Autumn 2019 Felix Fund Newsletter
Supporting bomb disposal and search personnel and their families from all British Army Regiments, Royal Navy Clearance Divers, Royal Air Force and the UK Counter Terrorism Command
Buy a Coffee for Felix Felix 5ive to row the Atlantic! For just £2.89 a month you can buy a coffee for Felix and help support the men and women of the wider EOD and Search communities who keep us all safe. Visit www.felixfund.org.uk to find out more Felix 5ive Atlantic Row
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is the premier event in ocean rowing. Covering over 3,000 miles from San Sebastian, Canary Islands to Nelson’s dockyard, Antigua.
A team of five intrepid adventurers are taking part to raise funds for Felix Fund. They are; Julian Thomas, Headmaster of Wellington College, Capt James Wadsworth MBE CGC, David Amazonsmile Edwards, Housemaster at Wellington College, Ian Holdcraft, Co-founder of luxury adventure brand Shackelton and David Jarman, British Army bomb disposal officer. When you shop on Amazon you can now The Felix 5ive will face some 40 days at sea coping with sores and blisters, sea sickness and choose to make other illnesses, brutal ocean conditions with storms and 50-foot waves as well as sleep a donation to Felix deprivation, weight loss and an enormous amount of physical and mental stress. Fund. Amazonsmile is a So why are they putting themselves through this hell? Not just for the personal challenge program that donates but to raise funds and awareness for Felix Fund, a charity close to their hearts. 0.5 % of your eligible purchases. Visit Melanie Moughton, CEO of Felix Fund: ‘This is an awe-inspiring challenge and the money https://smile.amazon.co.uk raised by the team will help the awe-inspiring men and women from the bomb disposal and search communities who keep us all safe. We wish the Felix 5ive the best of luck and we will be following their training and progress across the Atlantic closely.’
The team: ‘More people have travelled to space and climbed Everest than have rowed Gift Aid across an ocean. This is a huge challenge and a considerable undertaking that will test us physically and mentally as individuals and a team.’ Remember to use Gift Aid and increase your You can support the team at their Just Giving page: donation by 25p for https://www.justgiving.com/felixfive every £1 you give
Registered Charity No. 1142494 Donate
You can make a one-off or regular donation to help those still serving, veterans and their dependants. Donate online at https://www.justgiving. com/felixfund/donate Remembrance Run Essex How about running in remembrance on this year’s Remembrance Weekend in aid of Felix £ Fund and RBL? You can choose your distance from 5km, 10km to a more testing half marathon and all races are traffic free and use the flat and fast concrete grounds of the disused former World War 2 airfield. There is also a 1mile fun run so there really is something Give your time for everyone.
Date: Saturday 9th November 2019 Visit https://findarace.com/events/ Volunteers are vital to Venue: Carver Barracks, Saffron Waldon remembrance-run-essex charities, but for one as small as Felix Fund they are even more A Great North Run - Running in Memory of SSgt Tony Keating important. Get in touch if you would like to Tragically earlier this year the EOD community lost SSgt volunteer to raise funds Anthony Keating. His brother Michael took on the challenge of and awareness in your running the Great North Run in his brother’s memory and to local area raise funds for Felix Fund, a charity very close to Tony’s heart. With a personal best time of 1:49 Michael completed the run and has so far raised over £2,150 for the charity.
If you haven’t yet but wish to sponsor his efforts please do so at: https://www.justgiving.com/Michael-Keating555 Holly Davies Memorial Fund
Following the sad death of former Felix Fund CEO, Holly Fundraise Davies in 2014, a fund was set up in her memory. After much consideration and discussions with her family and those who knew her, we announced that the Holly Angharad Davies You can raise money for Memorial Fund would be used to help the children of those Felix Fund in so many killed on active service, as they reach university and higher ways. From a raffle or education. jumble sale to a black tie dinner or even a A one-off grant will be made to individuals who have reached the age of 18 on or after July personal challenge that 2014. The payment will be awarded on application to Felix Fund following the successful you’ve wanted to do completion of their first year of study. for ages ...
Is your child eligible? For further information about applying for assistance please Every Penny Counts contact [email protected] Victory An intrepid team of swimmers took to the water in support of Felix Fund in the recent Swim Victory Swim the Lakes.
