Well we have now had the first real frost on the Parade Square so Winter must be setting in!  We are now into Week 10 of the term and the Seniors have been competing in the March and Shoot today.  Next week the Juniors will be on their Regimental Visits and the Inters will be working hard on PRACTAC.

The Foundation AGM was held last week chaired by the Comdt, Major General David Rutherford-Jones and followed by an amazing insight on 'Drop Zone Borneo' by Roger Annett - please see below for full minutes and details.

The fourth edition of the Wishstream (Journal of the RMAS and The Foundation) will be ready for posting in the first week of December - just in time for Christmas.  Please do check on the website (go to Members Area and then click on My Personal Details) that the address we hold for you is correct and if not please let us know - it is well worth receiving.

Leadership Encounter Evening - Tues 5 Feb 08

We are extremely pleased to announce that ACGS, Major General Simon Mayall, will be coming to speak to us on the 'Realities of Iraq'  He was the Deputy Commanding General Multi National Corps Iraq until January this year and is a renowned speaker.  So please put this date in your diary and further details on ACGS and to sign up will be on the December Newsletter.

Report on AGM

Please click >>here to read the AGM minutes.  Our thanks goes to the committee and all members who were able to attend.

Report on Leadership Encounter Evening - Tues 6 Nov

We all had an excellent evening last Tuesday following the AGM.  Roger Annett's talk on 'Drop Zone Borneo' was highly entertaining and his images on powerpoint were wonderful followed by an excellent meal in the Indian Army Memorial Room.  If anyone should be interested in buying Roger's book 'Drop Zone Borneo' it is available at www.amazon.co.uk at a very reasonable price - or if anyone would like a signed copy it can be delivered by post for £15 (£2 of which goes to the RAF Benevolent Fund) plus £1 for postage and package - please contact Roger direct on roger.annett@sandhurstfoundation.org.

Comments on Commissioning Course (CC) Speakers or RMAS Events

I mentioned at the AGM about members commenting on events that they had attended at RMAS as this would be of interest to others. Tony Merrifield and Bill Masterson have both very kindly written a few words on events they have recently come to at the Academy: 

Tony says he can firmly recommend the CC talks to other members.  They are not 'ivory tower' high strategy but full of hard and practical experience and interesting to compare modern thought with our previous experience gained in Northern Ireland etc.  Please click >>here to read his thoughts.

Bill Masterson attended the much acclaimed Forces Pension Society talk by Richard Holmes on 'Churchill' and said that he could not recall attending a lecture which he enjoyed more.  It was obvious from the attendance that he was not alone in appreciating such a great lecture by an expert.

EVENTS AT RMAS

Academy Christmas Carols - Sunday 23 December at 1830hrs.  This year's Academy Carol Service for all to attend will be held on Sunday 23 December.  If you would like to come please email Sally Taylor on sally.taylor@sandhurstfoundation.org with the names of all those wishing to attend.  The cut off date will be Monday 17 December.

Reunions

The Foundation is now actively trying to organise Reunions - ie rather than wait for members to come to us we have put a list together to hold reunions from Sept 2008 through to Dec 2009.  We have worked out the reunions for the intakes who left here from 5yrs to 60yrs ago.  Please click >>here to see which reunions will be taking place and please let us know if you would be interested in attending.  Please also pass the word around to friends who might not be members.

Members Book Reviews. 

One of our members, Robert Dixon, has written a fascinating review on 'The British Officer' by Anthony Clayton.  Please click >>here to read it.

Military Diary

The Howman Military is now ready for dispatch from The Foundation.

Howman's have added new elements to the standard Military Diary features this year, providing more information as well as a new 16 page full colour World Map section; however the distinctive and popular  ‘look, feel and logo’ are unchanged;  the price point is also unchanged at £9.95.

In addition, they have created a new Address Book to match and complement the Military Diary ‘look and feel’ – this also retails at £9.95.

Please click >>here to view the address book and diary and please click >>here to order.  On ordering please send the required money as per the instructions.

