Christmas 2009

Christmas was a truly amazing time for everyone connected with VA. Even more so than last year, we were stunned at the generosity shown to us from awide variety of friends both individuals and from business.

They are almost too numerous to mention them all and in some cases the gifts were given anonymously.

The generosity kept flowing and at one point, Pat and her team at our hostel, New Belvedere House, had run out of space to store presents.

Some sent cash (one personal cheque for £1000 from a City businessman) and others sent practical gifts such as food.

Lloyds of London charitable sent 600 individually wrapped gifts – a whopping 56 hampers! Read the fully story here >>

While Donna and her team from Chief of the Air Staff’s office in MOD created bags of gifts for each room in the hostel....as ever, the logistics involved were quite something.

To everyone who donated these gifts – thank you!

Christmas lunch

The star of the Christmas show was lunch on Christmas Day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, courtesy of the Commandant.

Geoff Smith and his team of volunteers welcomed the residents of New Belvedere House with open arms. They had wrapped a staggering 1000 presents for the event.... a truly amazing achievement.

There were carols, Father Christmas, a fabulous media show and to round it all off, the food was terrific. The effort put in by Geoff and his volunteers for this event was truly appreciated by all…as the photos show:

Click on each image for a larger picture.