August V 2019 E VIC Newsletter T E R A N S I Vets named in award shortlist N THREE members of every month I memorial. but for other people’s the Year. VIC have been complete an extra 45 Fellow Falklands’ benefit too, is being She served for five selected as hours. I am an veteran Darren recognised. When I years in the Royal Air finalists in the Outreach Worker and Horsnell has been first joined VIC I was Force and while C English Veterans’ run sessions in involved with VIC going through a very working for VIC set Awards to be Rochdale on a from its inception and hard time and my up the hugely presented on Thursday, Pendle on uses his incredible confidence and successful Sandbag September 25 at a Monday and artistic talents to self-esteem were very Café in Heywood. Heywood and Burnley inspire others. low. Now thanks to Liz realised that O the Mercure Bristol on alternate A finalist in The VIC I am a much there was more Holland House. Tuesdays. I am also a Community Award more confident chance of veterans Outreach Worker Peer Mentor. category, Darren is person. I am no opening up and M Steve Butterworth is “I have seen two or the Arts and Crafts longer disappearing sharing issues in a shortlisted in the Role three younger Co-ordinator for VIC to a dark place when more laid-back café Model of the Year veterans when I have and as well as I am on my own. To style outreach than a M category. felt like I was talking running art groups he me, art is better than clinical environment A Falklands’ to myself at their age also organises any medication a of a GP surgery. She veteran, Steve has and if I can stop them popular Painting in doctor can prescribe.” said: “I was very U been with VIC since going through the the Style of Bob Ross Former VIC shocked to find out I 2012 after he was anger and issues that classes. Transformational was a finalist. I am referred to the art I had, then I am Darren was injured Coach Terry Morley, most proud of N group by the Military happy.” during the Falklands from Groundwork enabling 13 veterans Veterans’ Service Last year Steve led and in the bombing of MSST is also a to get blazers and because of his a series of workshops Woolwich Barracks in finalist alongside regimental ties. They I painting. in schools and the the early 1980s and Darren. were not going to He said: “I am community, planned, lives with PTSD. Liz Davies is a Remembrance events quite a private person organised and He said: “Being Voluntary Outreach because they did not T and I was humbled by implemented the named as a finalist Worker at VIC having feel properly dressed. being named as a Rammy Rocks: made me feel that been involved with Now they often wear finalist. I am Ramsbottom Peace everything that I have the charity for nearly them to Sandbag, I contracted to do 20 Memorial Project and done and am still four years and is a and they wear them hours with VIC but designed a lasting doing, not just for me finalist in Volunteer of with pride.” E A crowdfunding page has been set up to help pay for the veterans’ attendance at the awards. Anyone who wishes to donate can visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-get-our-veterans-to-their-awards-ceremony S www.vic.org.uk Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] Wedding singers AN UNUSUAL engagement for the VIC Mentor Choir saw them singing Mayor’s ARTS and Crafts to celebrate at the Co-ordinator Darren wedding of choir member VIC pledge Horsnell has been named Linda and husband as a Royal Artillery Victor. VIC is delighted to have Association mentor. The choir received an been selected by the He served in the Fourth invitation to attend Linda’s Mayor of Ribble Valley Field Regiment and will now wedding and sing during the ‘signing of the register’ at St Thomas Councillor Stella be called upon to support Church, Musbury, Helmshore. They received this lovely message. Brunskill to benefit from Hi Ronnie, and advise other Artillery funds raised during her We still have our Polish family here and we are spending the day in members. year of office. Blackpool with them tomorrow, but Vic and I are hoping to call in Coun Brunskill’s son tomorrow night to say our thanks for your contribution to our perfect Michael serves in the ATC invite day, so many lovely comments about the choir, and the service, wish forces and is her consort. we could bottle them all. TWO Cold War Veteran As well as raising money Good wishes, RAF