99th Garrison helps MB Management to support the Lymphoma Association - Sunday 27th May 2012

The 99th Garrison was asked by Mark Busby of MB Management to help out at a charity football match on Sunday 27th May, 2012 at the B2net stadium in Chesterfield between the Chesterfield Legends and a team of actors from Eastenders, Waterloo Road, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.  I went along with Paul, Darran Jim and Craig from the 99th and we also had The Stig and a Clone Warrior attend as well.  Here we are with the "Moon" brothers from Eastenders..... I never watch soaps so didn't recognise them but they were nice lads!

The Craigster had stayed at base on Saturday night as we had been out with my sister, brother in law, niece [Hazel, David and Lucy] and Paul Alexander in Manchester to celebrate Craig's 21st on the 23rd and for getting his first ever job - straight from Uni- testing test pc games - which he starts today [the 28th!] Well done and well deserved! Good Luck Craig!  One of the many pubs we went to was the Mark Addy but we also went to the Ox Noble amongst others before getting the train back to base; arriving back at just gone midnight having been out since midday!

We needed to be at the venue for 10:30 so left base about 9:30 which gave us a bit of time to come round from our varying degrees of hangover from the birthday celebrations but I don't think any of us were relishing the thought of wearing our armour in what already felt that it was going to be the hottest day of the year so far. 

 Poor Darran decided to wear his black Shadow Trooper and was very warm indeed ... and with a lot of people thinking he was Darth Vader! lol

Once at the venue [after a very scenic drive through glorious Derbyshire] we met up with Mark and also Paul, Maria, Paul W, Darran and Rob.  We then had to be outside in armour for 11:50 so had  plenty of time to get ready and recover more from our hangovers!

Poor Sidley.... he must have been really, really, really, really hot!!

Once outside, it was, as had been expected, very, very, very hot and I needed to find shade to stand in where ever I could.  Its fair to say that this match wasn't as busy as the one we had done for Mark at Notts Forest on the 13th May and the collections pots were far too light but we were still very popular apart from a couple of little ones who I unintentionally made cry and run for mummy, although for most of the day, I was referred to as the "little one" lol.  We even did a spot of boogying in the shade above Elton john's poster which went down very well and may even have been filmed!

We de-kitted as the match started at 3:00pm having had a round of applause from the crowds as we left and then we free to get changed and watch the match.  We were given some seats on the stand that had been reserved for us but at half time, I decided to move as they were in the shade and I was getting cool in the breeze and I moved over to the other side of the stadium which was still in the sun and gradually all the others followed me! I also got the compare of the match to wish Craig happy 21st birthday on the tannoy system!  We were also treated to a surprise of a Dakota DC3 flying over us three times and then the theme tune to Dad's Army was played on the tannoy system with everyone singing along!!  It was a case of plane stopped play!

We watched the remainder of the match [including one between Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire Police] at half time and then left for the day.  We could have stayed for the post match buffet and mingle with the soap stars and players but we were all tired and needed to get Craig back to base and then back home ready to start work the following morning.

A huge thanks to all who attended and to Mark for inviting us along and to Courtney for taking the group photo of us with the Moon brothers ..... Jim, Craig, Paul and Maria, Paul, Darran and Rob.

99th Garrison supports Dreamflight and the Lymphoma Association in one very busy weekend 12th and 13th May, 2012

Having not written a blog for quite some time now, I now find that I have two events to cover from one weekend!

Firstly, the 99th was asked to support the Pirates Group of Dreamflight at its Family Fun Day at the Royal Oak in Mellor, Stockport. For those of you who don't know.... but quite frankly how can you not know by now..... Dreamflight is a national charity that every year takes 192 seriously ill children on the holiday of a lifetime to Florida with Doctors and Nurses with them to make sure they have a fantastic time.  See www.dreamflight.org.

This was a fairly local troop for us and it only took half an hour to get there.  The Craigster had stayed with us the night before so we were all able to take our time in the morning and not have to rush like we normally have to.  We left base at 10:30, arriving at the pub by 11:00.  Simon came along on this troop and it was great to see him as we worked out that it had been seven months since we last trooped together.  We all got changed in the cellar and were out in armour by 12:00.