Thank you and well done to all who took part. How your fundraising has supported those in need Some more great fundraising ideas to Here are some statistics to show the help Felix Fund has provided during help Felix Fund the year and the work we have undertaken to ensure we continue to work with and support the wider EOD and Search community. Afternoon
2 300 Tea 400 £135,000 Million 200 FF £ 100 Raffle FF Race Night Over £2m raised 400 attendees on £135,500 given 2 promotional since the charity the Dashboard out in grants in videos started in 2011 programme 2018/2019 to help championing the those in need work of Felix Dog Show Fund
We have many fundraising events taking place all the time from Cycle Rides, Victory Swims, Car Wash Indoor Sky Dives, a Bomb Suit Marathon and the Great North Run, to cake sales, raffles and quiz nights - there is always something you can do to support Felix Fund no matter how large or small. Personal Challenge Great Western Park, Didcot A new memorial citation has been placed at the stone on Great Western Park, Didcot which commemorates Black Tie those lost from 11 EOD & S Regt RLC. For those who Dinner don't know there are a number of roads named after these personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty.
They are: Non-uniform SSgt Chris Muir – 31 March 2003 Day WO2 Gary J O’Donnell GM & Bar – 10 September 2008 Capt Daniel L Shepherd GM - 20 July 2009 SSgt Olaf S G Schmid GC - 31 October 2009 Football Capt Dan Read – 11 January 2010 Match SSgt Brett G Linley GM - 17 July 2010 Capt Lisa J Head – 19 April 2011 Lest we Forget Make Felix Fund your Dashboard Course chosen charity Residential training courses focusing on mindfulness and awareness Places Available! Felix Fund Shop
What better way to show your support of Felix Fund than with something from our online shop. Check out our ‘sale’ section and bag yourself a bargain - when it’s gone, it’s gone!
S A L E Row, Row Row your boat!
Report from Robin Hope of The Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers. front This year’s charity row raised about £7,500 including a generous donation from the livery’s S charitable funds. A back L E The route followed a similar pattern to other years: Cookham Dean (Woottens Boatyard) to Oxford and back to Marsh Lock spread over 8 days. This means daily distances of about 13/14 miles with 4 or 5 locks per day which can be described as manageable. Just as
important, friendly connections offer safe and sound mooring overnight at the various stopping points - 7 in all. S A L The crew came mainly from Thames Traditional Boat Society members, Liverymen from E Lightweight t-shirt GSWD and friends/sponsors who like to be involved in such outings. Whilst the first 2 days £24.00 were wettish all can be described as pleasurable and in good company. In all 6 liverymen and 2 wives actively supported this year’s row. Felix Fund Trustee, Brigadier Gareth Collett, was patron of the row but sadly had to drop out of crewing because of other commitments. However, this year, the 17th charity row undertaken, we had a rather dramatic happening at S Sandford Lock with the crew being John and Susan Greenford and Richard Henchley – all A L experienced scullers. The Assistant Lock Keeper, (maybe in training), placed us directly E behind a Salters steamer with our bow under its stern and no chain for us to hold at our stern. This was in spite of there being plenty of room for the launch and canoe on the other side to move forward as requested by us of the Assistant Lock Keeper. We also asked for the Mens black polo shirt Salters steamer to move forward, but this was also considered unnecessary. As the lock £10.00 emptied our stern was caught on the concrete sill. We shouted at the Assistant Lock Keeper S to stop emptying the lock, and slowly refill it so we could clear the sill. Maybe he panicked A but then opened the sluices fully, and we were engulfed in a torrent of water which L capsized us. The four, 76-year-old plus crew, were left swimming in the lock. The situation E was resolved by the competence of the full time Lock Keeper, Aidan Mahan, who had the day off, but was in his garden by the lock playing with his children. He heard the commotion, returned to duty immediately, taking control of the situation and doing a most S competent job. A L The lock was refilled, our boat turned over, moved out of the lock, emptied of water, then E Felix Fund Tea Towel we continued to Radley Boathouse, our destined overnight stay. Undeterred and unbowed £3.50 by this misfortune we continued for the next 3 days to our finishing mooring at Marsh Lock in Henley. Discussions over lost possessions and boat damage are ongoing with the Environment Agency who are responsible for the Thames. S Might there be a charity row next year? well, a couple of crew members have already A intimated they are ready, willing and hopefully able! L Felix Fund Mug E £3.50 S A L E
S Dalwhinnie Highland A Single Malt Whisky L Limited Edition Batch E for Felix Fund Felix Festival Rocks Silchester £60.00 A year’s worth of hard work from the wonderful team of organisers and volunteers culminated in a tremendous event with the staging of the third Felix Festival, which took
place near Silchester on Saturday 7th September. Around 1,000 people attended the event raising over £26K for Felix Fund - a truly fantastic effort! The bands were tremendous, the S food was pretty good, and the bar was always busy! A L Events of this magnitude cannot happen E without the hard work and support from a host of people, so we want to say a big thank you to you all - you know who you are!
