Foreword
BY GENERAL THE LORD DANNATT GCB, CBE, MC, DL
TOMMY CLUB PRESIDENT
Dear Champions,
Welcome to Autumn/Winter edition of the Tommy Club magazine.
The two themes that shine through in this edition are the importance of providing homes and the community that forms around them.
Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) is rightly, incredibly proud of its village in Kent. Founded in 1919 in the aftermath of the First World War, the charity has been providing homes for veterans for over 100 years. In recent times they have embarked on an ambitious building programme, with brand new homes in their Centenary Village development, designed to last into the next century.
The latest build phase was officially opened recently by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, following in the footsteps of her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the site in 2019 as part of the charity’s centenary celebrations, and opened the first phase of this fantastic new initiative.
With Christmas fast approaching, I’m always conscious of the many veterans who are alone and isolated. They served tirelessly to keep our country safe, but now they have a different battle with loneliness. It is an issue that is particularly heartbreaking at this time of year.
No veteran should feel alone, which is why RBLI has launched a special appeal to help. And with the assistance of a group of generous supporters, every pound donated by Tommy Club Champions will be matched making your donation go twice as far. Find out more on page 10.
Tommy Club is such a special community that is helping Royal British Legion Industries achieve great things. Thank you for your continued support.
Royal Visit
HRH The Princess Royal officially opens new homes on Royal British Legion Industries’ Centenary Village
20 October 2023
To commemorate the opening,
HRH The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque at Greenwich House, where 24 of the homes have recently been completed in an assisted living scheme that provides added on-site domiciliary care for veterans, or their spouses, aged 55 years and over.
HRH The Princess Royal was following in the footsteps of her late mother Queen Elizabeth II,
who marked the charity’s 100th anniversary when she visited in 2019 to plant a time capsule there.
Centenary Village now includes assisted living, disability adapted apartments, as well as new family homes, totalling 40 brand new properties for disadvantaged veterans.
RBLI, which was formed in 1919 to provide support for sick and wounded soldiers returning from
Above: Lillith Budgen presents HRH The Princess Royal with a bouquet.
the First World War, launched a campaign in 2019 to build the Centenary Village which will enable the charity to support hundreds of military veterans and their families for another one hundred years.
HRH The Princess Royal was received by The Lady Lieutenant of Kent Lady Colgrain and RBLI representatives, who showed her around the new facilities (see pages 6 & 7).
The Centenary Village was made possible by donations from Tommy Club Champions, alongside charitable grants and corporate support.
Fundraising continues to complete the next phase, which includes a community centre, IT learning suite, a state-of-the-art accessible gym, community café and a shared workspace hub. The community centre will also provide a base for RBLI’s welfare staff to work with veterans and their families.
Meeting rooms will provide a central space to deliver RBLI’s awardwinning Lifeworks employment support programme that helps veterans and family members of serving Armed Forces personnel gain meaningful employment.
Above: HRH The Princess Royal was able to see the time capsule that Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II planted in 2019.
Left: The Lady Colgrain presents Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to RBLI officials, including Chair of the Trustees, Steve Rowbotham and Centenary Village Campaign Patron, General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO* OBE.
Above: HRH The Princess Royal was officially welcomed to the Centenary Village by Tommy Club champions, veterans and residents, including Penny Dyson, Steve Hammond, George Bradford and
Maria Gallego.
It was an honour to welcome HRH
The Princess Royal to Greenwich House and for her to formally open the Centenary Village. We are extremely proud to showcase the support and accommodation available to vulnerable veterans and their families, and that we will be able to continue to support them for at least another century.
It’s so important to provide a community and opportunities – rather than just a roof over people’s heads – and that is exactly what we have been able to achieve here. The demand for homes currently outstrips supply, so we are continuing to work with our supporters to raise the necessary funds.
We’re extremely grateful to all of the individuals and organisations that have made such valuable contributions.
LISA FARMER Chief Executive, RBLI
Top: HRH The Princess Royal unveils the plaque with Lisa Farmer, RBLI Chief Executive
Above: HRH The Princess Royal meeting village resident, Violet Clarke, who served in WWII with Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Rod & Veronica’s story
After enduring abuse, stress and ill-health from nightmare neighbours, veteran Rod and his wife Veronica have found a new haven amongst like-minded folk at RBLI.
