The Sandbag Times 13.Pdf

Thursday 14th April 2016 Contents Email: [email protected]

3 Soldier found dead in Tenerife A British Soldier found dead after disappearing from barracks. 3 Army Hero’s dream home wrecked Hero Veterans who helps home veterans has his own home trashed by tenants. 4 Veteran sets up home in rusty van A soldier has turned an old van into a mobile home to combat homelessness. 5 SAS Hero medals returned The medals of SAS Hero John McAleese have been returned to his family after theft Women on the Front Line Pt 3 Page 8

6 The Soldier Prince A look back into Prince Harry’s army career and how he supports veterans with PTSD.

8 Women on the Front Line SBT’s own Bev looks at female combat roles from a female veteran perspective

10 Have Faith This week: The Lost Sheep

11 The Historic Tommy Atkins Burma ‘Death Bridge’ Hero reaches The Worcester Warriors Page 9 100 and still going strong.

14 VRN The Naafi of the airwaves Sponsored by What’s happening on your favourite radio station

18 SBT Information A page dedicated to back issues, information, book reviews etc.

20 Time for a Coffee Break Fun & Games on the final pages. The Sandbag Times is produced in association with The Tommy Atkins Trust, We are always looking for new ideas Veterans Radio Net and UK Veterans Breakfast Clubs. For more information please contact us at [email protected]. 2016© and competitions from you. thesandbagtimes. British Soldier found dead in A British Army soldier was found Cabecito, in Arona along the Costa Tenerife after going absent drowned on a beach in Tenerife after Adeje, Tenerife, on February 23, a mysteriously disappearing from his Bradford inquest heard. barracks. His family had been baffled by his Matty Bermingham, 21, of the disappearance for weeks. Yorkshire Regiment, fled from Barrington Barracks in Warminster, They had been concerned by a Wiltshire, despite having just finished number of text messages in which he his basic training. said 'Sorry' and that he did not want to

The young soldier had always dreamed bring shame on his family. of joining the forces but while on home leave he told loved ones he was Coroner's Officer Steve Hepplestone becoming disenchanted with military said that he had gone missing on life. February 2. The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed He was found dead on a beach at El

Dream home of Army Hero wrecked by Tenants Another Hero veteran with PTSD sleeps in car An Army Veteran Landlord Chris, 43, from Bo’ness, West who helped house homeless Lothian, said: “It’s a soldiers has been left devastated nightmare. Words can not after a family wrecked one of describe how annoyed I was his dream homes before doing after getting my property back. a moonlight flit owing more than £2000 in rent. “I lived here for 10 years then decided I would rent it out to Bighearted Chris Wieczorek – a large family who were going who served as an infantry to be homeless. sergeant in Iraq and Northern Ireland – now runs his own “I am more than £2000 down booming property business and on rent. They have left it in a Daniel Smith, from the vehicle patrol he was has helped several former mess with a smashed window, Rochdale, was just 21 when part of was blown up by comrades that have fallen on stained carpets, marked walls, he was commended for his roadside bombs twice in a hard times. the list goes on. brave actions in Iraq. But week in 2005. he has since found it difficult to get treatment, The medically trained his marriage has failed and fusilier tried to help many he is struggling to find of his colleagues who had work. received terrible injuries.

For a number of nights He says he is bitter about each week, Mr Smith parks how he has been treated in a lay-by and sleeps in his by the army. "I feel like I car, to get away from have been cast aside people and control his because I haven't done anger management issues anything wrong," he says. He was awarded the It is thought Mr Smith's George Cross in PTSD was sparked after September 2006 WW2 Hero denied compensation – Historic report A HERO who faced a year of But 20 years after his harrowing torment in a Nazi concentration camp ordeal, he was initially denied was denied compensation by the compensation for Nazi persecution British government because he did because he had not suffered not suffer enough hardship. enough.

Flight Lieutenant Bertram “Jimmy” He had to wait another three years James was held captive for a year in before a parliamentary inquiry the Sachsenhausen camp after being decided the survivors at the camp recaptured in the ‘Great Escape’ from where he was prisoner should be Stalag Luft III in March 1944. compensated. Jimmy and other officers were spared execution but kept in solitary He was eventually awarded £1,192 confinement subject to torture from and 15 shillings - which would be SS troops. worth around £18,500 today.

