Armed Forces to be present At Carnival ...hopefully!

Here I am pictured with Captain Baggs of the Army Cadets on "Armed Forces Day" in Valentines Park - last Saturday. National Armed Forces Day celebrated it's inaugural year (The first Armed Forces Day is 27 June 2009, and is an opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community). Our Local Territorial army (Gordon Road Ilford), G Company 7 rifles, 3 group Cadets -Gordon Road Ilford, St John's ambulance and the Air Cadets (241 Wanstead and Woodford Squadron) displayed their vehicles had information stalls and provided advice and guidance on how to join and what to expect as part of a recruitment drive. They were a little disappointed with this years turnout - a result of reliance on our local council, however I will be sharing ideas on marketing with them for next year and hopefully some of them will be attending our carnival procession and two day event. If you want to contact them for further info ring 020 8472 0140

The event was really fun and I got to use an unloaded gun and learn how to load it. I pictured some of the incumbent councillors (who did not contribute to Carnival again i.e Area 6) to my fore during this demonstration - I am jesting of course.

Anne Chambers head of the Local St Johns Ambulance informed me of a recruitment drive for the local area. She was proud of her cadets attending on this important day and has assured me that we will have a presence at our 2009 Carnival at which she will be recruiting new members. She is to send me a press release to put on our blog so keep watching this space. Anne is not aware of it yet but our committee has voted to make her an honorary president of Redbridge Carnival for her on-going commitment and historic involvement with bot St Johns Ambulance and Redbridge Carnival. Anne is a true legend!