Page 29 - Mercian Eagle 2013

Unit Welfare Office
The Welfare Office have had an exceptionally busy 12 months with the
tour and the build up to it and our focus
has been on the support to our families both in Catterick and across the Counties. During the MST period the Welfare Office arranged family briefs – in Catterick, Chester & Stockport – prior to the tour to keep all our families up-to-date with current information. These briefs were such a success that they continued throughout the tour and we even incorporated a few curry nights to entice more mums and dads to attend. Our first external trip for families was to Flamingo Land, departing early in the morning of Saturday 27th Oct (which was possibly the coldest day of the year!), but neither snow nor hailstone stopped the families who attended from having a great time. Our next major event was Halloween where we insisted that everyone attended in fancy dress. The wives produced some brilliant Halloween themed food and the party games included, duck apple, pumpkin
carving, scary pass-the-parcel, and much more. It proved to be an excellent event, was well attended and enjoyed by all ages. During the Christmas period we held a fantastic kids’ party with a special appearance from Father Christmas. We opened up Santa’s Grotto in the Welfare Centre for a week to
troops from Op HERRICK 12 and those that have returned during this deployment as well. Our best wishes go out to all of them and their families. May saw the final return of the troops from tour, so much work was
UWO Capt D Williams Welfare SNCO Sgt R Redpath
1 MERCIAN Welfare Team presents a surprise cake to Capt Vince Gough (UWO) on his retirement
allow our families to have a more personal visit with the big man in red. Other events and trips out have included a visit to Blackpool, pantomimes, bowling, quiz nights, bingo nights, and local theatre trips to name but a few.
Throughout the tour we continued support to our injured troops from Op HERRICK 12 ...
done to make sure that all their families were informed personally and invited to attend small gatherings to meet
their loved ones as they arrived back in Marne. Immediately after leave, we took a group of wives on exercise where they performed all the
The wives organised themselves a Poppy Break where a number of our families headed to Southport for an all-inclusive free holiday courtesy of the Royal British Legion and they all had a great time. Throughout the tour we continued support to our injured
basics from eating rations and living under the trees to a CQB lane with paintball guns. A jolly dash over the assault course was finished off with a BBQ and some well- deserved presentations.
Finally we would like to thank Mrs Carla Glynn, Mrs Becky Barnes and Mrs Sam Shanley for their support and assistance with the planning and running of many of our events over the past 12 months. No year ever passes without a few changes and my final comments must be to thank Capt Vince Gough and CSgt Den Hughes, both of whom are due to leave the army soon. Their final 12 months of service have been spent selflessly dedicating their time to supporting our families both here at Marne and those further away. They will both be sorely missed and we wish them well.
Endex and the wives and partners display certificates and medals after the wives exercise
Mrs Laura Littler and children celebrate Halloween with the ‘Witch of Marne’ (Mrs Val Willis Sodexo
1 MERCIAN family’s flying the flag during a visit to Flamingo Land
Hannah Richards, Hayley Tonner, Carla Glynn and Nicola Dollery following the hare!! On route to the assault course during the wives exercise ran by the Welfare Office in Aug 13
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