Felix Fund News Spring 2015 Supporting bomb disposal personnel and their families from all British Army regiments and the UK Counter Terrorism Command Welcome from the new Chief Executive For those of you who I have not yet met I would like to introduce myself as the new Chief Executive of the Felix Fund. Since taking over on the 5 th January 2015 I have been very busy finding my way around, meeting people and planning for the forthcoming year ahead. As the daughter of a former ATO, and the sister of a serving AT, the Felix Fund is obviously very close to my heart and I have already worked as a volunteer for the charity in organising the 2012 Sky Dive for Lisa. This is the first of what I hope will be a quarterly e-newsletter to keep our friends and supporters up to date with what the charity is doing. If you have anything you would like covered please send me your stories and photos and I will try and include as many as I can. What is Felix Fund? A question I am frequently asked. There seems to be a misconception as to who we are here to help. The Felix Fund is not the charity for 11 Regt RLC we are the bomb disposal charity and therefore help anyone who has been involved with this role. Although we borrowed the Felix name from the AT world and happen to be located at Vauxhall Barracks we are not here just to help them. The Felix Fund can provide welfare support and financial assistance to: Royal Engineers Dog Handlers Searchers Drivers Infantry Escorts AT s / ATO s The Felix Fund is here to help anyone involved with EOD duties. If you need help or want to become more involved with the charity please contact enquiries@felixfund.org.uk. I have lots of ideas for new fundraising ventures, but also want to hear about yours. In order to maintain the work that the Felix Fund does we do need help from many quarters to fundraise and I hope many of you will continue to be instrumental in making this happen. Keep in touch at Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or email me at melanie@felixfund.org.uk. Page 1
Play Park Opened Thanks to Military and Civilian Community Project A derelict play park given a new lease of life was officially opened on the 29 th January 2015 in the village of Temple Herdewyke, as wintry showers abated, allowing excited local school children from military and civilian communities to take to the swings and roundabouts for the very first time. The play park, close to the Defence Munitions base at Kineton, Warks, has been given a complete makeover, thanks to a ground breaking community partnership project between military and civilian communities in the area. The park in the village, which is used by both military and civilian families, has been completely remodelled and was opened by Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council. This follows a community collaboration between residents, the local Army Welfare organisation, Warwickshire County Council and funding of 60,000 from the West Midlands Armed Forces Community Covenant scheme and 15,000 from The Felix Fund, (The Bomb Disposal Charity). We still have a few places remaining for the London 10K on 12 July 2015 to raise money for the Felix Fund, after which we will be relaxing, celebrating and recovering with a picnic in St James s Park. The British 10K London Run has been staged through the heart of the capital for the past 15 years. Starting on Piccadilly outside The Guards & Calvary Club, runners will pass the new WW2 Bomber Command Memorial which was unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth 11 in June 2012 with Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner as backdrop. Runners will pass The Ritz, St. James's Palace, Trafalgar Square, the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral, the unique London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, the historic Westminster Abbey before finishing on Whitehall at the junction of Royal Horse Guards and Banqueting House after passing Downing Street and The Cenotaph. The entry fee is 40 per runner which covers your entrance fee for the run and a small amount towards refreshments in St James Park afterwards. Please contact Melanie on melanie@felixfund.org.uk or call 07713 752901 for more information if wish to run or to help with the picnic. Calling all Runners - London 10K Run Page 2
Spartan Team Challenge How you can Fundraise Funding the work of the Felix Fund depends on the commitment and sheer hard work put in by our supporters across the country and beyond. These might be individuals, companies or clubs and groups. You can support the bomb disposal community by fundraising for our charity. Ways in which you can help: Making a donation in addition using Spartan Felix In 2014 a 5 man team of soldiers- Spartan Felix did a series of challenges raising 32K for the Felix Fund. This year they are bigger and better! The Spartan Felix Team 2015 is taking part in a series of challenges over the summer the first being the Rat Race, 20 miles of mud/fields/lakes and over 200 obstacles. This is the biggest obstacle race in the world which is held at Burghley race course and takes place on the 9th May. Their next stop is the Liverpool Marathon on the 12th June. Then all three Spartan races: The Sprint, 5km, 15 obstacles, all terrains on the 20th June in Wales. The Super, as per the Sprint but 13km and 25 obstacles on the 20th September in South London. Finally the Beast, which is 20km, 35 obstacles on the 27th September again in South London. The team is: Waddie, Ben, Woody, Rich B, Lloyd, Richy Mc, Bic, Messa, Joe, Laurence, Deano, Nick W and Claire Jones. Help them reach their target of 40,000 by donating at https://www.justgiving.com/spartan-felix- Team. will increase the value of the donation by 25 pence for every 1. This is only applicable to UK tax payers. Organise an event large of small, anything goes. We can provide marketing material for your fundraiser. Get involved in a Challenge run the London 10K, Sky Dive, Cycle rides and anything you can think of. Support our Campaigns hold a Big Blast or Bangers and Bacon Butties event or get the kids colouring Felix. Leave a Legacy in your Will a delicate subject but a generous way to support your favourite charities. Make Felix Fund your Charity for your company or organisation for a year. More information about any of these can be found at or email enquiries@felixfund.org.uk. Support your Bomb Disposal Experts now! Page 3
Felix Shop We are really keen to get a new range of Felix merchandise, but do need to get rid of the old stock first. Grab a bargain now at the on-line shop. We will be offering a 25% discount on certain items, subject to availability; these include: 2014 Christmas cards Explosive Underwear Visit the Felix Shop at http://www.shop.felixfund.org.uk/. All money raised goes towards helping those in need within the bomb disposal family Page 4
Exercise Chiron Snowflake One of the objectives of the Felix Fund is to help units with welfare / team building activities. This helps decompression for soldiers who have been on operational tours. At the end of last year we donated funds towards Exercise Chiron Snowflake - an adventure training ski trip. Sgt K Alford from 1MWD Regt said "everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it was a pleasure to see all the soldiers happy and morale so high after a tough year on operations." Honouring Those Who Gave Their Lives The Felix Fund is also here to commemorate and sustain the memories of the sacrifices made by EOD personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. In each newsletter we will be remembering those who have died. This time we remember: SSgt Christopher R Cracknell who died on the 15 March 1972 in Northern Ireland Sgt Anthony Butcher who died on the 15 March 1972 in Northern Ireland Maj Bernard C Calladene who died on the 29 March 1972 in Northern Ireland SSgt Allan N Brammah who died on the 18 February 1974 in Northern Ireland SSgt James G Crawshaw who died on the 22 January 1975 in Great Britain Sgt Martin E Walsh who died on the 9 January 1977 in Northern Ireland SSgt Christopher D Muir who died on the 31 March 2003 in Iraq Capt Daniel Read who died on the 11 January 2010 in Afghanistan WO2 David Markland who died on the 8 February 2010 in Afghanistan Spr Guy Mellors who died on the 15 February 2010 in Afghanistan Gone but never forgotten. Page 5