BNTVA Newsdesk

More Site Updates & New Search Facility

2012-01-29T10:57:00.000Z

Having taken on board your feedback we have just completed a further round of updates to the website.

The search facility now searches both the main website and the Newsdesk to bring you the best results for your enquiry. All results open on a new page specially designed to give you clear access to the items you want.

We are still working on a number of other improvements including a gallery section where we can showcase the many photographs that have been donated by our members.

If you have any suggestions for improvements to the BNTVA web presence please email either the Secretary or Chair.

Exclusive Suttons Seeds Deal

2012-01-26T12:09:00.000Z

The BNTVA have teamed up with Suttons Seeds to bring offer a great service to our members that will give a great fundraising boost to our funds.

Simply request your Suttons Seeds 2012 Catalogue from the BNTVA and place your order through the BNTVA (only paying the great price's in the catalogue). Suttons Seeds will then donate 20% of every order to the BNTVA!

Request your copy of the Suttons Seeds Catalogue Now!

email secretary@bntva.com

or write to;

BNTVA

BM5657

London

WC1N 3XX

Shop Manager Vacancy

2012-01-24T12:02:00.000Z

Trevor Butler retired from managing the BNTVA shop in December 2010 and I'm sure you will join with us in thanking him for all his hard work over the years.
The search is now on to find someone who will take the merchandising aspects of the charity and move them forward increasing brand awareness, market penetration and market volume.
We are looking for a person with vision and drive to fully exploit all the routes to market available to us as a charitable organisation from the traditional ones to all the new routes driven by internet technology.
If you would like to know more please email the BNTVA Chairman for an information/application package.

Health Needs Audit Publication

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000Z

We have just completed a re-design of our "Downloads Area" to make accessing documentation and forms as simple as possible.

We are now using the Google Reader technology to deliver our content in a manner that enables you to Read, Print and Download all our documentation to your PC.

We have also placed a copy of the Health Needs Audit in the Downloads Area for those of you who have yet to read this work.

Visit the Downloads Area by clicking the link.

Happy New Year - All Atomic Veterans

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000Z

A Happy New Year to all Atomic Veterans - "Every person who has worked with or around nuclear material in the service of the United Kingdom"

We hope this year brings everything you hope for.

At the BNTVA we will continue to press onward with our three year plan to fully reorganise the association in to an organisation able to take the welfare of our Atomic Veterans forward to the next generations.
2012 will see the final year of these changes and the benefits are already being experienced. For the first time in our history the BNTVA has taken an active role working with other Service and Ex-Service organisations to better our cause.
We have gained an immense respect for our 'going forward together' activities from the Veteran's associations, they also realise that Veteran based organisations need to evolve to survive and greatly respect the blueprint we have used.

All the best for 2012
BNTVA Board of Trustees

Website Updates & New Services

2011-12-10T08:51:00.000Z

After taking on board the comments many of you have made regarding our internet site and the way news is disseminated within the BNTVA we have commenced a redesign of our Web Services.

The Chair's Blog has now been replaced by this Newsdesk where all the latest information will be published direct from the Officers and Trustees.

The Magazine will now be published direct on the site where it will be available for you to either download or read on-line. You will shortly be able to register for 'internet only information' which will result in a huge saving in printing and distribution costs along with distribution time. We hope our overseas members will benefit greatly from this service.

Any material for future magazines can be sent direct to Steve Bexon at editor@bntva.com

Previous editions of our journal will be available electronically and may be requested from the Secretary.

Press Contact

2011-10-27T07:09:00.000+01:00

Hi
Any Media/Press questions should be directed to our Press Officer - Alan Rimmer on 07801184011
Many Thanks

Pathfinder International

2011-06-13T17:10:00.001+01:00

Pathfinder International - Ex Army Jobs, Civilian Careers and Armed Forces Resettlement in the UK

Pathfinder was the original and remains the best ex-military and armed forces resettlement magazine available to Service Leavers. It has always been their mission to provide the most comprehensive and constructive information on ex-military, ex-army and ex-Forces jobs available. This principle applies as much to the Pathfinder website as it does the monthly armed forces resettlement magazine they have produced for the last 20 years.

Each month they will cherry pick the very best articles from Pathfinder magazine to share with readers online, thus ensuring that you get the latest ex military, ex-army and ex forces jobs, career information and other military and armed forces resettlement advice where and when you need it.

BNTVA Members and Visitors can read the latest copy of the Pathfinder International on-line at this LINK

Also check out the Pathfinder International Website at Pathfinder International

Mirror On Sunday Exclusive

2011-06-12T18:00:00.000+01:00

Susie Boniface revealed an exclusive in the Mirror on Sunday (Read her article here)

Professor Rowland of Palmerston, New Zealand has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2011Queens Birthday Honours for his services to genetic research.

