Where on earth did August go? I am sure that is what the new Inters and Seniors are saying as they prepare to come back to the Academy for first parade on Monday.  Of course the new Juniors are probably stuffing that last item into their already bulging bags whilst wondering what to attach the ironing board too!  I have a feeling the Juniors might be in for a rather wet Winter Term

Of course the Academy is just beginning to start the set up for Music on Fire - which for those of you who have not seen the set up - really is a monstrous affair which is a feat of engineering.

Please don't forget that the next Leadership Encounter evening is only a week away - all details are below - as are the details for the talk in November by Lord Douglas Hurd.

We are always very keen at the Foundation to put items into the newsletter that have been sent to us by our members - whether it be an advert for an event, an article of interest or a Downing Street Petition - what I must stress is that the secretariat is simply bringing these to the attention of our wider membership and they are not endorsed by the Trustees.  Our members then can make their own decision as to 'read on', 'delete' or 'sign up'.  I mention this as I had quite a few emails regarding the Downing Street Petition on the Military Hospital - both for and against.  I think it is wonderful that these items do generate such a forum and I am going to speak to our Website support to see if we can open up a 'Forum' on the Foundation website to allow people to put their points of veiw across and to even start some debates.  We have so many members now in such varying jobs and areas that of course differing views are bound to come about - I hope to have more news on this 'Open Forum' on our website in October's newsletter.  Finally if a member deems something important enough to him or her to send to The Foundation then we will more than likely put it onto the newsletter - it is an Alumni letter and we want the Alumni to be involved with it!

Leadership Encounter Evening - Wed 10 Sep

Only a week to go!!! By very popular demand, David Williams who gave the fantastic talk on Florence Nightingale, is coming back to give a review of the Crimean War - this will include the politics, the people, the uniforms, tactics and the battles  - all in under an hour!!  He is a brilliantly enthusiastic speaker who will give us a fascinating talk - so please do sign up - friends and family are very welcome.  Click >>here to read more about David and click >>here to sign up.

Leadership Encounter Evening and AGM - Tues 18 Nov

We are delighted to announce that Lord Douglas Hurd is coming to talk to us on Tues 18 November.  Only 100 are able to attend this event so please book up early - 1/3 of the seats have already gone!.  The evening will start with reception drinks and canapes in the Indian Army Memorial Room at 1800.  This will be followed with the talk in the Model Room at 1845.  After the lecture a sit down three course meal will be served in the Indian Army Memorial Room with wine.  The cost of the evening will be £40 per head (payment will be asked for prior to the event) All members and their guests are very welcome - please book early to avoid disappointment.  Please click >>here to sign up.

The Foundation AGM will also take place on this day starting at 1700hrs - please do try and attend - your views and ideas are always most welcome.

 Leadership Encounter Evenings

As with all events over time costs increase - to this end we are having to increase the price of Leadership Encounter evenings to reflect this.  Since August members have been charged £15 and non-members £20 - these prices include 1 drink.  Further drinks are charged at £1.50 for wine and £1.00 for Orange Juice.  Please also note that numbers for these evenings go to the caterers on the final Monday - anyone cancelling or not attending after this date will unfortunately be charged as we are charged by the caterer.

Commissioning Course (CC) Speakers for Winter Term

Please click >>here to see the Winter Term list of CC Speakers

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 1815hrs 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.

EVENTS AT RMAS

Music on Fire - 18 - 20 September

For those of you who have not experienced this event it is billed as the UK's most stunning outdoor spectacular.  The Army Benevolent Fund presents Music on Fire featuring a 007 James Bond Spectacular, with special guest star Hayley Westenra.  All the proceeds will be going to the ABF's new fund for veterans of current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Music on Fire is a mixture of live popular and classical music, interspersed with a thrilling firework display and a magical Son et Lumiere.  Celebrating James Bond and the centenary of his creator, former Sandhurst Officer Cadet, Ian Fleming, world class artists perform with a 100-piece orchestra and a 100-voice choir in true 007 style.

Guests would be invited to picnic on the lawn in front of Old College from 4pm - show starts at 7.30pm 

Tickets are £29 Standard and £39 Premium - central area directly in front of stage.  Children under 16yrs old are £21 Standard and £31 Premium.  Army (Regular, Reserve, TA or Cadets) £20(Standard) or £30 (premium) - only bookable by phone - ID available on the night.

Groups of 10+:10% discount  Groups of 40+: 15% discount

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster 0844 847 1657 or book on line at www.musiconfire.com

Members at Music on Fire

Any members and their guests attending Music on Fire on either the Thurs or the Fri (not Sat) are invited for drinks in the Officers Mess Tent.  If you would like to go in and have a drink(mess prices) then please contact the office on jules.mccoll@sandhurstfoundation.org or call on 01276 412000 in order that we can send you a pass to gain entry into the tent.

EVENTS

Pegasus Bridge Show - Thurs 20 November

Project 65 has been created to honour the memory of the men of the Coup de Main force that captured the bridges on the Caen Canal and River Orne on D-Day 65 years ago.  A team of fund raising volunteers will leave Tarrant Rushton Airfield on 4th June 2009 and run 65 miles to arrive at Pegasus Bridge in time to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of D-Day on 6th June 2009.  The aim of the project is to raise £500,000 part of which will be used to erect a simple but lasting memorial to the men who took part in the Coup de Main operation 65 years ago.  Most of the money raised will be divided between:  The Royal British Legion, Army Benevolent Fund, RAF Benevolent Fund, BLESMA, St Dunstan's and Help for Heroes so that they may be able to continue helping the disabled and wounded men and women of today's Armed Forces.