During her visit to RBLI’s village in Aylesford, HRH The Princess Royal was introduced to new residents Rod Eldridge – who served in the Royal Engineers for 18 years – and his wife Veronica.
Before moving to the RBLI’s village, the couple had endured 19-months of abuse and distress from a neighbour – who had turned their ‘dream home’ into a living nightmare and caused Veronica’s weight to plummet to just 6st 6lbs.
Veronica’s consultant, who was alarmed by their decline, referred the couple to RBLI, and they were soon able to move to Queen Elizabeth Court, where they immediately felt safe and at home.
Veronica said:
Rod was so strong throughout the abuse we suffered but if he hadn’t phoned RBLI when he did, I don’t think I’d be here today.
When the Centenary Village opened this year, we moved from Queen Elizabeth Court into a new two-bedroom apartment at Greenwich House, which is perfect for us.We have wonderful neighbours, RBLI’s staff are so kind and nothing is too much for them.We’re safe here and everything is perfect.
All Stations
News from the RBLI divisions
SCOTLAND’S
Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC)
SBMC recently celebrated with long term customer Amey. At a series of “Round-Tables” veterans from both discussed their shared challenges and their successes in the work place. The event concluded with Amey committing to minimum £250K per year for the next 5 years.
Karen Ravenscroft, Head of Sales in Scotland has celebrated 5 years of service. Karen has played a huge role in SBMC’s success as a leading provider of signage to the transport and commercial sector.
SMBC have been providing signs recently for Muirshiel Country Park, a beautiful wild park in Renfrewshire.
Lifeworks
Lifeworks have recently welcomed two new starters. Former PO stoker with the Royal Navy, Gary Woodford joins as Employment Advisor. We also welcome Kelly White as Referral Engagement Manager. Kelly is a longtime supporter of RBLI fundraising.
Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company (BBMC)
BBCM have welcomed two former residents of Mountbatten Pavilion to their team. As always it is so rewarding to see our beneficiaries progress.
BBMC have recruited a van driver to deliver more of our signs rather than relying on couriers.
National Highways have pledged to spend £1m/year with us.
Good news in the pallets department. A third pallet machine will be in operation in the New Year making production more efficient.
Christmas Appeal
No veteran should be alone this Christmas. Together we can make sure they aren’t.
Christmas is such a special time of the year, full of warmth and joy and it’s lovely to see our residents enjoy Christmas dinner as friends and comrades.
Sadly, it is not like that for every veteran.
Right across the UK right now, there are thousands of Armed Forces veterans who will be alone this Christmas. They served tirelessly to keep our country safe, but now their lives are being blighted by loneliness and isolation.
No veteran should feel alone.
Nigel served in the Grenadier Guards between 1952 and 1954 and then spent another three years as a reservist. He loved his time in the Guards. He’d never left home before being called up for National Service and so going to Caterham for basic training and then Pirbright for battle training felt like an adventure.
After completing his training, Nigel joined his battalion at Windsor Castle. He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a Pioneer Sergeant
and second in command within 11 months.
Nigel was in London for the coronation of HRH Queen Elizabeth II which was a huge honour.
When his time in the Army came to an end, Nigel had a distinguished career in the Prison Service and a long and happy marriage with his wife Barbara, who died in 2009.
Nigel became a widower again earlier this year when his beloved second wife Heather passed away. Nigel said: “Heather was ill over Christmas last year and then died in January. It was too lonely for me living alone.”
Thanks to Tommy Club Champions and other supporters of RBLI, Nigel was able to move into Greenwich House, our assisted living accommodation which was recently opened by HRH The Princess Royal. Nigel had felt isolated and nervous at the prospect of starting a new life without Heather but at RBLI he found the community and camaraderie he desperately needed.
There is nowhere else in the UK like RBLI. We are the largest veteran community of its kind – and we are proud to be the home and support network for former members of our Armed Forces.
