A first ASIS UK Chapter Heroes Tribute saw some 120 ASIS members and guests attend a short remembrance church service at St Botolph‚Äôs without Bishopsgate in London. They then walked the short distance to Barings Asset Management‚Äôs offices, the hosts for the event. The service led by Rev Dr Alan McCormack, featured standard bearers from The Royal British Legions and a Bugler from 7 Company The Rifles….
After a welcome drink, representatives from two charities, The Afghanistan Trust and Walking with the Wounded (WWTW) spoke about their work and the need for support.
Ed Parker from WWTW, who was pleased to find himself in the company of other ex Royal Greenjackets, spoke about the recent walk to the North Pole, part of with was accompanied by Prince Harry, and about their plans for Everest in 2012 and beyond.
Stuart Tootal (a former commander of 3 Para and now security head at Barclays) showed a short film about Afghanistan and outlined some of the injuries, physical and mental, suffered by the Paras and how the Trust was supporting the injured and the families of those killed in service. Former Chapter Chairman, Derek Webster, dressed in his police tunic, which has shrunk since his days at Hendon, led a humorous and slightly manic speed auction of the items donated, before everyone moved on to the food and drink part of the evening. WWTW and The Afghanistan Trust were both on site selling T-Shirts, wrist bands and other merchandise, raising hundreds of pounds.
Mike Alexander and DI Teresa Russell drew the raffle (the tickets being sold by the reception staff from Barings who volunteered to assist on the night). Organisers add that the event would not have been possible without the generous support of these sponsors, supporters and donors.
Advance Security, Baring Asset Management, Broadgate Estates, Elle Security, Ethos Communications, Henderson Global Investors, HSM, Hypertec, Mitie, OCS, Pace Security Services, EDF Energy, Raj Pradhan, Scanna MSC, Shield Guarding, The Security Company, Williams Management Communications and Wilson James.
Although a large part of the event was to pay tribute to our armed services and also to raise awareness of the work of the charities, it was also a fund-raiser. The final figure is still being calculated, but it will be in the region of £9 to £10,000 which will be split equally between Walking With The Wounded and The Afghanistan Trust.