SBS’s heart warming gesture after OAP veteran was mugged The Special Boat Service has gone attack in MEN the SBS Association into action after one of its own was has mobilised and are having a unique mugged by a coward for his precious replacement watch made for Frank. diving watch. Frank was walking near his home, Frank Marchington, 83, who served when he was attacked on Monday with the elite group - sister force of evening at about 9pm. the SAS - in the 1950s and 60s, was robbed near his home in Failsworth. He bought the watch during his service as a Royal Marine, later joining the The pensioner was attacked from elite SBS - a sister organisation to the behind by a thug who punched SAS. GMP are investigating the him and stole his wallet and Omega robbery and asked anyone with watch worth £4,000. information to contact them on 101, But after reading the story of his quoting the reference 1116 April 5th. Soldier sets up home in rusty old van Fed up of ‘wasting up to £800 a month Instead, he brought in the help of his on rent’, this former soldier decided to father to convert an old white van, start on his dream home by spending insulate it, panel it with wood and fit it £750 on a 16-year-old rusty LDV out with all the appliances he would Convoy van. need.

And Jamie Waddington, 25, of Leeds, So far, the van has travelled around then decorated it with a rustic wooden Yorkshire, Cumbria and Wales and interior finished with beautifully carved spent time in Bristol as he stayed with handles, skylight and carpet, complete people he knows. with shelves and cupboards. However he doesn’t plan to stay in Originally hoping to buy a camper van, Britain. In fact, Mr Waddington Mr Waddington soon realised that hopes to take the old van on a tour of could set him back tens of thousands of Europe and even hopes it might stand pounds. up to a trip to the Sahara. Medals of SAS Hero returned to family Army badges stolen from an SAS hero McAleese died from a heart attack while hailed for his role in ending the Iranian on holiday in Greece before they could Embassy siege have been returned to his be returned to him.

family. However, a former Army colleague, PC

The SAS and Parachute Regiment cap Alan Reeves from West Midlands badges belonged to John McAleese and Police, helped to trace his family and were stolen during a burglary at his return them. Hereford home. “We’re delighted to finally have the Mr McAleese was part of the team which badges back…I know it’s been a bit of a helped end the six-day siege after a group mission of Alan’s to return them and of six armed men stormed the embassy we’re extremely grateful for his time and in London in 1980 and took 26 people effort," his widow Joanna said. hostage. “The badges were very dear to John’s The badges were found in a drug dealer's heart and he was gutted to find they’d car in 2010, but 62-year-old Mr been taken.” Grays Thurrock British Legion to get new poppy appeal team TWO faithful poppy fundraisers are handing over the poppy appeal to a ‘new team’ at the Grays Thurrock Royal British Legion. Silvia and Peter Gaskin, who have been running the table in Grays Precinct for over 13 years, said it was “time for a new team to take over.”

They will be familiar faces to all those that have passed the poppy appeal stall outside WH Smith in Grays town centre the last few years.

The Gaskins said: “We wish to thank all the loyal customers who have supported the Poppy Appeal for Grays. We hope the new team that replaces us will receive the same support that we have.”

Chairman and Poppy Organiser, Ray Bridger also added his thanks for all their help.

The 2014 Poppy Appeal raised the record-breaking amount of over £51,216. Totals for the 2015 appeal have not yet been released. .

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From the moment Prince Harry joined the Army in In October 2008, it was announced that Harry was to follow 2005 it was clear that this was not going to be a typical his brother, father and uncle in learning to fly military ‘Royal’ military career. He was going to be a soldier helicopters. After passing the initial aptitude test, he was to first. undertake a month-long course; if he passed that, he would

It all began at RMA Sandhurst in May 2005 where he begin full flight training in early 2009. Harry had to pass his became Officer Cadet Wales. 11 months later, he flying assessment at the Army Air Corps Base (AAC), Middle completed his Officer training and entered the Blue and Wallop, the result of which determined if he would continue Royals as a Cornet (Second Lieutenant). 2 years later on to train as a pilot of the Apache, Lynx, he reached the rank of lieutenant. or Gazelle helicopter. Having reached the requisite standard, Harry attended the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF It was reported in early June 2007 that Harry had Shawbury, where he joined brother William. arrived in Canada to train alongside soldiers of the Canadian Forces and British Army, at CFB Suffield, near Medicine Hat, Alberta. It was said that this was in preparation for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where Canadian and British forces were participating in the NATO-led Afghan War. This was confirmed in February the following year, when the

British Ministry of Defence revealed that Harry had been secretly deployed as a Forward Air

Controller to Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The revelation came after the media – notably, German