Living here has improved my life. I like the security and environment, but it’s the friendship of the other residents that is the main thing. Everyone has a story, and there are a lot of characters. My neighbour served in the Grenadier Guards’ Band, so we have our Regiment in common.
At 92 years old, I’ve outlived my friends, but there are new friends here and this is my home. Without RBLI I’d be alone.
NIGEL
Donate today to have your gift matched £ for £
We know that every Tommy Club Champion cares about the welfare of veterans like Nigel.
Which is why you’ll be thrilled to hear that every pound you donate to our Christmas campaign will be matched by a group of generous supporters – and go twice as far.
But for every person like Nigel we can help, there are so many more in urgent need. The numbers of referrals we are receiving for our support has risen dramatically and more veterans than ever before are suffering from loneliness and isolation. We want to continue being there for veterans, but we can’t do it alone. Donate now at
That means a gift of £25 today will be worth £50 to the Tommy Club and RBLI at no extra cost to you.
Will you make double the difference today?
Community events
Let’s make 2024 an even Greater Tommy Sleep Out
After a record number of you took part in our Great Tommy Sleep Out earlier this year, we are now planning ahead for March 2024.
We want the event to be bigger and better than ever before to highlight veteran homelessness and raise vital funds to support our work.
It’s time to say a big thank you to our growing army of Tommy Club Champions who are going above and beyond to raise vital funds. Here’s what you have been up to recently...
That’s where you come in... Will you help us spread the word?
We are looking for more individuals, groups and corporate supporters to take part in March 2024 – and we can only do this with your help.
Please tell everyone you know about the Great Tommy Sleep Out and send them to our website:
rbli.co.uk/sleepout
I ended up doing 75 nights! – I started one weekend and liked it so I decided to stay out!
Give it a try! Sleep in your garden, caravan, wherever. Follow the Facebook group, get involved and go for it! You will be helping a veteran and raising vital funds and awareness for RBLI.
PAUL PRIESTLY Tommy Club Silver Champion
PAUL IS A SLEEP OUT CHAMPION!
10,000 Steps in January
Start 2024 on a positive note. We challenge you to take on 10,000 steps a day for 31 days.
That’s approximately 155 miles over the course of the month! You can start any day in the month of January.
This challenge has a symbolic significance. 155 miles was the distance travelled by our Tommies during the fighting retreat to Dunkirk.
The Tommy 10,00 Step Challenge tests what we can achieve in the face of adversity. We challenge you to join #teambrave and demonstrate the strength and courage that humans possess.
Could you be our next Silver Champion?
Every Bronze Tommy Club Champion who donates or raises £100 or more in a year will move up the ranks to hold a silver membership.
This can be donated in one go or collectively over the course of your bronze membership.
As a Silver Champion, you will receive an exclusive Silver Tommy Club lapel pin and thank you card.
Join one of our RBLI events – such as our flagship Great Tommy Sleep Out in March – or organise your own.
JOIN #TEAMTOMMY GET ACTIVE THIS JANUARY AND REGISTER NOW FOR OUR 10,000 STEPS CHALLENGE TODAY!
Check out our website rbli.co.uk/ fundraising for inspiration or call the team on 01622 795 943.
A regular gift of just £8.50 per month will get to that magic £100 mark in a year. Set up a regular gift today by visiting tommyclub.co.uk/donate
Standing Together for Remembrance
Standing there I felt so proud and holding the Tommy was poignant as it symbolises everyone. It’s timeless as it symbolises people I’ve served with and it will symbolise future members of the Armed Forces.
Vicky McLennan
Vicky was a Sergeant with the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving as a combat medic for 19 years in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. After being medically discharged and struggling with PTSD, she is now a resident at RBLI’s village in Kent where she shares a purpose built home with her partner and therapy dog.
Poignant and symbolic
104 veterans and serving personnel stood together in the shape of the Tommy to mark 104 years since the birth of the tradition of Remembrance and the formation of RBLI.
Veterans joined with serving personnel from 36 Engineer Regiment and The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers at Invicta Park Barracks in Maidstone, Kent to form a giant Tommy.
