October V 2013 E VIC Newsletter T E We will remember them MEMBERS of VIC will be forces who died in the line of On the evening of Remembrance Day due to R attending services all duty. November 10 1919 King the poem 'In Flanders over East Lancashire to It is observed on George V held a banquet in Fields'. These poppies pay their respects for November 11 to mark the honour of the President of bloomed across some of the A Remembrance Day. end of hostilities in the the French Republic worst battlefields of They will be join veter- and the first Flanders in the First World ans, serving personnel, Official War; their brilliant red colour N cadets, civic dignitaries and Armistice an appropriate symbol for members of the public at a Day was the blood spilled in the war. series of commemorative held the VIC member Dave S services from the Ribble following Jodrell will be creating a Valley and Pendle to all morning half-size female tank as part over Rossendale in the of works VIC is carrying out and Rochdale. grounds of to complete the restoration Remembrance Buckingham of Whitworth Memorial Day is also known Palace. This Gardens. It will be made out as Poppy Day or set the trend of willow and into the struc- I Armistice Day and is an for a day of ture he will be sewing pop- international memorial day Remembrance pies which are native to which has been observed in First World War, for decades to Europe and colonised the N Commonwealth countries they formally ended 'at come. battlefields. This will be since the end of the First the 11th hour of the 11th day The red remembrance completed before the 100th World War to remember the of the 11th month' with the poppy has become a famil- anniversary of the start of members of the armed signing of the Armistice. iar emblem of the First World War.
C discharged on med- family will be able to ical grounds in 1991 access the other with Post Traumatic activities offered by O Stress Disorder and, VIC including fishing, although he is a walks and an art trained carpenter and club. M joiner, is still looking “Joining VIC helps for work. members tackle diffi- Danny said: “We culties they may M can deal with people have with confidence, who have transitional self esteem and moti- issues and can sign- vation.” U post them to where VIC secured fund- they can receive help ing from the East Burnley officially open and we can offer Lancashire Clinical N support for people Commissioning who are seeking Group to help devel- VETERANS, serv- Hammerton Street, are currently taking a employment. op outreach in a I ing personnel and every Tuesday from Level Three “Also in the centre number of areas. their families now 10am to 1pm and the Information Advice is Veterans UK and More help will soon have access to Burnley Mayor Frank and Guidance col- Burnley and District be offered in Pendle, T one-stop shop for Cant performed the lege course. Services’ Club so Accrington, outreach services opening ceremony. The transition people can get help Blackburn and right in the centre It is manned by between army life in with housing issues Darwen and the I on Burnley. veterans Peter the Royal Ordnance and also get involved Ribble Valley to com- Webster and Danny Corps and Civvy VIC has opened a with the social side. plement established Flaherty both of Street proved a drop in at Burnley “As well as offer- services in whom have a wealth stumbling block for E Retreat and Recover ing outreach, any Rossendale and of experience and Danny. He was Centre on veteran and their Heywood. S www.veteransincommunities.org [email protected] Veterans sing out FORMER military musician new people and a great way to Every little Art display Peter Webster is hoping to get the veterans, families and set up a Veterans’ Choir. their children involved in a joint helps The musician and singing activity. in Nelson teacher is hoping the benefits he “The members don’t have to MEMBERS of VIC ORIGINAL paintings, enjoys from music can also help be able to sing, or even have any joined forces to carry prints, homemade cards others. musical background – though it out a collection and and jewellery made by Peter, 43, played French horn would help. It is amazing the bag pack at Tesco, sound that is created when a veterans and members of in the Queen Royal Irish Haslingden, kindly the VIC art group were group of people sing together. If Hussars. Like all military musi- arranged by the store's displayed and sold at an veterans want to bring their fami- cians, when he was posted community champion arts and vintage market in ly along but do not want to sing abroad to a conflict area, he also Colette Butler. Nelson. then that is ok too. had a secondary job – in his case There was an excellent The event, over three “I would love to be able to get as a regimental medical assis- response, lots of leaflets days at the ACE centre, this activity off the ground and were distributed and VIC attracted many traders tant. He will not discuss what he would love members and their witnessed but has struggled with raised £344. and local people and was families help. I love music, On Friday December the brainchild of Nelson mental health issues since leav- always have and always will. Any ing the army in 1997. 