[ newspaper Bild and Australian magazine New Idea – breached the blackout placed over the information by the Canadian and British authorities. It was later reported that, while in Afghanistan, Harry helped Gurkha troops repel an attack Harry was presented with his flying brevet (wings) by his father from Taliban insurgents, and performed patrol duty in on 7 May 2010 at a ceremony at the Army Air Corps Base hostile areas. His tour made Harry the first member of (AAC), Middle Wallop. Harry had let it be known that he the Royal Family to serve in a war zone since his intended to fly Apache attack helicopters if he was successful uncle, Prince Andrew, flew helicopters during in passing the rigorous Apache training course, after which the Falklands War. time it could be possible for him to see active military service once again on the frontline in Afghanistan. During the ceremony, he switched his Blues and Royals' Officer's Service Dress cap for that of the Army Air Corps' sky blue beret with a Blues and Royals badge.

On 10 March 2011, it was revealed that Harry had passed his Apache flying test and he was awarded his Apache Flying Badge on 14 April 2011.

There was speculation that he would return to Afghanistan before the withdrawal in 2015. On 16 April 2011, it was announced that Harry had been promoted to captain.

On 7 September 2012, Harry arrived at Camp Bastion in After he left the army Prince Harry said he wanted to dedicate the rest of his life to working with ex-servicemen fighting mental health problems, as he reveals he feels lucky to have escaped Afghanistan alive.

As he prepared to join injured veterans on part of their 1,000 mile walk across Britain, the Prince said more needs to be done to help personnel with “hidden” injuries.

The 31-year-old is patron of the Walking With The Wounded Walk of Britain and today said as a country “we need to do more” to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health issues. southern Afghanistan as part of the 100-strong 662

Squadron, 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps to begin a four-month combat tour as a co-pilot and gunner for an Apache helicopter. This was considered a particular honour as most pilots are required to sit in the "back seat" before being promoted to gunner.

On 10 September, within days of arriving in Afghanistan, it was reported that the Taliban threatened his life.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid spoke to Reuters and was quoted as saying; "We are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping," and "We have informed our commanders in

Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him. He has previously spoken of the “very difficult” transition It was announced on 21 January 2013 that Harry was to civilian life that former service personnel face, returning from a 20-week deployment in Afghanistan, particularly those who carry the scars and burdens of the where he served as an Apache co-pilot/gunner. war. And in an interview with ITV News he has made clear his life-long commitment to helping people battling On 8 July 2013, the Ministry of Defence announced that to overcome grievous injuries, both physical and mental, Harry had successfully qualified as an Apache aircraft suffered in the line of duty. commander. "Mental health is a sensitive subject but it doesn’t need to On 19 June 2015 , after serving just over 10 years, his be,” he said. “We need to talk about it more, get rid of the career with the Army ended stigma. Onwards and Upwards So, from Prince to soldier to pilot to veteran to veterans On 6 March 2014, Prince Harry launched Invictus champion, there have been very few Royals, and I say this Games, a Paralympic-style sporting event for injured with the greatest of respect, that have proved themselves so servicemen and women, which was held on 10–14 much as an icon who leads by example in every sense of September 2014. Prince Harry met British hopefuls for the word. Yes, he will never be King but he certainly has the Invictus Games at Tedworth House for the start of won the hearts and respect of the nation. the selection process on 29 April 2014. On 15 May 2014, Harry attended a ticket sale launch for Invictus Games at BT Tower, where he made a public tweet on the Invictus Games' official Twitter account as the President of Invictus Games

In January 2015, it was reported that Harry would take a new role in supporting wounded service personnel by working alongside members of the London District's Personal Recovery Unit for the MOD's Defence Recovery Capability scheme to ensure that wounded personnel have adequate recovery plans. The scheme was established in partnership with Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion, the palace confirmed weeks later. Women on the Front Line