Further details of the honour can be found HERE

Slight Site Problems

2011-06-03T09:25:00.003+01:00

Hi
We are having a few problems migrating to the new site, hopefully we should have things all ironed out by the middle of June.
Cheers
Nige

New Site Launched

2011-05-26T13:38:00.001+01:00

After many problems and delays we have finally managed to launch the new BNTVA website.

We are now using HostPapa to bring our site to you, providing excellent economic hosting powered by sustainable sources.

There may be the odd problem with emails whilst the changeover takes place so if you do email us and do not get a response please try again a few days later. Urgent matters through our National Callback Service on 0208 144 3080 please.

Any thoughts ideas or suggestions on the new site please drop me a line.

Regards
Nige

Conference 2011

2011-05-16T10:11:00.001+01:00

What a great conference this year!

Thanks to all involved in the organisation & delivery of all the events.

Thanks to all the members and veterans who came.

I hope everyone had a safe journey home.

We now get back to the job of building the charity you have said you want.

Best wishes to all

Nige.

Ready for Conference 2011

2011-05-11T20:16:00.000+01:00

Apologies for not having posted for a while.

Well Conference 2011 is almost upon us and I have just completed my Presentation at long last.

Packing tomorrow night and looking forward to seeing old friends and making some new ones at the Norbreck Castle Hotel

The change of venue offers our delegates a far better Conference experience than recent years and we have to thank Tracey and Carol for all their hard work in getting us the right place.

Wishing all of you who are travelling to Blackpool a safe journey. Please feel free to come and have a chat with me over the weekend.

Nige

Veterans on TV!

2011-02-07T16:46:00.001Z

Very good piece from Rob Whitehouse featuring the Veterans plight, including the latest action from Chris Williamson MP

UPDATE: The link in this post was to an external site and has unfortunately expired. If we can get hold of a copy of the piece we will upload to youtube. 210211

Engineering Britain's Superweapons

2011-01-21T15:46:00.001Z

The following series of clips cover the complete episode of "Engineering Britain's Superweapons - The H-Bomb" as shown on the Channel 4 network.

The series was produced by Denys Blakeway but we are unsure if it will be available on DVD

Happy New Year - All Atomic Veterans

2011-01-01T10:14:00.000Z

A happy new year to all our members and Atomic Veterans wherever they have served.

The BNTVA may have started life as a campaigning group predominantly concerned with the Grapple series of tests but by the time we became a Charity in 2009 our coverage had expanded to encompass all Veterans of the British Nuclear Weapons Testing Programme. This was reinforced as part of gaining charitable status because membership became open to any person.

Following the 2010 AGM in Blackpool we realised that our new aims and status also allowed us to widen the scope for promoting education, support, research and enhancing the wellbeing of any person, or group of people who have worked within the Atomic Environment. This includes all Service and Civilian personnel who have worked with or alongside any atomic substances from Scientists working in labs, through Sailors in the nuclear submarine fleet to Military and Civilian personnel operating in areas where atomic ordnance has been deployed.

During 2011 the plans formulated in 2010 to ensure the survival of the Association are to become live and we should see a wider awareness and increase in activity throughout the year; this increase will help generate the new members we need to be able to deliver the services we have pledged to our Atomic Veterans.

Please help spread the word and encourage potential members to come along to the Conference & Reunion at the new venue in Blackpool during May or to the National Atomic Veterans Awareness Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in September.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-26T09:13:00.001Z

Well its Boxing day morning, time to reflect on the hearty meals, good company and great times many of us are enjoying. Amidst all the celebrations please make time to remember all those Veterans & colleagues who are not with us this year.

The National Memorial Arbouretum is a very thought provoking place to visit, especially at this time of year. We will be holdiing the innaugral National Atomic Veterans Awareness Day there in 2011.

Whatever your plans for the rest of this festive period I hope you have a great time and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Blackpool next year.

Health Audit - Litigation

2010-12-10T13:41:00.000Z

A number of members have raised a point regarding Q5 of the Audit; relating to the time-line of potential or perceived attribution.

Rosenblatt Solicitors are issuing advice to all their clients not to answer Q5.

Whilst encouraging all Veterans to complete the Audit we would also echo their advice that if you believe answering any particular question in the audit may affect your case if you are involved in litigation against the MOD then you should omit that question.

There also seems to be a rumour that the questionnaire is not the 'final version' and that a revised one will be sent out shortly. This is certainly not the case. All our Veteran members should now have received the Audit in it's full and final form. - In short; if you have a questionnaire then you have the correct version so please get it filled in and returned.

Health Audit Update

2010-11-27T10:13:00.000Z

The Health Audit of Veterans announced on here in this article is now active.

A number of people have called after reading about a November deadline in our Members Journal. Please do not worry, all members will receive their Audit packs shortly and deadlines have been extended to allow ample time to complete the forms.