S Calls have already been raised for Mens T-shirt with ‘Army another Felix Festival next year, but we A L Bomb Disposal - Even will have to wait and look at 2021….. E firemen need heroes’ on back Watch this space! £5.00 Didcot Drag Race - A spooky night of fun! S A L Halloween Edition at E the Berro Lounge,
Didcot S front A L back 31 October 2019 E 7.30pm - 10.00pm
FREE ENTRY S A L E Donations to Men’s white Felix Fund running vest £10.00 Have you considered leaving a legacy? Felix Fund Videos A legacy costs nothing now but can make the world of difference in the future. Many Directly from the charitable services would not exist without money left in wills. Yet only 5% of people mouths of people we actually provide for them in this way. have helped, these two The tragedy is that while the number of people making charitable wills remains low, the short films will help number of people relying on them continues to increase. The result is funds available from raise awareness of the legacies are being split between ever more charities. Making a Will not only helps your work of Felix Fund favoured causes but relieves family and friends of many of the legal difficulties that can be encountered without one. https:// www.youtube.com / Supporting Felix Fund in your Will watch?v=KvDhA4ewoq4
Making or changing a Will does not have to be hard work or expensive. We have produced https:// a rough guide on Making a Will to help, which is available from our website or on request to www.youtube.com / Melanie Moughton at 07713 752901 or email [email protected]. This is not watch?v=9YksN26Dltc comprehensive, and Felix Fund strongly advises that professional legal advice is sought.
Free Wills Month Each October a scheme is run where people can make a Will free of charge. For more information about this visit www.freewillsmonth.org.uk
It’s never too early to get your order in for “With Felix Fund all of the money goes Christmas Cards - Felix has some great offers! towards a particular need there and then, so if the family needs a wheelchair, the Board can sit, the decision is made, the money is handed over, the wheelchair is bought, the very next day in some cases”
Col Karl Frankland, Chairman of Felix Fund Board of Trustees
visit us at felixfund.org.uk Interview with a Trustee - Sgt Kenny Scott RE Diary Dates
What does Felix Fund mean to you? 2 Oct The Felix Fund for me gives me that warm feeling Indoor Sky Dive that there is charity there for the EOD&S (Andy Green) community, whatever the situation, help and support is available for all serving soldiers, veterans and their families. 19 Oct Charity Quiz Night Why did you become a trustee? St Peter’s Church,Didcot The Felix Fund was predominantly associated with the RLC, that has now changed and it is now fully 22-25 Oct supporting all cap badges whom have served/are Dashboard Course serving under the EOD&S umbrella and SO15. As a soldier who has spent the majority of his service within the EOD&S community and having seen 31 Oct how the Felix Fund has helped so many in the past, Drag Race Night especially during the days of the Iraq The Berro Lounge, Didcot and Afghanistan conflicts, I know how important the work of the charity is. I felt I could help to drive forward the awareness for 9 Nov the charity within all the cap badges it now Remembrance Run supports and support its Fundraising Carver Barracks, Wimbish Campaigns.
10 Nov When did you join the Army and what lead you to choose this career? Athens Marathon I joined the military in 2005 and initially posted to field unit conducting combat engineering and trade tasks, it was only on promotion to LCpl and posting to Wimbish that the 16 Nov EOD&S world opened up to me, and I reali ed that this was the career stream that I s 8hr Endurance Race wanted to stay in and have since then re-traded as EOD&S. (Ollie Rolls) Where do you see the charity going in the future? I see the charity continuing to support its primary objective of helping those involved or 19-22 Nov Dashboard Course who have been involved within the EOD&S community. Moving forward into the future I would like to see the charity have some commercial backing to keep the funding coffers full, so we can support all the requests we get. But mostly I would like in the future that Felix is known by all as the EOD&S charity for all cap badges and SO15. 3-4 Dec International Security Expo Olympia How can people support Felix Fund? We can all help Felix by spreading the word about Felix and who Felix supports. But the most important way you can support Felix is fundraising. Having Felix as your chosen charity 10 - Dec CIED Threat Conference as often as possible, quite simply … more funds … more support for those that need it! Wembley From the serious support needed by some, to supporting adventure training etc. So I would urge you please to spread the word and help Felix to support you all. Dec Felix 5ive Atlantic Row Canaries to Antigua! Share your support MAKE YOUR DONATIONS GO FURTHER!
