This week it was the Not Forgotten Christmas lunch at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel!
The charity provides events all over the country and a Garden Party at Buck House (I’ve been twice) for us military veterans, many of us having health conditions resulting from our Service. Today, over the traditional turkey-with-all-the-trimmings, we met Louise and her husband Chris (Percy) who was a survivor of Falklands casualty, HMS SHEFFIELD. Alongside was Kim, a Chief Caterer who’d served at my old alma mater, HMS NELSON, and knew my brother Martin.
Welcomed with Buck’s Fizz, the lunch got off to a raucous start with energetic songs by the enthusiastic entertainers. The noise and high spirits from the packed dining room didn’t lessen until the Christmas puddings arrived. Everyone was having fun, swapping stories of time in uniform and since, singing along and even miming to the “12 Days of Christmas”. The raffle drew record donations and everyone had a great time. Our thanks to the sponsors and charity for showing us that serving our country is still recognised
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