Silver Champion Garden Party

TOMMY CHAMPIONS WIN GOLD AT FIRST ANNIVERSARY EVENT

September 2021: Silver Champions, Founding Patrons and military veterans come together at RBLI’s Aylesford village to celebrate the first anniversary of Tommy Club – with a select few taking away Gold Awards for their continued support.

The inaugural Tommy Club garden party saw Champions travel from as far as Scotland and Cornwall to tour the village and meet some of the veterans supported by Tommy Club during the pandemic.

Tommy Champions gather in the Garden of Honour before touring the Centenary Village.

Of them was veteran Tim Brown, who was diagnosed with PTSD after his 23-year service career which saw him complete operational tours in Iraq, the Gulf, and Northern Ireland. Tim now works in RBLI’s social enterprise factory, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, overseeing the team who produce the factory’s wide range of Tommy products.

20 Champions were also presented with coveted Tommy Gold Awards by RBLI’s Deputy Chief Executive, Lisa Farmer, for their significant contributions to Tommy Club.

Tommy Champions at afternoon tea and the Gold Awards Ceremony

Steve Sherry CMG OBE, RBLI’s Chief Executive, said:

It’s been a truly remarkable first year for the Tommy Club. That support has meant that RBLI can continue on its path to greatly expanding our services – whether that’s providing a home to a homeless veteran, or supporting them into meaningful work opportunities.

GOLD AWARD RECIPIENT: Creator of the Tommy, Martin Barraud.

It’s because of those who support us through projects like the Tommy Club that we are able to provide the life-changing support that we can. But it’s clear that it’s only going to become harder over the coming years, as the country recovers from the effects of the pandemic.

GOLD AWARD RECIPIENT: RBLI Village resident and Tommy Champion, Peter Topley.

OUR NEW TOMMY CLUB GOLD CHAMPIONS

Ash Alexander-Cooper OBE

Barratt Developments

Martin Barruad

Raj Bisram

George Bradford

Tim Brown

Stacy Cleghorn

Michelle Dougan

Penny Dyson

Joan Edwards

Peter Girling

Faye Kent

Peter Ketley

Sally Orange

Paul Sapsford

Steve Sherry CMG OBE

Peter Topley

Brendan Touhey MBE

Trevor Vernalls

Neil Young