20, from 10am-4pm, VIC and Colne College stu- veteran and their family from will again be at Tesco He said: “When I listen to dents East Lancashire is welcome to Haslingden when mem- music or I sing with a choir, it is VIC shared a stall come and join us.” bers will be helping to like I am in a world of my own. It alongside the Royal For more information contact pack bags and also distrib- is a peaceful place and all of my British Legion Nelson and Peter on 01706 871730 or ute VIC information and troubles go away. District. Nelson was cho- 07423326844 or email veter- merchandise. sen as a Mary Portas Pilot “Music is a good way to meet [email protected] town and awarded £10,000 of regeneration money. The market was Stan the Van timetable one initiative to attract VIC outreach will be going mobile as it joins the more people into the town. information bus Stan the Van in the Ribble Valley. Project co-ordinator Andrea Goodall will be on the Bonfire night van to offer outreach advice and signposting to veter- ans and their families. All day events are from 10am to MEMBERS will be sup- 4pm. porting Hyndburn Rotary Locations: Club’s community bonfire October 31(all day) Longridge Civic Hall on Saturday November 2. November 20 (all day) Mellor Spar Car Park VIC will be helping to December 4 (all day) Clitheroe Market build the bonfire at January 10 (all day) Sabden Village Hall Accrington Cricket Club January 31 (morning) Hurst Green Village Hall and will also assist with January 31 (afternoon) Ribchester main car park marshaling the event. March 12 (all day) Simonstone Stock Pub car The bonfire will be lit at park 7pm and a fireworks display will be held at 7.30pm. Get your boots on VIC has also received a cheque for £250 from WALKS will take place in November in the Rotary Club of Haslingden and Bacup. Accrington, for which the The first walk will be on Thursday November 7 organisation is very grate- meeting at Haslingden Community Link at 10.30am ful. for an 11am start. The walk will be around Ogden Guest judge Peter escorts Mayor reservoir. Then, on Thursday November 21 walkers should VIC’s Arts and crafts co- VIC member Peter Webster accompanied meet at the car park next to Futures Park, ordinator Darren Horsnell the Mayor of Rossendale Amanda Robertson Newchurch Road, Bacup, at 10.30am for an 11am. was invited to judge the and Mayors and Mayoresses from all over work of Manchester the North West to a robing service for the The walk will be around Lee Quarry so stout boots Aviation Art Society. new Mayor of Warrington. will be needed. www.veteransincommunities.org [email protected] Service pays respects to the bravery of Private Whitham VC
A POIGNANT service was worked his way struggled to find Shortlisted held by the grave of Private from shell-hole to work and he was Thomas Whitham, who was shell-hole through forced to sell his for award awarded the Victoria Cross his own barrage, Victoria Cross and a VETERANS In for his bravery in the First reached the gold watch that had machine-gun and, been presented to Communities is World War. although under very him by Burnley delighted to have Members of VIC joined the Nelson and Burnley branches of heavy fire, captured Council in recogni- been nominated for the Royal British Legion and the it together with an tion of his bravery. a Rossendale Coldstream Guards to pay their officer and two "He sadly died a Business Award. respects at the Wheatley Lane other ranks. This pauper in 1924 The charity has Inghamite Church in Fence near bold action was of aged just 36. He been shortlisted in the Burnley where Private Whitham great assistance to received one of just ‘not for profit’ catego- is buried. the battalion and five Victoria Crosses undoubtedly saved many lives awarded to servicemen from ry. On January 25 1915, Thomas Whitham enlisted in the VIC project co-ordinator Burnley for their bravery in the The awards’ ceremo- Andrea Goodall said: "When First World War." ny is on Wednesday British Army. He was 29 and a private in the 1st Battalion, Private Whitham returned home Fortunately the council res- November 6 at St Coldstream Guards. On July 31 after the war he was a hero and cued his medal and watch from Mary’s Chambers in 1917 at Pilckem near Ypres, received a tumultuous welcome a pawn shop and both remain Rawtenstall. Belgium, during an attack, an back to his hometown. on display. Rossendale Business enemy machine-gun was seen "After the war he became a In 1952, a grave was erected Awards is run by to be enfilading the battalion on bricklayer. In a situation reminis- for him by the Coldstream Valley At Work. the right. Private Whitham, on cent of what has happened to Guards Association and to this his own initiative, immediately some veterans we have met, he day they still tend it. Introducing: Steve VIC goes ‘On Outreach worker The Buses’ THE newest member of the VIC team is Steve Butterworth COMMUNITY bus service Rosso is partnership from Holcombe Brook. working with VIC to allowing members to collect on Steve joined the Royal Navy in the buses. 