Follow us on Each year many gift aid forms cannot be used because they have been filled in incorrectly or are illegible. To help your donation go even further we do need your house number and full postcode otherwise we cannot make a claim. Gift Aid increases a charitable donation by 25p for every £1 which can add up to £1,000’s over the year for Felix Fund.
If you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim Gift Aid on your donations but please complete Facebook.com/Felixfund your form with care. All information will only be used for gift aid purposes. Forms can be downloaded at https://www.felixfund.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation/
Twitter.com/@FelixFund
RECEIVING HELP FROM FELIX FUND
It can often be difficult to talk about how Felix Fund has helped people; many stories are highly confidential and others whilst they make a massive difference to individuals might not lend @felixfundofficial themselves to ‘a good story’. Some examples of how we have helped over recent months are: Thank Specialist counselling for the son of a serving soldier, as he suffers severe anxiety whenever his father is deployed. you Replacement of the memorial citation at Great Western Park, Didcot. Assistance towards a spouses version of the Dashboard Course.
Help with the cost of replacement windows for a veteran to make his home more comfortable.
Felix Fund can help personnel from any military or SO15 (Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Unit) who have been involved in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD and Search) duties, and their families. You can be serving or retired and you do not have to be injured to apply.
For more information visit us at www.felixfund.org.uk from THE BOMB DISPOSAL CHARITY FOR THE ENTIRE EOD & SEARCH COMMUNITY Felix Time to remember In each quarterly newsletter, we commemorate and sustain the memories of the sacrifices made by EOD and Search Personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
This time we remember those who died during July, August and September
SSgt Joseph A Culkin who died on 23 September 1956 in Cyprus SSgt Ronald Kirby who died on 31 July 1958 in Cyprus Sgt Colin C Workman who died on 28 August 1967 in Hong Kong Capt David A Stewardson who died on 9 September 1971 in Northern Ireland Capt John H Young who died on 15 July 1972 in Northern Ireland WO2 William J Clarke who died on 3 August 1972 in Northern Ireland Maj Richard Jarman who died on 20 July 1973 in Northern Ireland SSgt Ronald F Beckett who died on 30 August 1973 in Northern Ireland Capt Ronald Wilkinson who died on 23 September 1973 in Great Britain Spr John Walton who died on 2 July 1974 in Northern Ireland Cpl Geoffrey Hall who died on 20 September 1974 in Northern Ireland WO2 Edward Garside who died on 17 July 1975 in Northern Ireland Cpl Calvert Brown who died on 17 July 1975 in Northern Ireland Sgt Robert McCarter who died on 17 July 1975 in Northern Ireland Roger P Goad GC BEM who died 29 August 1975 in London Sig Paul J Reece who died on 2 August 1979 in Northern Ireland Gnr Richard A J Furminger who died on 2 August 1979 in Northern Ireland WO2 John R Howard who died on 8 July 1988 in Northern Ireland Sgt David K Barker who died on 17 July 1989 in Great Britain LCpl K T Robinson who died on 17 July 1989 in Great Britain Pte David B Carson who died on 17 July 1989 in Great Britain Spr Barry Nicholas who died on 16 August 1994 in Bosnia Lt Col Michael Watkins who died on 11 August 1998 in France Cpl Peter Bradley who died on 11 September 1999 in Bosnia WO2 Gary O’Donnell GM* who died on 10 September 2008 in Afghanistan Capt Daniel Shepherd GM who died on 20 July 2009 in Afghanistan SSgt Brett G Linley GM who died on 17 July 2010 in Afghanistan Spr Mark Smith who died on 26 July 2010 in Afghanistan
Gone but never forgotten Thank you for your support
Registered Charity No. 1142494