By Bev Burrows

Over the years there have been many discussions - some of of some kind. However, for those ladies who are adamant them heated - on the topic of women in combat roles. When that life in a war zone is their ultimate goal, why shouldn’t I served in the Royal Air Force I was fortunate enough to be they be allowed to just go for it? one of the first females permitted to do live armed guard duty, which I was happy to do, although I did have to prove myself My personal opinion on the matter is that SOME women on the range before I was allowed to use an SLR instead of are perfectly capable of fulfilling the same roles as their the SA80 I was supposed to carry. The concern back then was male counterparts. That has been proved by the existence that I wouldn’t be strong enough to carry the SLR for very of women like Stephanie Rose who was one of the first long because of it’s weight, and that I would be liable to end female soldiers to fly the Apache attack helicopter, up with a dislocated shoulder from the recoil if, perish the completing her fair share of tours in war zones. As a career thought, I had to shoot someone with it. goes, I’d say that’s an achievement that would be hard to beat, for plenty of men as well as women! Despite my build - 5’2” tall and about 8 stone back then, I managed perfectly well with it, although three hours a day in Front line though? Face to face? I’m not convinced that we the gym might have had something to do with my apparent should be seeing huge numbers of women getting up close strength and stamina. and personal with insurgents and the likes any time soon. I Today women have become much more aligned with their worked as a rigger (aircraft mechanic) in the RAF, so I male counterparts. With the exception of front-line ground know that there are women out there who can do male combat there are very few roles women are excluded from dominated jobs just as well as their counterparts, but the within the array of careers available in the British Armed woman in question HAS to be “fit for purpose” as it were. Forces. There should be no difference at all in the training a woman has to pass in order to be declared battle fit. If There are very definite arguments both for and against women want to be on the battlefields with the lads they women being placed directly in front of what is without doubt should have to do everything exactly the same as the men one of the most brutal enemies we have ever faced. So how do. The training the men get is put together the way it is to should we choose who gets to go face to face with today’s make absolutely sure that the only people who pass it and enemies? get to fight are those who have what it takes. Lowering the I think it is fairly safe to assume that the only women applying standards just so women can pass is, in my opinion, a very for positions with a high chance of close combat will be dangerous thing to do. It could potentially endanger the women who are actively pursuing such a role. The careers lives of the unit she is fighting with, and has the potential to available to applicants these days are still very varied, so there make the enemies’ lives easier as they could see women as will always be a number of options to choose from that would a weak link and purposefully target units with female mean the recruit would operate in more of a supportive role soldiers in them. Worcester Warriors Worcester Heroes Receive La Legion D’Honneur

Two Worcester residents have received the National Michael Stone Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Michael first moved to Worcester in 1926, aged four. He Legion d’honneur) from the Honorary French Consul in attended Worcester Royal Grammar School, leaving at recognition of their service in France during the Second Christmas 1939. In May 1940 he joined the Local World War. Defence Volunteers, later the Home Guard. Now 18 he was invited to join the Royal Artillery. The awards were made to Eric Tipping and Michael Stobe in the presence of the Mayor of Worcester, family After six months at Aberdeen University he went to members and comrades. The awards were made by OCTU, gaining his commission in 53 Medium Regiment Monsieur Robert F. Mille, from the French Honorary in September 1941. There followed a brief period of Consul in Birmingham. coast defence before his regiment was assigned to the

Hosting the ceremony, Cllr Roger Knight, the Mayor of Second Front. Training in Scotland seemed endless until Worcester, said: "It was an absolute delight and a great crossing on an LST to France on D-Day, aged 22. honour to see these two heroes receive such a prestigious As Gun Position Officer, Michael was controlling a troop award from the French consul. It was a remarkable event of four 5.5 inch guns, his regiment being under command to witness in the Guildhall and one that is unlikely to be of 3rd British Division. After the German defeat in repeated.“ Normandy and the siege of Le Havre his regiment moved

up to Belgium and southern Holland. At Christmas 1944 Eric Tipping the Germans attacked through the Ardennes and Born in Worcester in 1926, Eric Tipping was 16 years old Michael’s regiment was again involved. when talk began of an invasion of England. He pretended he was 17 so he could join the services, later becoming a In 1945 came the battles for the Reichswald and the member of the Worcestershire Regiment as an crossing of the Rhine at Wesel. At this point Michael infantryman. He travelled to join the 1st Worcesters in the volunteered to train as an Air OP pilot. He gained his front line in Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion of wings and joined 652 AOP Squadron RAF. Now a France, landing on a beach at Arromanches. Captain, he served in Germany until demobilisation in 1946. Eric became involved in every action of the battalion for the rest of the 1944-1945 campaign in North Western When the Territorial Army was reformed Michael joined Europe, operating a German sub-machine gun and a the local gunners, then 267 Field Regt. In 1955, when his German Lugar pistol, both of which he removed from a work took him away from Worcester, he had been a German soldier he had captured. Major commanding Queen Battery in Malvern for five He was part of the British 43rd (Wessex) Division who years. fought to capture the bridge at the River Seine, near Vernon in August 1944. This was the last battle that Eric His work was in civil engineering, mostly helping to build fought on French soil, before pushing on into Germany. motorways. Later however he was on contracts abroad ranging from Peru to Africa to Indonesia, eventually After the war Eric returned to his beloved Worcester and retiring at 73 from his last job in Devon. Michael was continued to work for the Co-op for another 30 years, married for 53 years. On his wife’s death in 1999 a return before reaching retirement. Eric still lives in Worcester. to Worcester was inevitable.