It was also great to see Maia and Adrian and the other pirates too.  The weather was intermittent sunshine and was quite cold when the sun wasn't out.  The event was fairly quiet to begin with but by about 2:30pm it was starting to get busy. We spent most of the time at the front of the pub on the street trying to lure people in and also get them to have a photo and make a donation before they went through to the fun day at the back of the pub. We had a fair degree of success!

The event had a bouncy castle, face painting, raffle, tombola, guess the number of sweets in the jar, guess the name of the HUGE rabbit and MAGGOT racing!!

We spent a few minutes in the main event field in the afternoon but by this time all those children who had been frightened by us on their way into the pub had built up their excitement  levels and courage and we became the centre of their attention, being poked, prodded and shouted at!!  It was all good fun but tiring making sure that they were always in sight and we could see what they were up to.  After about ten minutes, we beat a hastily retreat back to the front of the pub.  Children = 1.  Storntroopers = 0!!

A huge thanks to Simon for travelling from Wrexham for the event.  Look forward to seeing you again soon.

The 99th was also asked to attend an event by Mark Busby [M.B Management] at Notts Forest FC.  This was a charity football match between former professional footballers [including Teddy Sheringham] and various soap stars from Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale etc.  Here's me with Mark Crossley.

The main charity for the event was the Lymphoma Association and prior to the match the organizers had raised approximately £80,000.  There is another charity match on the 27th at Chesterfield at the B2net stadium and a concert in August as well.  

The Craigster stayed with us again on the Saturday night so on Sunday morning it was up for the usual hour and a half drive to an event, leaving base at 8:30 and getting to the venue at 10:00.  We were joined at the event by Stig and Batman from Hollywood Heroes and some of the 99th Troopers from the North East had made the 4 hour drive down too.  It was nice to see Nigel, Craig E, James and also to see Darran, Jeff, Michaela and Kayleigh and to meet Mark's family.

It was also nice to see my brother in law David, who had come along to bring us some new holsters he has been making from scratch.  They are very, very good and were well received by the troopers who were there... especially the Craigster who got one as a 21st birthday present off David and my sister Hazel.   He wore it all day when ever he could and probably still is!

We were all in armour by 11:45 and then were outside meeting the crowds as they entered the ground.  We then spent some time pitch side and then walked around the entire pitch signing autographs and posing for photos as we went and also rattling the collection pots.   It fair to say that we were very popular and when the time came for the players to come onto the pitch and for us to make our exit we were given a heart warming round of applause from the spectators.

It was then time for us to de-kit, before watching a bit of the match and then having a well earned burger and a cup of tea!  We then hung around on the off chance that we might get to meet some of the stars.. not that we actually knew a lot of them [I only recognised Teddy!] but that wasn't to be.  It was then the drive home, getting back about 7:30pm and a quick tea before the Craigster had to be taken home back to Manchester.

Thanks to Jim,  the Craigster, Nigel, Craig E, James, Jeff, Michaela, Kayleigh, Darran and to the Stig and Batman and to Mark for inviting us to attend.  Heres to the next one at Chesterfield!

99th Garrison invited back to the Trafford Centre - Sat 18th Feb 2012

It used to be the case that we had to ask the Trafford Centre management for permission for the 99th to go to the centre and collect but on this occasion, the Trafford Centre asked us along to help them out with their Star Wars week for school half term.  

They asked us to be there on the Saturday and the Sunday but I couldn't do both days so just did the Saturday.  Originally, we were asked to be in costume at 11:00am but then they asked us to be in costume by 09:30 as the Trafford Centre press and PR people wanted to take some professional photos of us around the centre before it got too busy with shoppers.

Ian came down from Newcastle for this event and he arrived at base on Friday afternoon.  I had actually been out on a ten mile walk up and down Kinder Scout as part of my sister's [Hazel] special birthday celebrations and had got very wet as the weather had not been very nice at all.  So, on Friday night I was suitably tired.    

Saturday morning was a fairly early start as we had to be out of base by about 07:30 and then it was straight into applying my make up for Memah for me.  It took about an hour to get on!

We were then taken around the centre and had professional shots taken on the central stair case, queuing at ATMs, sat at the champagne bar, ordering food at Cafe Rouge and on travelling on the escalators before having a half hour break at 10:30 and going out for the public at 11:00.