Christmas Cards

The Sandhurst Foundation Christmas cards are now on sale  - please click >>here to view the cards (this will take you to the Foundation Shop and you need to scroll down past the new Postcards which are also fantastic especially at 50p each).  If you would like to order your cards please either call Sandra Ross on 01276 412000 or email her on sandra.ross@sandhurstfoundation.org (please note she works Tues/Wed/Thurs).

2007 Foundation Programme - please click >>here to view the programme for 2007/08 - this is constantly updated with new events.

Buy A Brick - New Infirmary at the Royal Hospital Chelsea

The new Royal Hospital Chelsea Infirmary needs 800,000 bricks  - so far 13,161 have been purchased.  All donations received will be recorded in the roll of honour book displayed at the Royal Hospital Chelsea at the end of the appeal.  For further information please click >>here.

The Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League(RCEL) (Askari Appeal)

Since the Askari Appeal was launched in October 1998, they have nearly reached £300,000.  They were able, with RCEL, to help 2,360 Ex-Service men.  One of these men was M'Ithiria Mukaria aged 113 years old who had enlisted in 1915 and fought throughout the Tanganjika Campaign and was typical of the sort of cases of poverty assisted by RCEL throughout East Africa.  During last year RCEL was able to distribute £118,000.  Last year they started with a target of £100,000, passed it and set a final target of £300.000.  They are nearly there, just a little more effort and genorosity are still needed.  These funds are solely for personal welfare and the money is given out on site by RCEL representatives, the need having first been checked out carefully by local Ex-Serviceman organisations.

It is asked that in their final effort you pause for a minute and think of those splendid soldiers whom we all had the honour to serve.  Remember their loyalty, good humour and comradeship.

You can support the appeal and get further information by contacting Peter Stocken on peter.stocken@sandhurstfoundation.org.

Sandstorm Kenya Travel Bags and Accessories. 

We are delighted to tell you that the Foundation has teamed up with Sandstorm Kenya, who produce an extremely stylish range of travel bags and accessories. to offer our members a 10% discount on all bags plus an additional 10% off if more than one bag is purchased at the same time.  Please click >>here to see their range.  Please contact Sally Taylor on sally.taylor@sandhurstfoundation.org if you would like to purchase any.  We do now hold a stock in the office if you are near enough to come and take a look.

Signing up New Members

We are always trying to increase our membership and as an incentive we would like to offer all our members the chance to obtain a free copy of a 'Journal of a Student At Arms' by Francis Salvesen by signing up a New Member.  Please ensure that you tell us the name of the new member so you can receive your free copy!

Making Contact with Intake 24

We have received an email from Rear Admiral Mian Zahir Shah who is doing some research on his late brother, Mian Raza Shah from Pakistan, who was a cadet at the RMA in Intake 24 (1958 - 59).  He would like to make contact with any of Raza's old term-mates in order to get to know more about how he spent his life at Sandhurst.  If you had any memories of Raza please contact Zahir direct at mianzshah@yahoo.com.

SGC 2 Reunion - 19 April 2008

SGC 2 are holding their 25th year Reunion at RMAS on 19 April 2008, they are trying to contact their Platoon Commander, Ypres Company 4Pl, Peter Holme Royal Anglian.  If anyone has any details on this gentleman please contact Sandra Ross on sandra.ross@sandhurstfoundation.org

Travelodge Corporate Rates - please remember that as a member of The Foundation you qualify for the Corporate Rates at all Travelodges.  They have recently opened up some new premises in London and Edinburgh and it is well worth going onto their website at www.travelodge.co.uk to take a look - simply say you are a member of The Foundation to get your discount.

The Sandhurst Shop  - 'Serve to Lead' Boxers, Socks and Ties - all for sale.  For further details on prices and to order please click >>here.  We now have the Sandhurst Foundation cufflinks in stock. To order please click above.

Smart Turnout - Smart Turnout is delighted to announce the launch of its New Website - not only will you still find all your old favourites but also lots of new ones.  They have now introduced a womenswear section as well as some fantastic new jumpers - please remember that all Foundation members receive a 10% discount on any purchases.  Please click >>here to see the

Jules McColl
Sandhurst Foundation Secretary