We know that in the Bible Jesus is weary. He is staring death in the face and The Lost Sheep referred to as the shepherd. In psalm 23 he is scared. I want to reassure him with In combat quick & important decisions it is written ‘The Lord is my Shepherd; the assurance I have through my faith. have to be made. Do you sacrifice one I shall not want. He makes me lie down That death is merely falling asleep and man or the whole platoon? in green pastures. He leads me beside then waking up in heaven, where there is still waters.’ no sadness, no pain only overwhelming A difficult decision, logic would dictate peace, but he is still fighting a battle with one man for many. God, so even if I tell him this, he will not A man is lost over enemy line’s is he listen. I wish I could take away his fear, left there or are other lives risked to but only God can do that. He is lost, like save his? One man for many? a sheep gone astray. But the Lord is still looking for lost sheep and He will find How much value can you put on a them just as the shepherd in this parable man’s life? Well I know that God found his lost sheep and rejoiced. No- values us far greater than we value one is too lost for The Lord to find. It ourselves. It is written ‘Are not five comforts me to know that my relative will sparrows sold for two pennies? And die at peace whether that be sooner or not one of them is forgotten before later, because God always delivers on His God. Why, even the hairs of your head promises. I have confidence and faith are all numbered. Fear not; you are of that my relative will be at peace when he more value than many sparrows.’ dies. He will call out to Him even in his (Luke 12:6-7) last breath. God is true to His word. God gives each of us the opportunity to know Him. And many cry out to Him when they are in the most desperate of The Lord is the shepherd and we are situations. It doesn’t matter when you His sheep. He equally values each one call out to Him. Romans 10:13 states of us. No more, no less. Each of us is ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the important. When you are feeling like Lord will be saved.’ But why wait until you don’t matter, that your life doesn’t your dying breath, when you could know matter, or what you do now doesn’t God’s assurance, love and peace now. matter, you are wrong. You matter. You may say I’m not ready to think about Each of us hit on circumstances where this yet. But we all have to question the we feel like we’re fighting a losing battle, truth of life and death at some point in but even in that battle we still matter. our lives. Why not ‘call out’, what have

Knowing this helps me to carry on even you got to lose? when I feel like giving up. Knowing this In the Bible, Matthew 15:1-7, Jesus helps me to get through the darkest tells the parable of the good shepherd. times. The flock was one-hundred strong but one sheep had strayed and got lost. A relative is laid in hospital fighting for The shepherd valued the lives of each his life against cancer. He is fighting a of his sheep. He left the ninety-nine to battle. His ammunition, the drugs find the one he had lost. Now this doesn’t make economic sense. Risk a administered by the oncologists. Now wolf or bear preying on the flock and the cancer is gaining ground and means taking many sheep or leave the one he has to make a choice. Refuse invasive who has strayed to become the prey. treatment & be gone in a week or try it I want to reassure you that however alone In this case the shepherd went out and maybe crawl on for a bit longer. It’s you are feeling right now, you are NOT looking for the lost one. He valued difficult to know when to concede. If alone in your battle. Please message me that sheep. The others were doing as you’re a born fighter, feeling like you’ve if you have any questions or if you would they should, they were not of a worry given up is hard to bear. My relative is a like us to pray for you or for someone to him, but this one had strayed. He fighter, he has powered through this you know. Please contact me at was lost and needed rescuing. whole battle but he is getting combat [email protected].

Burma War Hero at 100

A SOLDIER who was captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the Burma “death railway” has celebrated his 100th birthday. The veteran has lived in his home near Stowmarket, Frank Kerridge worked on the infamous 258-mile stretch which he shares with his cat Spooky, for 53 years. He of track linking Burma and Thailand for two years after his was married to Madeline for 71 years until she died in capture in 1942. 2010.

The indomitable PoW survived the nightmare as more Mr Kerridge, an infantryman, was fighting to save than 12,000 Allied prisoners, including almost 7,000 Singapore with the 5th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment British servicemen, were either killed at the hands of their when it was conquered by Japanese forces. cruel Japanese captors or died of disease and exhaustion. He said: “I worked on the Burma Railway. I was on there

for two years. We hardly had any clothes, most of the

time we were barefoot.