Each person held a Tommy figure engraved with the name of a veteran that RBLI has supported with housing, employment, and welfare between the year of its inception to the present day. It was a poignant moment for all to remember, mourn, and celebrate comradeship.
One of RBLI’s veterans who took part was 92 year old Nigel Bird who served in the Grenadier Guards from 1952 to 1954.
Nigel said, “It was a moving moment as I thought of the last time I was at Invicta Park Barracks. It was the day I was told that a colleague had been killed in Iraq and I thought of him as we stood in the Tommy formation.”
Lisa Farmer, RBLI’s Chief Executive said, “Remembrance is an incredibly poignant time for the veterans that we have the honour to support at RBLI, and I’d like to thank personnel at Invicta Park Barracks for supporting RBLI. It was an incredible way to mark the birth of Remembrance and the formation of RBLI 104 years ago.”
Lt Col Ryan Castro, CO 36 Engineer Regiment and Comdt The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone, said, “It was important for us as a regiment to support RBLI, standing proudly alongside RBLI’s veterans in the Tommy formation. It was a powerful image that encapsulates the essence of Remembrance. We know the incredible work that RBLI does to help veterans, recognising that one day we too will be veterans.”
The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
Longstanding Tommy Club Champion, Helen Hurst, recently highlighted the importance of letting your GP practice know if you are veteran.
The Royal College of General Practitioners are working with NHS England to accredit GP practices as ‘veteran friendly’. This programme supports practices to deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the armed forces.
Having this recorded in your medical records means you are more likely to receive specialist veteran care and consideration in the future, including referrals to specialist veteran health services if needed.
Over 2,300 GP practices in England are already accredited through the Veterans Covenant programme.
RBLI’s specialist dementia care home Bradbury House is currently going through the Care Home Veteran Aware accreditation.
Tommy Club President General The Lord Richard Dannatt is a Patron of the VCHA.
For more information visit veteranaware.nhs.uk
As a Queen’s Nurse and General Practice Nurse, I have a continuing commitment to my Community and the people I serve. I come from a Military Family and raise awareness to our Military Veterans of the RCGP Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practices. Please make sure you are coded as a Military Veteran with your GP Practice!
Helen Hurst RGN Dip ANC QN Tommy Club Champion
Improvise, adapt and overcome. Meet the veteran-turnedLifeworks coach who is leading by example.
With responsibility for RBLI’s Lifeworks programme in Scotland and the North East, Gary is helping people to regain their confidence and their place in society through work and volunteering opportunities. He is also working hard to raise awareness of Lifeworks and extend its reach in the region.
After losing both legs and an arm in Afghanistan while serving with the Scots Guards, Gary knows firsthand about adapting to life beyond the Armed Forces and finding a new career through the Lifeworks programme.
After his rehabilitation, Gary initially ran a pub but realised there was no horizon for progression. As someone who likes to push himself he wanted a more challenging role where he could develop new skills.
Gary secured a role as a jet cut operator, making signs alongside fellow veterans at Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company.
“I was trained on the machines, and enjoyed doing it, more for the fact
it was a challenge because I was disabled. I wanted to see how far I could push myself and the factory seemed a good opportunity. The machines aren’t always designed for disabled people, so you find a way around doing the job. The Army training played a part as the ethos is improvise, adapt, and overcome, and that’s exactly what I did.
“I was hesitant before going to work there as it was a factory job and I was disabled. I used the confidence and knowledge I learnt on the Lifeworks course.
“Doing the Lifeworks course, I was still in a wheelchair as a triple amputee and thought - who would hire me? Mentally I was in a bad place, but when I finished the course and did the CV, I thought, ‘I do have something to offer’. So, that’s what I tell people who take the course – that they count.”
At the end of his two year contract with SBMC Gary knew that he wanted to work helping fellow veterans.
“The Lifeworks course is about helping people to recognise how valuable the skills they learnt in the military are. Veterans tend to take what they learnt for granted, and don’t tell potential employers that they have the skills a civilian
Gary has forged a new career after leaving the Army with the support of Lifeworks.
employer is looking for, such as timekeeping, passing on information and problem solving. They are trustworthy, reliable, and organised.
