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News

The Rt Hon Lord Ashdown KBE Supports Local Charity Thank The Forces

Posted Tue, 11/03/2009 - 10:47 by Suzanne.Smith

On Tuesday the 13th October 2009 The Rt Hon Lord Paddy Ashdown KBE took time out of his very busy schedule to meet and chat with local Charity worker Sue Smith. Sue is the Founder and Chair of Trustees for Thank The Forces Charity that is based on Polegate.
Lord Ashdown was in Eastbourne for the annual Lib Dem dinner.
Local Liberal Democratic Parliamentary Candidate Stephen Lloyd is an unpaid volunteer for Thank The Forces Charity and Lord Ashdown expressed great interest in the Charity. Stephen offered to arrange a meeting and Charity Founder Sue Smith was delighted to attend the Lib Dem offices in Seaside, Eastbourne for the meeting.

After meeting Lord Ashdown Sue said ‘I was delighted and honoured to meet Lord Ashdown KBE who is one our brave and honourable Forces Veterans. He has served his country with dignity and pride and I felt very humbled to hear him thanking me for the work I am doing for our Forces currently serving in Afghanistan. We had a lovely chat and Paddy talked about his time in active service in Borneo. I am very grateful to Stephen Lloyd for giving me such a wonderful opportunity’

Lord Ashdown says: "Having being in the Royal Marines more years ago than I care to remember and having served in a war zone I've always been well aware of the importance of troop morale. The work Sue Smith and her superb team of volunteers do for the charity 'Thank the Forces' is wonderful. Thousands of parcels have already been sent to our brave men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last few years. Such generosity from local people is incredibly important because it confirms to our Forces that the British people really do care about them".

Stephen Lloyd said “When I asked Paddy Ashdown to meet with Sue Smith and hear for himself about the fantastic work 'Thank the Forces' do for our troops on the frontline he was very happy to do so. His visit to Eastbourne was pretty hectic to say the least but Paddy has, quite rightly, always known what his priorities are."
 

Pictured from left to right- Stephen Lloyd, Sue Smith, Lord Paddy Ashdown KBE

Thank The forces Charity is approved and backed by the MOD and BFPO (British Forces Post Office) and Sue Smith has worked tirelessly to make the local Charity a great success.
Lord Ashdown is himself a British Forces Veteran and served as a Royal Marines Officer and saw active service as a Commando Officer in Borneo and the Persian Gulf. After Special Forces Training in England in 1965, he commanded a Special Boat Section in the Far East. Lord Ashdown then went to Hong Kong in 1967 to undertake a full-time course in Chinese, returning to England in 1970. He was then given command of a Commando Company in Belfast.

 

Eastbourne Lib Dem Parliamentary Campaigner Stephen Lloyd Volunteers for Thank The Forces Charity

Posted Sat, 10/10/2009 - 00:00 by Suzanne.Smith

Local Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner for Eastbourne Stephen Lloyd volunteered to help at Thank The Forces Charity Fundraising and Awareness Day at Langney Shopping Centre, Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Stephen Lloyd gave up time from his busy schedule to help serve at the stand and raise funds for Thank The Forces Charity.
Stephen says ‘Thank The Forces is a fantastic local Charity that helps British Forces Personel serving in Afghanistan. To  know that the public care about them and wish them well really does boost morale. I am very proud of all our troops and also of Thank The Forces Charity for the work they have undertaken.'
Thank the Forces Chair of Trustees Sue Smith says ‘ Thank The Forces is not a political group at all, the sole aim of the Charity is to help support our brave troops serving in conflict areas of the world.
We welcome volunteers with open arms and Stephen has been of great support over the last few months, helping with Thank The Forces Charity and spreading the word about our work.
Like all of our fantastic volunteers Stephen gave up his time freely to help raise awareness and funds that ultimately benefit British Forces Personnel serving in Afghanistan.’

The fundraising and awareness day at Langney Shopping Centre raised a huge total of  £602.51p and Thank The Forces Charity will use the funds to fill and despatch gift boxes to British Forces Personnel serving in Afghanistan.

A BIG thank you to the Langney Shopping Centre Eastbourne and all the patrons who were so generous and supportive of our brave troops


Stehen Lloyd is pictured ( rear centre) with Dot and Derek Akhurst ( front left) and Sue Smith - Chaor of Tristees for Thank The Forces Charity
 

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