“We camped in bamboo huts. In the monsoons we used to hold on to the middle pole so it wouldn’t blow away.” He said of his Japanese guards: “They were very strict. If

you did anything wrong you would get a good hiding.”

He remembered being whipped with a brutal bamboo cane but said he was “lucky” compared with the treatment meted out to some of his comrades. Disease from insect bites was a constant hazard. Some of the sickest men lost legs, with doctors being forced to cut off

limbs with hacksaws. He was later shipped to Japan with

other prisoners for further hard labour, passing through

the shattered Japanese city of Hiroshima.

The first his parents and wife heard of what had happened was when he was finally freed at the end of the war. The brutal conditions inspired the classic 1957 war movie The Bridge On The River Kwai, starring Alec Guinness. Mr Kerridge later worked with Eastern Electricity, before

Now, more than 70 years on, Mr Kerridge is still fighting retiring at 65 in 1981. About 60 guests attended his fit as he leads an idyllic life in his native Suffolk. birthday party. His sister Bessie, who is 98 and lives in Essex, managed to make it to the knees-up. He tends to his garden, donates his home-grown Mr Kerridge said: “I’d really like to see her make 100 vegetables to his neighbours, enjoys baking and still drives. now.” This week in the Clubs Bourne Veterans Breakfast Club

17 for our first meeting this morning (3 had to leave before the group photo was taken).

A great meeting, with someone from each Arm of the Armed Forces (incl a WW2 RAF Fireman), 3 serving members, the Chairman of the local RBL and the Town Mayor.

Looking forward to next week...... Paul Flight

Tameside Veterans Breakfast Clubs

Well what can i say about our first meeting of the Tameside veterans breakfast club.

Over a hundred people along with councillors and lord mayor and mayoress of Tameside. Local Tameside radio who interviewed veterans and the lord mayor.

Tameside council have made a commitment to the military covenant.

Eastwood Veterans Breakfast Club But the most important thing about today is, 2 veterans approached me today asking about help Eastwood VBC had 10 Members to their 1st Meeting about issues with drugs and alcohol, of which we today...... cracking result, hopefully get more to the next one were able to point them in the direction of SSAFA on Saturday 14th May. and they will be getting assistance. Pete Millns

Retford Veterans Breakfast Club

Cracking day at Retford with the BBC filming the club and the Money Advice Service present to assist veterans. Attendance....45...... not bad for a little market town. Denis Scaife

Veterans Radio Net Our Time| Our Place | Our Voice

Welcome to Veterans Radio Net (VRN) The NAAFI of the Air Waves Veterans Radio Net

VRN is definitely coming in to it’s own this month. I think it would be fair to say we have been sitting in the eye of the storm for a little while waiting for the next batch of busyness to hit us full in the face. Guess what? It’s arrived.

Pablo is now starting to reduce his commitments on VRN due to his work load with the Sandbag Times but he has said he will continue with the newly named The Sandbag Times Radio Show (The old Tommy Atkins Show) and the Banger & Beanz Show with Ricky.

On the subject of presenters we are now crying out for new blood. We have lots of slots to fill on the station and are on the hunt for presenters to fill them. If you fancy yourself as a presenter then why not give us a shout. Experience is preferable but if you are just keen to give it a go we can help develop your skills. All you need is a PC with an internet connection and a microphone.

We have 2 new shows currently in the mix. Big Vince and the Veterans Blues Show and Ricky’s New Wave & New Romantic Show. Other shows coming soon are Poor Bob’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Jamboree, Vickie’s Sunday Show and we also have a show being produced from Turn to Starboard with Roy Newport. Looking forward to that one.

Keep listening folks and have a great week

See you all soon. Sapper Ken

Mon – Fri 0700 – 1000hrs Sapper Ken Breakfast Show Mon – Fri 1000 – 1200hrs Remy in the Mid Morning Mon – Fri 1200 – 1400hrs Sapper Daz does Lunch Monday 1800 – 2000hrs Vince’s Veterans Blues Show Tuesday 1800 – 2000hrs GWF Northern Soul Wednesday 1400 – 1600hrs Bev B’s Bits & Bobs Show Thursday 1800 – 2000hrs Ricky’s 80’s Show Friday 1800 – 2000hrs The Sandbag Times Radio Show Saturday 0800 – 1000hrs The Bangers & Beanz Show Sunday 1800 – 2000hrs The Banger & Beanz Washing Up Show Veterans Help