“It’s also about a change of mindset as veterans don’t always think they fit in with a civilian organisation, so it’s about getting them to realise they do.
“As someone who didn’t think they had anything to offer, and who learnt from the course, I can answer their questions. When I joined SBMC I put myself down because I was disabled. I didn’t think about transferable skills so now I make sure people think about theirs.”
“There are so many opportunities out there and you just need to ignite that spark as people have the ability – they just need the encouragement to recognise it.
I deliberately speak publicly about being injured, to show that, yes, I’m injured, and my mental health was affected.
But getting the job made me feel part of society again. If I can do it, you can too.”
Gary joined the Lifeworks team in December 2022, and he has already secured the involvement of high profile supporters for the programme.
Scottish Veterans’ Commissioner, Lt Cdr (ret’d) Susie Hamilton who attended the final day of the four-day course endorsed the programme, saying, “Veterans are a unique and often high-performing source of talent that Scotland needs, but some Service leavers can find it challenging to communicate the value and relevance of their military skills within the civilian workplace.”
Hari’s Heroes
Hari Budha Magar launches RBLI’s annual ‘Ride With a Veteran’ cycling challenge.
Hari Budha Magar, a former soldier in the British Army’s Gurkha Regiment was the guest of honour at the start of the annual ‘Ride with a Veteran’ fundraising cycle ride. The former soldier lost his legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device whilst serving in Afghanistan.
Overcoming his disability, he recently made history as the first double above-the-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest.
Before Hari sounded the claxon for the cyclists to begin their 150 mile journey from RBLI’s village in Aylesford, Kent to Ypres in Belgium he gave a motivational speech drawing on his recent ascent of Everest. Hari spoke of how before he set out on the expedition, he first visualised reaching the top of Everest, then broke it down into manageable sections, and advised the cyclists to do the same.
Speaking after the event, Hari Budha Magar said, “I believe that whatever life you’re living you can do anything, and that’s what I wanted to say in the talk, as we all have our own Everest to conquer. After injury, life changes and you have to learn to do things differently. The friends I served with in 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles who now work at RBLI’s Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company understand that, as everything changed for them in Afghanistan. They’ve rebuilt their lives after injury and they’re an inspiration to me and everyone who meets them.
I was glad to speak to the cyclists today as it’s vital to support charities like RBLI as it provides important services for veterans in need.”
Tirtha Thapa, a third generation Gurkha, who served with Hari in the Royal Gurkha Rifles and now works in RBLI’s Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company said, “This is my third year doing the cycle ride and it’s good to take on the challenge with a group of people who want to push themselves and enjoy the ride. I’m doing this for RBLI as it’s become a second family since I was wounded as RBLI gave me a fresh focus and a second chance at life. After I was injured in Afghanistan in 2010 during Op Herrick I didn’t know if I’d ever work again, walk, play golf, or cycle, now I do all four.”
RBLI’s ‘Ride with a Veteran’ starts at RBLI’s village in Aylesford and finishes at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres where the group
place wreaths during the moving ceremony to honour those who fell on the bloody battlefields in the First World War.
Overcoming
obstacles in life is like climbing a mountain. And even Everest can be conquered if you take one step at a time.
Hari Budha Magar
Remember a Loved One
Finding the right way for you to honour the life and memory of a loved one is important and can bring comfort at a time of loss and bereavement. Whether they served in the Armed Forces, came from a military household or simply to remember those that served our country, supporting a favourite charity can be a positive and meaningful way to commemorate a life.
There are many ways you can do this through supporting the Tommy Club
and Royal British Legion Industries, whilst making a real difference to the Armed Forces veterans we support.
A PLAQUE ON OUR WALL OF HONOUR
Leave a lasting tribute to a loved one, by engraving a commemorative plaque in their name, which will be fixed to the wall on our veterans’ village in Aylesford and is there as a lasting legacy for decades to come.
LEAVE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL
After providing for those closest to you, please consider leaving a gift in your Will to RBLI. Every gift left to us, however large or small, truly makes a difference.
If you have any questions, or would like to pass on any feedback or ideas, please send an email to:
