enabling young people to challenge themselves, discover self discipline and pride should be congratulated and thanked by all of us in society.  To learn more about Taunton Sea Cadets please click here.

All at the Baton would like to thank in particular Drill Instructor PO Martin Evemy, PO Julie Smith and Unit Chairman Simon Smith for their support and encouragement in the Baton’s cause.

From PO Martin Evemy

“Alan

Please accept my sincere thanks for the time you gave to my drill team and I from Taunton Sea Cadets.  As you know we were competing against teams from all over the country to try and become the best Colour Party.  This is the first time that Taunton unit has ever made it to this level in its 30 year history.

With your help we won the best dressed colour party and were pipped by 2 marks into second place for the drill part of the competition.

Throughout the weekend the baton and I spent a fair bit of time going around the guys that were at the competition just spreading the message that the baton rightly conveys.  A lot of these people were aged between 12 and 18 and the response I got from them was overwhelming.  It seemed to make the message all the more personal to me.

Thank you for lending it to us I believe it has sent a lot of young people away in thought for not only the currently serving personnel but also the families and those who no longer serve but continue to suffer.”

Update

Well he’s off!!!!!! what an adventure it will be, we all wish you the very best of luck Sandy and hope the final preparations are all but done, but more importantly we all wish you a safe journey, we are working on getting people out to meet you when in Somerset and Devon and i’m sure that your other concerned friends will be doing the same in their areas too……. Really proud to see the Baton with you Sandy.

In aid of SSAFA and all the great work it does this is going to be an incredible solo effort, please look at his site and support Sandy while he carries the Baton in any way you can!

Cycleforheroes2012 is a solo cycle by Sandy around the UK visiting as many military bases as he can in 31 days.

Sandy said…“I am starting in Aberdeen on the 1st May 2012 and hope to finish in Aberdeen on 31st May 2012, I will be visiting bases all over the country covering over 2000 miles.

I am raising funds for SSAFA Forces Help for the help and support they gave me through Bereaved Families Group, which allowed me to be in contact and meet other families who had lost their son, daughter, brother, sister or other family member whilst they were serving in our Armed Forces, this may have been in Afghanistan, Iraq, Falklands or in an accident on training or whilst posted with their Regiment somewhere in the world…these are only a few reasons why they and I need the support of this group. We all have one thing in common we have lost someone we love and are grieving their loss.”

SSAFA Forces Help have many roles and the support groups are only part of their support, look at the SSAFA page by following this link to their site.

To sponsor Sandy please click here, or you can also sponsor Sandy by texting BFSG99 £1 to 70070. Thank you!

Update – Press Release from Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia

The Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia were pleased to complete a 24 hour relay along Exmouth Seafront on Saturday after running through some very windy and wet conditions.  The team of around 20 volunteers ran 5 kilometre lengths of the sea front with some runners managing over marathon distances.

The team ran a total of 870km raising money and awareness for injured Royal Marines and their families.  They were delighted to carry (and not drop!) ‘The Baton’, a stretcher handle from Afghanistan used to symbolise the sacrifices the Marines make.

The team were particularly grateful to a few mystery runners including a local taxi driver who put in a quick 20k after his shift finished at 4.30am.  The mafia also managed to promote their cause live on Radio 1 on Saturday morning.

It is thought the event will bring their fundraising total for the C-Group to well over £5,000.  In a communiqué the mafia were said to be ‘weary but absolutely delighted with another successful event.’

The Event

The Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia team will be running a 24 hour relay along the length of Exmouth Seafront from 7pm from Friday 4th May to 7pm on Saturday 5th May in aid of C Group who support injured Royal Marines and their families.

Founder Alan hopes to join the team that will start from the beer garden of The Grove on the Esplanade by The Mayor of Exmouth.  Throughout Saturday afternoon The Grove will be providing a barbeque in the beer garden and spectators are invited to come and support The Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia.

During the relay the team will carry ‘The Baton’ the handle of a stretcher used on the battlefield by the Medical Emergency Responce Team based in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province Afghanistan.  The Baton itself has made a worldwide journey raising and maintaining awareness amongst the British public about the reality of life for service personnel and their families in the British Armed Forces.

If you would like to sponsor the team or donate directly to The C-group you can do so on the day or online here.

Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia

The Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia was set up in October 2011 when a group of friends decided to take on the Commando Challenge on Woodbury Common.  Having had so much fun and getting considerably muddy in the process the team – now known as ‘The Family’ – were keen to carry on their fundraising efforts for the C Group who support injured Royal Marines and their families.

On the 11th March, on the hottest day of the year so far, ten of the Mafia completed the Bath Half Marathon bringing their total raised so far to £4000.

Jon and his endurance partner “Otto” are running endurance races around the UK and Europe for various military charities, this is a truly amazing effort by two very special characters.

Jon is a former 2 legged soldier from the Parachute Regiment, his partner “Otto” is a 4 legged Husky cross and they have been running Endurance races since 2010 raising over £7000 for various military charities.

Their chosen charity this time is the Parachute Regiment charity, being ex Para Regt Jon felt it only natural to chose them.

After nursing a broken big toe the pair will be starting with the Malvern Hills Ultra on the 5th May (53 Miles) and then a Brecon 40 miler in Pen-Y-Fan on 12th May then on to….

6th June 2012 44 Mile Ultra Marathon, D DAY 44, Normandy, France.

August 2012, K9 Trophee Des Montagnes, French Alps.

They will no doubt have some more to add over the year so please keep checking their Facebook page for more information.

To sponsor the intrepid pair please click here.

The Help for Heroes’ (H4H) Challenges Team are delighted to announce that the Big Battlefield Bike Ride (BBBR), which has become H4H’s most well-known, challenging and emotional bike ride, will be returning for its fifth year in 2012.

Those participating in the BBBR will have the unique opportunity to cycle from Portsmouth to Dunkirk alongside those who have been wounded, sick or injured in the current conflicts. All of them have suffered life-changing injuries, and as they crank the gears of their hand bikes, they will provide a very-real reminder of the reason for this bike ride – to raise money for those who have given their country so much.

The 2012 ride will set off from HMS Victory in Portsmouth, and the participants will cycle approx. 350 miles through significant WW1 and WW2 Battle sites in the Somme, before arriving in Dunkirk.

This will be a great physical challenge, which you will need to train for, but also an amazing emotional journey for those participating. Anyone who has previously completed the ride will say it is a ride not to be missed!

For more details please click here for the website.

This year is the 70th Anniversary of the original Forces March and Baton supporter Mark White from Exmouth will be carrying the Baton for the 3rd year running, taking on 132 Miles in 5 days.

Founder Alan will be there with many others to see Mark and the other plucky entrants in on the 27th, why not join him and others there? the atmosphere is terrific and the participants deserve a warm welcome in, but above all The Veterans Charity and the people they want to help deserve good support.

To see how Mark is regarded along with others please click here.