When we did go out at 11:00 we had a crowd of people waiting for us including lots of children in their Star Wars costumes and we were very busy.  The Trafford Centre management told us that they wanted us to do half hour on, then half hour off, and I have to say it worked really well.  We got lots of breaks from the heat and when we did go out we were in demand.  .. Its a system that we may need to use again at other events where appropriate.

The odd thing about the day was that we weren't allowed to collect for charity but at least that meant we did not have to sit down and count loads of coins when we got back!  It was strange though not to have a collection pot in hand!

And just in case you're wondering as the Craigster hasn't had a mention yet in this blog.... Craig made his way to the Trafford Centre by bus as we didn't have room for anyone else in the car with Ian being with us and fortunately for Craig, there is a bus service from Manchester to the Trafford Centre.  We were also joined by Paul and Rhys, who very kindly brought Darran with them and also by David, Jim and Ken.  It was also Craig's first outing in his X wing costume doing his Luke Skywalker impression!

After the troop it was a quick turn around to take all my blue make up off and get ready for a night out for Hazel's birthday at Piccolino's in Manchester and the the Mark Addy pub by the river Irwell. Needless to say as I'm sat here writing this blog on Sunday morning, I'm feeling ever so slight worse for wear from the many GnTs I had and my legs are so stiff from the walk on Friday and all the standing around on Saturday that I can hardly bend them!

 A huge thanks to David, Craig, Ian, Darran, Paul, Rhys, Ken and Jim.

If I get copies of the professional photos I will add these at a later date. :-) x

99th Attends the launch of The Phantom Menace in 3D at the aptly named Empire Cinema, Wigan - Sunday 12th February, 2012

The 99th was asked to help the empire..... The Empire Cinema in Wigan.. to launch The Phantom Menace in 3D and kindly allowed us to collect for Dreamflight as well. www.dreamflight.org.

We needed to be in costume by 1:00pm so left base at about 11:00am.. picking the Craigster up on the way.  We were at the cinema for two screenings until 5:00pm but were allowed to stay after that to see the film ourselves if we wished as well... for free.  Unfortunately, none of us were able to but we were given free passes instead with no date to use them by!

This was the second troop of 2012 for me and also the second troop this year where we met a new member.  Today it was Grant.  Great to meet him as a fellow Scout/Tree Dodger but not to stand next to, if, like me, you're a little on the short side.... he is very tall!! and made me feel tiny in comparison!!!! :-)

We had a good day and were well received by the punters and the staff alike.  Lots of children turned up with their Star Wars T shirts on ... and lots of keen Dads as well!  That's the thing about Star Wars.... it gets all generations in the end!

A nice second troop at which we raised £72.80 on the day for Dreamflight. see www.dreamflight.org.

99th attends Kev's 40th birthday bash for Dreamflight - Fri 10th February, 2012

This was the first event of 2012 for me.  I know Kevin from my Dreamflight trips and he is a massive Star Wars Fan.  He asked the 99th to attend his 40th Birthday do in Farnworth to help him celebrate and also collect for Dreamflight.  For those of you who don't know about Dreamflight check out www.dreamflight.org and watch the 3 minute introductory video.

The do was an evening event and the weather forecast had not been brilliant so last minute on Thursday night/Friday morning I decided to take a days leave as that would cut down on my travelling considerably.  

I left base at about 3:30 and got to Swinton where I was picking up a new member of the 99th - Ian - for his first troop with us... as crew.  Having picked Ian up we arrived at the venue at about 5:15 and eventually found somewhere to park!  Jim arrived with the Craigster shortly after.

We were given the artists changing room at the back of the stage in the club's function room to get changed in.  Suitable lifesize cardboard cutouts of C3PO and Lord Vader were on the stage and Kev had a Boba Fett birthday cake!

Guests started to arrive just after seven but not before Ian showed us the Stromtrooper Armour that he had bought so that he could be given some hints/tips on strapping and how to put it together for clearance.  He should be trooping in armour very soon!  Ian then de-kitted and was excellent crew for the night.

We were positioned at the top of a flight of stairs where the guests entered the function room and we were able to hide and suddenly appear as they reached the top and we had what has to be the loudest and most real scream from someone when they first saw us that I think I have ever heard when I've been trooping.  Once she got over her shock she loved us.  

Guests had been told that they could dress up if they wanted to and one lady came as an Ewok.  It was a very good costume and she really did love us!  She said it was a dream come true for her and had loads of photos taken with us.

We had a good night and de kitted about 8:30 and stayed for some buffet [including some Star Wars choclate cup cakes!] and what turned out to the the highlight of the evening when Kev came into the room with his mate dressed in wrestlers' outfits. You had to see Kev's outfit to believe it but it didn't leave much to the imagination!  His mate had a Morph suit on that looked like a dinner suit/Tuxedo.  They then proceeded to play wrestle for a while before leading a conga around the room!!!  Way to go Kev!!!

A very nice troop for the first one of the year.... thanks to Kev and his guests we collected a total of £185.82 for Dreamflight.... thank you very much!!!

A huge thanks to Ian [excellent crew!] Jim and Craig and to Kev and Nicola for inviting us along.

The Jawa Chase

99th Collection with the Mint Imperials at the Trafford Centre, for Dreamflight on Sat, 10th December, 2011.

The 99th has a tradition of collecting for charity at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in December and this year was no different.  With the support of our good friends the Mint Imperials we collected for Dreamflight.  www.dreamflight.org.

We had to be at the Trafford Centre for 8:30 so left base at about 07:40am to pick up the Craigster from his mum's and then went straight to the venue arriving just before Ian and Nigel who had driven down that morning from Newcastle to troop as Darth Rethan and the Emperor!  Fortunately, we had had a bit of snow the night before but nothing worse!

I had intended to do Memah for this event but I started with a cold on the Thursday before and with my nose running like it was there was no way I could paint my face blue and have stayed blue for long!!

I took my officer's uniform and scout armour with me and decided that I would see how I felt when actually at the venue before deciding what costume to wear.  As it turned out, I was able to wear the scout armour all day only occasionally coughing and spluttering inside my helmet... not nice!!  Yes... that's me in the Christmas hat!

We were in our usual spot by the band stand in the food court/orient area of the centre from about 10:00am until 4:00pm and it was a long, hot day! and we were based in the presentation theater in the management suite.  We were fairly busy most of the time and the collection pots were heavy!  We were joined not only by the Mint Imperials but also by some of my friends and colleagues from Dreamflight who came along to support us and help persuade people to donate... A huge thanks to Nigel, Jo, Kev, Heather, Maia and Jean and also to Connor and his mum and sister....Connor went on the trip with the Dolphin group in 2009.

As usual with the December Trafford Centre troop we went out for a meal after the event.  This year there was only me, Jim, Craig and Ian.  Ian had arranged to stay at Craig's flat in Manchester for the night so after a quick break and shower to freshen up we met up back at the Trafford Centre at about 7:00pm and hit the Kro bar for a swift one before perusing all the many varied restaurants there and deciding on a meal at the TGI Fridays! and very nice it was too and very filling!!!  The staff at TGIs are very entertaining and energetic and part way through the night one of the waiters slid down the bannister very smoothly and calmly!! The others missed it though and I don't think they quite believed me thinking I'd had to much liquid refreshment and he didn't do it again!

Saturday night/Sunday morning was not a good one for me as I seemed to spend most of the night suffering from my cold... every time I lay down I'd start coughing....but Sunday morning it was up, full English breakfast and then back to the Trafford Centre for Christmas shopping!  Not an entirely successful day as I wasn't able to get hold of a couple of items that I wanted so I may now have to resort to Ebay for them and hope they arrive in time for Christmas Day.

We got back to base at about 3:15 pm but not before bumping into Maia again in the Trafford Centre ladies toilets.... then it was a quick tea and settle down to count the monies and I'm very pleased to report that we collected £673.61!!

A huge thank you to Craig, Jim, Steve, Heidi, Ken, David, Nigel, Ian, Paul, Rhys, Stacey, Richard, Phil, Andy and my fellow Dreamflighters for helping us to have such a successful day!  An extra special mention to Rhys for his debut as a Jawa.... awesome work including at one point Craig, dressed in his Sandtrooper armour chasing him around the band stand with Nigel in tow trying to catch it on video as well, with Nigel having to tell him to run slower...http://youtu.be/DBDXceOa4a8