I hope you all had a relaxing Easter!  Time moves on apace here with less than 2 weeks to go before the Seniors commission.  The Juniors are currently on Exercise whilst the Inters and Seniors are spending much of their time on the Parade Square!  We hope that many of you have noticed our new look website which we think encompasses The Foundation as a part of the Academy much better.  Please do let us know your views.  Many of you may also have received a recent letter written by CGS, Major General Simon Mayall, about the Foundation.  We have already had 240 new members join since the letter went out - really fantastic news.  Don't forget that the next Leadership Encounter evening is next Tuesday night - having been sent the presentation it really looks to be a very interesting evening  - so please do sign up if you are able to come.  The Dinner Night is now only 6 weeks away  - with so many new members I hope that we can fill the Indian Army Memorial Room to capacity.

Leadership Encounter Evening - Tues 8 April - LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP!!

Stephen Henthorne, Leading Subject Matter Expert in the field of  Joint Interagency, Multinational and Stability Operations, will be talking on 'Failures in 21st Century Leadership' on Tues 8 April.  Please click >>here to read his biography which I am sure you will agree is an impressive read and will no doubt lead to a very thought provoking talk.  Please click >>here to sign up for the evening which starts at 1800hrs and will include a curry supper.  Please click the title of the event on the left hand side to see who is attending and click 'Join Up' on the right to attend.  Guests are always welcome to these events and many even decide to join!

Foundation Dinner Night - Sat 17 May

The Foundation Dinner Night will be taking place on Saturday 17 May - the Academy Band will be playing and Major General Patrick Cordingley will be the after dinner speaker.  This will be our third annual Dinner Night and we are hoping to fill the Indian Army Memorial Room to capacity - we currently have 80 attending and the room will seat 120!  So please do book your tickets soon to avoid disappointment - tables can seat upto 10 and the ticket price is £40 per head.  Family and friends are extremely welcome to attend.  Please click >>here to sign up.  If you click on the title of the event (on the left hand side) you can see who is attending and to attend please click on 'Join Up'.

Commissioning Course (CC) Speakers for Summer Term

If you would like to attend any of the Speaker nights below please email Jules on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org.  All Speaker nights start at 1800hrs and are held in Churchill Hall.  You are welcome to bring along family or friends but please ensure that we have all the details of those attending and they bring photographic ID with them.

Challenges of Civilian Leadership I - Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller DCB  - 9 Jun

Voice of Experience - Brig John Lorimer MBE (Former Commander 12 Mech Bde) - 12 Jun

Challenges of Civilian Leadership II - Maj Mark Overton SO2 TA RMAS, Vice President Strategy and Business Performance, Orange - 24 June

Talk by a CO - Lt Col Andy Barr, CO 22 Engr Regt - 26 Jun

EVENTS AT RMAS

RMAS Show Jumping - 24 May.  The day will start at 0900 and finish by 1600hrs. The event will consist of a number of classes from novice to advanced.  If you would like to attend please email Jules on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org or call 01276 412838.

CSPA Charity Polo Day - This is a fantastic day at the Academy to watch some great polo teams competing. If you would like to attend or get more information please email Jules on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org or call 01276 412838.

Heritage Day - Sun 15 June - This is a great event to bring friends and family to.  Most of the Academy is opened up to the general public with conducted tours, marching bands, military stands and much more.  Entrance is free and you do not need to book in.  Please do come and visit our Sandhurst Foundation stand on the Grand Entrance steps.

All Arms Pacesticking Competition - 4 July - If drill was your forte - then this is a good day out to see how the 'real' professionals do it!  The competition starts at 1000hrs and there is both food and drink available.I f you would like to attend please email Jules on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org or call 01276 412838.

Kermit Roosevelt Lecture - 9 July - will be giving the lecture.  The lecture begins at 1115hrs in Churchill Hall. If you would like to attend please email Jules on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org or call 01276 412838.

RMAS Charity Polo Day - 10 July - if you are interested in this event please contact the office for further details.

Exhibition Polo Match - RMAS 'Present' Vs RMAS 'Alumni' - Fri 25 July

If you are interested in taking part in a Polo match or indeed just spectating then please click >>here for further details.

