Sunday 16 June 2013

The 99th attends Glass Fest - Knottingley, West Yorkshire - Sat, 15th June, 2013

The 99th was asked by Ian Kirton to attend a "Glass Fest"  - to celebrate all things glass related at a Rugby Union Club on Saturday, 15th June, 2013 at Knottingley, West Yorkshire.

This was just over an hours journey from home and we didn't need to be in armour until 11:00am so I left home at about 8:40am and got there about 9:50am.  We were given the rugby players changing room to get changed in ..... not the cleanest of rooms we have ever used but plenty of space for us.
Typical stormtroopers.... even at this close range we couldn't hit the targets!
The event was held on the rugby playing field which fortunately was dry!  It was also very large with all the usual family funday/village fete stalls spread out around the edge which later on in the day only emphasised how quiet the event was. This was a real shame as the event had everything there for a nice afternoon out with the family but sadly, people just didn't turn up.  This was despite the event being publicised, including on the local radio station. 
Spot the public!
The Yorkshire Regiment of the Army was also there and had an inflatable assault course which looked like good fun.  Unexpectedly, there were no stall holders selling or advertising their glass ware.

The Wakefield College was also there and we were asked to pose for an official photograph to be used in future publicity material for them.
This photo was taken for publicity material for Wakefield college.
This was a small event from the point of view of the 99th with only myself as a Scout and John [who also bought his R2 unit along] and Dave as Stormtroopers, with Rachel and Dave's son Harrison also coming along too.  Rachel took all the photos that were taken.... thanks Rachel!  Harrison had a few goes on the Army assault course and I think that it is safe to say that he found it tiring but fun!
Harrison giving it his best!
The event started at 11:00 and the weather forecast had not been good so when it was still quiet when the event opened we remained optimistic that it would pick up, especially as it stayed dry and the sun was actually out for the most of the time, but sadly after lunch, we trooped for a short while and then decided to call it a day as it was just not getting any busier - although the bar at the club was.  I was also suffering with a cold and a runny nose which isn't fun under a helmet and with a balaclava on and was glad of a shorter troop.
one of those orbs that you walk inside of... none us fancied a go in one in armour!!
We allowed to collect for Dreamflight at this event but due to the small number of visitors the pots were still very light and i have made the decision not to break the security seal on this occasion to open them and count the monies.  I'll save them for our next Dreamflight event.
I wasn't going to get into this either!!
Having de-kitted at about 1:35pm I was home for just gone three and promptly went straight to bed to try and sleep off my cold.... so far, it hasn't worked.
The lady from the "Horror Scopes" Tent
Huge thanks to John, Dave, Rachel and Harrison.  No post troop photo out of armour on this occasion... I completely forget and was keen to get home and get to bed!
This was taken with a lady [stood next to me] who I think is Linda McAvan - Shadow Home Secretary and MEP.

Monday 3 June 2013

The 99th and the MKG at Dreamflight's "Its a Knock out", Middlesex, 2nd June, 2013


The 99th Garrison supports Dreamflight's "Its a Knock out/"Family Fun Day, 2nd June, 2013

With the Dolphin Group

The 99th Garrison was asked by Malcolm Smith [The group Leader for Dreamflight’s Simpsons group] to support Dreamflight at an “It’s a Knock Out” style Family Fun Day at the British Airways Concorde Club in Middlesex on Sunday, 2nd June, 2013.  This we duly did, supported by our good friends and fellow troopers from the MK Garrison.


As this was an event in Middlesex and it was also Malcolm’s birthday with a little bit of a do at the Concorde Club the night before, a weekend was made of the event with a stay at a Travelodge near to Heathrow and about a fifteen to twenty minute walk from the venue.  The “do” went very well and lots of birthday drinks were had by all with all thoughts forgotten about what those who had agreed to do the next day as part of the “knock out” contest.  I think that it’s safe to say that one or two people may have regretted drinking quite so much when they were throwing themselves off and into the various obstacles that created the “Knock out” course the following day.
At least we were able to have a bit of a lie in though as the event did not start until 12 noon which meant that I did not have to be at the venue until 11:00am.  Once there I met up with Dan and then Greg and Darren from the MKG and then also with Jeff, Michaela and Kayleigh from the 99th.

We had a stars changing room with large mirrors etc as our base for the day and quickly got ready before going outside.  The event was quite big really with about thirteen teams taking place in the “It’s a knock out” such as the Micky Mouse Group, The Dolphin Group, The Pirate Group, The Tiggers, the Scoobies and the Peter Pan Group.  There was also a team from the Army who subsequently went on to win the contest.  I was in the relative safety of my Scout armour so did not take part in the Contest but from watching it, it seemed like hard work but good fun and also that it was inevitable that you were going to get very, very wet!!
There was also a police and police dogs display with one of the Dreamflight Alsatian puppies taking part, face painting, cakes, raffles [with tickets to New York as the first prize], bouncy castles etc, motorbikes [which of course I had to sit on…… as did Lord Vader!], a brass band, custard pie throwing, karaoke etc, etc, etc and the weather was absolutely lovely.
It was a lovely event at which everyone seemed happy and out for a good time…. I think that the weather helped. … There was a really good atmosphere. We were very popular with the children who were all really well behaved and polite [and the adults weren’t too bad eitherJ] and were kept quite busy for most of the time posing for photographs etc. 

I

We were not collecting at this event as we were part of the entertainment but we did get to have our photograph taken with “Aunty Pat”  - Patricia Pearce MBE, co-founder of Dreamflight all those years ago [27 or 28].


It was lovely to see members of the Pirate and Dolphin Groups again that I have previously been on the Dreamflight trip with but also quite sad to think that I won’t be going with them on this year’s trip. Just in case you don’t know what Dreamflight is about you need to check their website at www.dreamflight.org but if you follow my blogs then you ought to know by now!

With the Mice!
The fun day finished at 4:00pm so we de-kitted at that point and had the obligatory post troop photo before I had a quick bite to eat at a local pub and then driving home, arriving there at about 9:00pm.

Sweets Galore!!
Huge thanks go to the guys from the MKG for supporting the 99th at this event – Dan, Greg and Darren and to Jeff, Michaela and Kayleigh from the 99th.  It was a great day and one that I will always associate with seeing Kayleigh sing…. she was really good!  So good that she got her mum crying which then made me cry as a result!