In 1944, during the night of 5/6th June, 183 men of the 2nd Battalion Oxf and Bucks Light Infantry as part of the 6th Airborne Division, were flown into Normandy by members of the Glider Pilot Regiment, to carry out a daring operation to seize and hold the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne near the village of Benouville.  These were the first targets to be captured by the Allied Forces on D-Day.

Landing in six 'Horsa' gliders, the men set about their objective and having achieved complete surprise, were able to secure the bridges in less than 10 minutes.  This was described by some as a 'suicide' mission but under the leadership of Major John Howard they not only managed to secure the bridges but were able to hold off German counter attacks until reinforcements arrived later on D-Day.

You are invited to make your contributions by joining us to hear the story of the capture of Pegasus and Horsa Bridges in Normandy.

Michael Bawtree, the celebrated author and actor, has written, arranged and will present this dramatic performance which will describe the daring operation that led to the first Allied success in the opening minutes of D-Day, nearly 65 years ago.  Selecting his words form archives and diaries and cleverly adding music and images, Michael will also draw on his personal knowledge of some of the brave young men who went into battle in gliders made of canvas and wood.

He will be presenting his production in Woolwich Hall at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Thursday 20 November 2008 from 1900hrs.  The tickets for the show alone are £25 each.  A limited number of tickets are available at £30 each, including champagne reception before the show in Old College.  £25 tickets and programme may be booked by clicking >>here and the £30 tickets and programme may be booked by clicking >>here.

If you cannot attend but would still like to make a donation please send cheques to the Foundation made payable to 'Project 65' which a note that you are happy that your donation is treated as Gift Aid.

ADVERTS

David Owen - Charity Parachute Jump

David Owen, one of our members, will be making a charity parachute jump, on or around the 7 October, to raise money for Headley Court - please click on the following link to read more about his jump and to sponsor him

https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/davidsparajump

Military Pocket Diary

Ready to buy some early Christmas presents?  By invitation only we have been asked if our members would like to purchase the 2009 Military Pocket Diary.  This is a high quality Mlilitary interest pocket Diary printed and bound for Howman Books by Charles Letts Ltd.  It features daily battles and historical events, Great Military Leader Sketches, Classic Weapons, Military quotations, War Poetry and Poets, Defence Expenditure plus much more.  It is in a 'week to view' Diary format. We sold the 2008 diary and it proved to be very popular. Perfect for anyone with an interest in Military Affairs.  We have managed to negotiate a preferential deal for our members for £8.50 (last year they were £9.95) this includes p&p. If you would like to purchase a diary please click >>here to order. If you would like to order more than one simply add your name as many times as you need to.

Territorials - A Century of Service by Ian Beckett

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the TA.  To mark the event a detailed historical account of the organisation's role, both past and present, has been published as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who have served in its ranks.

Written by renowned military historian Prof Ian Bekcett, Territorials is packed with hundreds of photographs and other illustrations, and is full of facts and figures about the organisation, its people and their achievements.

RRP £30 - available to serving TA personnel , veterans and cadets at £25 including P&P from DRA Publishing , 14 Mary Seacole Road, Plymouth, PL1 3JY(cheques payable to DRA Books).  For credit card payments tel: 01752 312061

Waterloo and Quatre Bras Tour

The Waterloo and Quatre Bras Tour is hosted by Trevor Rutter from Waterloo Battlefield Tours.

Saturday 27 Sept to Monday 29 September 2008

Fully comprehensive, value for money, all-inclusive tour which includes all meals, accommoadation, museum fees and travel. Prive £450 per head (£40 single room supplement if appropriate)

Comprehensive 48 page historical information pack provided in advance.

For more information go to www.waterloo.gb.com or call 01962 712595.

Members who go on this tour will also have a chance of winning a pair of signed Chris Collingwood prints.

Beautiful cottage in Dorset for rent - please click >>here to view the details of one of our members rental properties down in Dorset.

Reunions

Intake 2 Reunion

A reunion for former cadets of Intake 2 will take place at the RMAS Sandhurst on 10 December 2008.  The event will provide an opportunity to attend the Commandant's Parade that day, followed by a celebratory lunch.

The Reunion is being organised by Byran Tonkinson who organised a private affair for sixty at the School of Infantry on the 50th Anniversary in 1998. General Sir David Mostyn presided and Sir John Keegan was the principle guest on that occasion.

With the passage of time a problem arises in locating those eligible to attend.  Please notify the U/M of anyone you know from Intake 2 with current address and telephone number - Major(Retd) J B Tonkinson MBE DLI  - Tel 01932 253011

The following Reunions have now been set up:

Rhine 41 - 4 Oct 2008

Intake 22 - 10 Dec 2008

Intake 2 - 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

SMC 20 - 8 Aug 2009

Intake 4 - 9 Dec 2009

Intake 24 - 9 Dec 2009

CC942 - 10 Apr 2010

Intake 25 - 11 Aug 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 but would like to attend.

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

2008/2009 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.

Jules McColl
Sandhurst Foundation Secretary