RMAS City Polo Association Tournament - 25 July - if you are interested in this event please contact the office for further details.

EVENTS

Charity Ball - Sat 12 July

A charity ball is being run in aid of Help for Heroes on Sat 12 July.  The event venue is the spectacular 5 Star Grange City Hotel just a stonethrow away from the Tower of London with reduced room rates for guests at the ball.  The evening begins with a champagne reception at 7pm followed by a 3 course dinner with wine.  Music and Dancing will follow with a charity auction and raffle.  The dress will be evening wear/black tie.  Ticket price is £95 per person and 10 can be seated at a table.  For further information or to book tickets please click on the following link:  www.acelebrationoflife.moonfruit.com

Children's Country Holidays Fund (CCHF) are looking for leaders of whatever age to come and help at their summer camps for disadvantaged city children.  If you think you can spare some of your time please click >>here to read how you can help - or maybe you know somebody else who might be interested.

Old Dogs Teaching New Tricks - We hope you enjoyed the first part of this article (click >>here if you have not read it) and please click >>here to read the second part written by Donald Vandergriff, a retired US Army Marine and Officer and member of the Foundation. 

Virtual Museum of Victorian Era

One of our members has sent us a link to a 'Virtual Museum of Victorian Era British Military Photographs' - it is a fascinating site - please click >>here to view it.

Gurkha Servicemen Petition

There is a petition to the Government to put pressure on them to permit long serving Gurkha soldiers to remain in the UK - if you feel minded to support the call, please click >>here which will take you to the 10 Downing Street petition site where you will be able to lodge your vote.

Articles for The Wishstream - The Journal of the Sandhurst Foundation

We have already had a good response from some of our members but please do read on if you feel you may be able to contribute.......We are now starting the commissioning process for the 2009 edition of the Wishstream and from some of the returned proformas it is clear that many readers would like to hear more about the early conditions at RMAS between 1947 and 1955 - what the drill was like, day to day life of an Officer Cadet etc.  If anybody feels they would like to put some memories down please email them to Jules  - it does not have to be a complete article - we could make up half a page of short memories - any photographs would be excellent.

Professional Portrait Artist - Discounts for Members

Please click >>here to read about Margaret Palmer who is a professional portrait artist. 

Please support the Royal Scots DGs

Following on from their successful launch at the end of 2007 of their much accliamed album, Sprit of the Glen, the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards now find themselved back in the limelight having been shortlisted for the NSandI Classical Album of the Year award at the Classical BRITS.  The event will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 May 2008 and will be televised on ITV on 11 May.  This is probably the first time that a military band has been nominated for such a prestigious national award and the Regiment are rightly proud of the versatility and stunning achievements of their soldiers.  Voting for the album in online and the website is www.classicalbrits.co.uk/voting Voting closes at 23.59 GMT on 11 April 2008 and you can only vote once - so please go on and support the Royal Scots DGs

Reunions

The following Reunions have now been set up:

Intake 25 - 26 July 2008

Intake 39 - 27 July 2008

CC923 - 6 Aug 2008

SMC 32 - 6 Aug 2008

Intake 1 - 6 Aug 2008 - please contact the organiser, Charles Potts direct on 01905 620324

Intake 21 - 6 Aug 2008 - please contact the organiser, Malcolm Parry-Davies on 01202 700586

Intake 22 - 10 Dec 2008

SMC 34 - 7 Apr 2009

SMC 19 - 7 Apr 2009

CC933 - 5 Aug 2009

Intake 3 - 5 Aug 2009

Intake 23 - 5 Aug 2009

Intake 24 - 9 Dec 2009

CC942 - 10 Apr 2010

Intake 26 - 17 - 18 Sep 2010

Please click >>here to see further details and to add your name to the lists.  If you click on the actual title of the reunion (left hand side of page) you will be able to view who is coming. Please also pass the word around to friends who might not be members.

If you would like to have your Reunion organised please email the Foundation and we can get to work on it for you.

2008 Foundation Programme - please click >>here to view the programme for 2008 - this is constantly updated with new events.

The Sandhurst Shop  -  Please click >>here to see what is on sale in our shop  - we now sell a very nice Foundation biro at £2 each.

Jules McColl
Sandhurst Foundation Secretary