Nouvelles
18th February 2010. Brigadier David Baines MBE, vice-President the Normandy Veterans Association, joins The Spirit of Normandy Trust as Trustee.
Brigadier Baines, was born 1923, commissioned from the ranks in April 1943, and landed on Gold Beach in Normandy June 1944 as a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. He served in Palestine, Egypt, Libya (appointed MBE for gallantry) and Germany. He commanded 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery on operations in Aden 1965-67.
He retired from the army in 1974, continuing in government service for 10 years and then with BP International for 5 years. He was a former Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Army & Navy Club, and since final retirement has worked in OFWAT, St John Ambulance and the Church.
A personal crusade by Colin Jones - to preserve the memory of past sacrifice for the benefit of future generations
My uncle was killed in the first few moments of the landings on Sword Beach. Neither my aunt nor my cousin could bring themselves to visit the grave but always welcomed photographs.
I started going to Normandy over 30 years ago, and in 2004 I started "Castles and Battlefields Tours" (www.castlesandbattlefields-tours.com), to share my love of Normandy. Until 2009 I took many D-Day Tours, Americans and Britons, including one for the MoD taking over 13 senior NCOs. Unfortunately, I could not compete with the larger tour companies, so I wrote "The Normandy D-Day Landings - a glove box guide2, to give people wishing to visit the areas, an easy to follow four day guide. In August 2008 we set about planning the visit for the 65th anniversary of the Wirral and Chester N.V.A. branch. At this point a certain politician said that the 65th Anniversary was not a significant one, but funding the 100th would be considered. I placed an article in the Chester Chronicle, which was picked up by the tabloids, followed by an interview for the Daily Mail, and the public outcry was enormous. Two main sponsors came forward for our branch and we ended up fully funding a seven day pilgrimage for 84 Veterans, wives, sons, paramedics, and carers including 5 serving Cheshire Yeomanry to do the heavy work. As one of its founder members, a registered charity was formed and is still there to assist to-day. The Veterans will get the assistance they need in 2010 and hopefully every year they wish to return.
I now wish to concentrate on our younger generation. Inevitably there are less Veterans each year and our children should know what happened, so hopefully it will never happen again; but as we so recently saw with Saddam Hussein another Hitler could quite easily rise again, especially with the hatred in the world today. So this year, again thanks mainly to a very generous sponsor, I have managed to raise funds to take to Normandy, hopefully fully funded, from the 4th to the 8th of June, 60 children in year 6, to meet up with the Veterans and see first-hand what our heroes did and sacrificed for us. In 2011 I hope that number at least doubles and again every year. So that the Spirit of (the) Normandy “Veterans” will never be forgotten.
caverncolin@btinternet.com;
www.ddaybattlefieldtours.co.uk;
THE YOUNG HISTORIAN COMPETITION
On 22nd October 2009 the prizegiving of this year’s annual national Young Historian Project took place at London’s Imperial War Museum. The prizes were donated by The Spirit of Normandy Trust and presented by Rebecca Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Historical Association, which organises the competition, and Dr Trevor James, Project Director.
The senior prize and the Cadet Force prize, were both won by Matthew Cullen (TOP LEFT) of St Mary’s Catholic College, Blackpool, and 177 (Blackpool Airport) Squadron, Air Training Corps, who won £200.
The Key Stage 3 section was won by Edward King (TOP RIGHT) of Framlingham College, Suffolk, who won £200.
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW...
Runner up was Georgia Cooper (BOTTOM LEFT) from Clarendon House Grammar School Ramsgate, Kent, who was awarded £50.
The primary school prize of £200 was won by the members of Year 5 at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Redhill, Surrey (BOTTOM RIGHT), supported by their History Leader Mrs Kate Sillars.
Runner Up: Stephenson Way Primary School History Club
LAST SERVICE FOR NORMANDY VETERANS ASSOCIATION
On Sunday, October 25th Ian and Mary Stewart, Trustees of the Spirit of Normandy Trust, represented the Trust at the service held for the Normandy Veterans Association in Westminster Abbey. It was estimated that a thousand veterans and relatives were present along with the Duke of Gloucester, their Patron and Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister. This was the last service before the NVA officially disbands although many of the branches will keep going at a local level and the Trust will be in regular contact with them.
NORMANDY VETERANS ASSOCIATION AGM
On Saturday, October 31st 2009 Ian and Mary Stewart also attended the AGM of the Normandy Veterans Association and gave the report on the work of the Spirit of Normandy Trust and the financial situation to the branch representatives attending.
BENEVOLENCE
Private and sponsored donations were gratefully received from:
£800 given directly to the website, of which £600 was raised by employees of Morgan Grenfell in Bournemouth from a sponsored bike ride; £300 was pledged from one young man’s efforts and the company matched it.
£280 was donated by an NVA member and money given from family in memory of a deceased member.
£700 was raised by Stephenson Way School in County Durham from a poetry evening.
£250 was again donated by The Rowan Bentall Trust.
Donations for welfare in financial year 2007/ 2008:
RBL Cheshire donation towards walk in shower £500.00
SSAFA Tyne & Wear donation towards wheelchair f£500.00
RBL Bedworth donation towards shower £500.00
Donations for welfare in financial year 2008/2009:
RBL Cumbria donation toward EPV £750.00
SSAFA E Yorks donation toward respite care £500.00
SSAFA house expenses £250.00
SSAFA E.Devon refurbishment costs £350.00
SSAFA Fife Branch shower £500.00