1976 and served on board HMS Starting on Wednesday Intrepid during the Falklands November 20, VIC mem- Campaign in 1982. bers accompanied by He said: "I have been with VIC, Rosso staff (formerly since January this year after Rossendale Transport) will being signposted from Live At be fundraising on their Ease. buses. "I enjoy taking part in the Art VIC manager Bob Elliott said: "Initially we will use four Group on a Friday and I have also bus service routes that terminate in Bury. The aim is to ventured out on one or two of the have two VIC members with one of their staff on each bus. walks. "We need eight volunteers initially to help out. Two will "In July, I organised the pop up leave Accrington, Two will leave Ramsbottom and four will shop in Bury at the Millgate leave Rawtenstall on two routes. Shopping Centre where the "This is great opportunity to raise funds and work with group and other veterans from can help others just as I have ROSSO; if successful we will look at replicating this on around the country exhibited their been helped by VIC." other days.” work for a week. Steve has been married to The proceeds of the bus collections will be used to pay "I am very much looking for- Maria for 29 years and they have for a community Christmas Party at the new home of VIC ward to getting stuck into my role two children Adam, 27, and – the Mary Hindle Centre in Haslingden. as an outreach worker for VIC Hannah, 25, and one grand- To help contact VIC on 01706 871730. and being in a position where I daughter Maizie. www.veteransincommunities.org [email protected] What’s On and Where ROSSENDALE VIC Outreach Service REAL Office, St James Square, Bacup, OL13 VIC update MONDAY 9AA 11am-1pm Haslingden Community Link, Bury Road, Walking Group NOVEMBER is always a Haslingden, BB4 5PG. THURSDAY poignant time of year for veterans as they prepare to Walks are arranged on the 2nd and 4th take part in Remembrance WEDNESDAY Thursday, weather permitting. Contact VIC on Services to pay their 11am-3pm 01706 871730. respects to fallen comrades REAL Office, St James Square, Bacup, OL13 from the many conflicts 9AA. VIC Family Support Group there have been since the FRIDAY First World War. VIC Art Group and drop-in A support network that meet every week at At VIC we will be wearing FRIDAY 1pm at Asda, Rawtenstall. Contact Suzanne our poppies with pride and 11am-3pm on 01706 871730. as an organisation we are gaining momentum. As well HEYWOOD as reflection, we must also look forward. VIC Outreach Service 3pm-4pm VIC was delighted to WEDNESDAY Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, secure funding for our proj- 11am-2.30pm Heywood, OL10 4TW. ect to complete the works in Recovery Republic, 63-65 York Street, Whitworth on the Memorial Heywood, OL10 4NR. Walks will be held fortnightly on Thursdays Gardens mentioned in last Badminton combined with the Rossendale walking group. month’s newsletter. This will be finished in time for the BURNLEY 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. VIC Outreach Service Our ability to reach out to TUESDAY **NEW VENUE** Retreat ‘n’ Recover Centre, 21 Hammerton veterans and their families 10am-2pm Street, Burnley, BB11 1NA. across East Lancashire has been strengthened by our presence in Burnley and also in the Ribble Valley Combat Stress Helpline where we will be on Stan 0800 138 1619 the Van. Contacts PCT Military Veterans Service We are looking forward to 0161 253 6638 having a permanent base at VIC – 01706 871730 The Royal British Legion the Mary Hindle Centre in 08457 725 725 Haslingden and will be wel- Manager Bob Elliott Rossendale Citizens’ Advice Bureau coming the community into [email protected] the centre when we hold a 0844 499 4121 (from a landline) 07961 554 006 Christmas party. 0300 456 2552 (from a mobile) Yes, November is a time The Samaritans for reflection and we will Project Co-ordinator Andrea Goodall 01706 830999 never forget. But it is also a [email protected] Mental Health Helpline time to view the progress 0500 639000 our charity has made in a Family Support Worker Suzanne Preston Monday to Friday 7pm - 11pm Saturday and very short space of time and [email protected] Sunday 12 Noon to 12 midnight celebrate the successes we have had while looking for- East Lancashire Single Point of Access ward to being able to make Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator Darren Horsnell via GP or self-referral a difference to the lives of [email protected] 01282 657116 many more veterans in the future.
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