members of VIC, for VIC, she will also be Linda and Victor Jim Smith and Jacko raising funds for local Pearce, will be guests of VIC Choir sang to projects and organisations 1969 Squadron Air shoppers in Tesco that promote community wellbeing. Cadets. Haslingden while Every Tuesday from They will be attending a Irvine Ferris, Jacko September 17 from 9.30- formal dinner at The Pearce and Jim Smith, Riverside, Whitworth, on 11.30am, VIC will be backed up by Victor, opening an outreach and Saturday September 14 helped to collect when achievements of the drop-in at Ebenezer’s around £200 . cadets will be celebrated Coffee Shop, The Old and the Battle of Britain will Chapel, Ebenezer’s Terrace, Billington. be remembered. Despite wet weather, there was a good Canal cruise turnout at the annual fun day organised by JUST 10 places are available on a canal cruise the Haslingden Branch on Thursday September 5 of The Royal British from Stretford Marina, Legion at St Mary’s which will stop over at Football Club, Boothstown. Haslingden. A £10 donation towards transport is needed and to book a place a £5 non-refundable deposit is required. The trip leaves the Scaling Pendle Hill centre at 9am. To book, call 01706 833180. MEMBERS of VIC enjoyed a lovely walk up Pendle Hill and the Ceilidh night surrounding moorland. RIP George There was even time for some IT WAS with great sadness A CEILIDH for VIC will be balancing on top of the trig point. that we learnt one of our held on Saturday Our next walk will be an eight miler members George Henshall September 14 at the IDL around Greenfield Reservoir and Raven has died. Club, George Street, Stones, Saddleworth, on Thursday George served in the Royal Haslingden, at 7.30pm. September 19. Signals and was a regular at Tickets are £10, including The crew van will leave the VIC our Christmas dinners. His supper and dancing to Centre at 9am and a donation of £10 funeral was at St Peter’s Frolicking Pete and the for transport is requested. Church in Haslingden. Fumbling Fingers Ceilidh A non-refundable £5 books a place Our thoughts are with his Band. and a maximum of 10 can attend. family at this difficult time. www.vic.org.uk Twitter @VICRossendale [email protected] New Chief Executive IT IS all change at some of the veterans VIC as we bid have made from really Welcome farewell and wish being at rock bottom to Chief Executive Liz flourishing, growing and Eileen Hamilton well as she improving everything begins her training to about their lives. That is become a Baptist VIC doing what it is Minister. supposed to do. “One of the highlights Liz, who has been a has to be attending the Deacon at Trinity national Soldiering On Baptist Church in Bacup Awards in London for two years, has been where VIC was a finalist the Chief Executive at OUR new the ‘Working Together’ VIC for the past four Administrator is category, which is just years. Eileen Smith. what VIC is all about.” She said: “I have going to talk about three days a week at Eileen, from Darwen, Amanda Walton, who been thinking about them. Northern Baptist has worked in local has been Admin Officer becoming a Minister “Church has always College in Manchester government for 25 at VIC since January full-time for two years. been a big part of my and three days at a years and her partner 2018, has taken over as “It is hard to describe life for a long time. I am church in Leyland. served in the Navy. Chief Executive. how it came about. One going to train to become “There has been a lot She said: “I have Liz’s last day at VIC day, during a service, an accredited Baptist of laughs while I have attended many will be on Friday the minister brought out Minister; it is a three- been here and the most functions when September 6. five random objects and year course. rewarding part has been veterans were there announced that I was “I will be spending seeing the progress and I wanted to get more involved. “I like hearing the GPs’ award different stories veterans have to tell CONGRATULATIONS to and, by chance, my Waterfoot Health Centre for partner heard about this being one of the first in job and I went for it. I Rossendale to be accredited felt I wanted a change as ‘Armed Forces veteran and I wanted to do friendly. something different. As well as achieving the “I enjoy this standard, the practice in Cowpe environment. I have Road, Waterfoot, has also put been to veterans’ together a veterans’ notice board.