Over 100 visitors in five days

2010-11-26T07:05:00.002Z

Wow! I know most visitors this week will have been because of the litigation but it's really good to be getting our news and information out there.

Since we became a charity and focused our efforts on a clear set of aims we have made great advances in developing the Association into an organisation that has the structure and ability to endure beyond the working life of its Trustees.

This means the BNTVA will still be there for the Veterans children and grandchildren.

If you want to become part of keeping this association alive please drop us a line, Annual membership is only £15.00

You can keep up with this blog by using the RSS feed link on the right or by becoming a 'follower' at the foot of the page.

Thankyou to all the new visitors, I hope you will continue to return and learn more about current events straight from the heart of the charity.

New Website On The Way!

2010-11-24T18:28:00.000Z

As part of the review of our marketing presence and the development of a single corporate image we are working on a complete re-development of the BNTVA website.

Work is well in hand and we are looking forward to sharing an improved user experience with all our visitors before the end of this year.

One of the most eagerly awaited features will be the WIKI - an internet home for all things relating to Atomic Veterans, Tests and the BNTVA; from veterans memories through to factual information for use in schools. We will also develop a catalogue of all BNTVA and Atomic Related memorials.

More soon....

BNTVA Press Release on the Litigation Appeal Final Decision

2010-11-22T20:25:00.000Z

The Secretary & I have just agreed the following Press Release:

As the premier charity representing all Atomic Veterans the BNTVA has observed the progress of the litigation brought against the MOD with interest. A number of the litigants are BNTVA members and we would have welcomed a clear result in their favour.

Unfortunately this has not been the case and despite many reports of an ‘MOD victory’ this is simply not the situation. One of the ten test cases have not been ruled out on a technicality relating to timings, this means that a significant portion of the total litigants in similar situations to the one case that has been upheld will now progress.

The result has little direct impact on the BNTVA because we act only to support veterans, enhance their wellbeing and preserve their heritage for sharing with future generations.

We are working in a close constructive manner with the Ministry of Defence to identify health and wellbeing issues faced by veterans of the British Atomic Tests; in fact a wide ranging audit of all Test Veterans is being launched this week with our full support and co-operation.

In Parliament we are working closely with a cross party selection of members through our patron, John Baron MP, to further our aim of enhancing the wellbeing of all our Atomic Veterans through Education, Support and Research. We also work with many other veterans groups and enjoy a close relationship with the Royal British Legion.

We are halfway through a three year plan that has seen the BNTVA grow in to an exciting organisation whose focus is firmly on managing the problems of now and providing for the future.

Kind regards

Nige Heaps

Chairperson BNTVA

22 November 2010

Litigation Appeal Result

2010-11-22T20:02:00.000Z

Well the result is out.

My personal view is:
The press seem to be calling it a victory for the MOD but as one of the cases was not barred by technicalities the litigation continues with potentially one tenth of the actual litigants. Even just one successful action will be a victory for the litigants.

That aside the work of the BNTVA as the premier charity for Atomic Veterans continues and we are currently working on a more detailed press release which I will post on here as soon as we agree it.

Awaiting the result

2010-11-22T10:34:00.001Z

Whatever the outcome of todays appeal all our Members and Atomic Veterans can rest assured that the BNTVA will continue to provide representation, welfare & support to them.

Your heritage will endure.

Veterans Appeal Decision

2010-11-20T14:34:00.000Z

At very short notice we have learned the Court of appeal is to deliver it's Final Decision on the Litigation.

HM Court Service website have listed the event for 1000hrs on 22nd November 2010. The announcement will be written only with no verbal comment and will be available on the HM Court Service website at the same time.

Rosenblatt Solicitors representing the litigants will make an announcement later that day, when they have considered the decision.

Detail of the listing is:

COURT 69
Before LADY JUSTICE SMITH
LORD JUSTICE LEVESON and
SIR MARK WALLER
Monday, 22nd November, 2010
At 10 o'clock
FOR JUDGMENT
APPEAL
From The Queen's Bench Division
FINAL DECISIONS
B3/2009/2205 AB & Ors -v- Ministry of Defence. Appeal of Defendant from the order of Mr Justice Foskett, dated 19th June 2009, filed 12th October 2009.

The BNTVA wishes all it's members and all the other Veterans involved in the litigation, receive the judgement they have worked toward and which they so rightly deserve.

We will issue a press statement following Rosenblatt's announcement.

Audit in to the Health and Wellbeing of Veterans

2010-11-19T14:26:00.001Z

In April 2009 the then Minister for Veterans and Under Secretary of State for Defence, Mr Kevan Jones announced;

The Government is, however, determined to address the ongoing concerns of nuclear test veterans. I had a constructive meeting with the BNTVA and interested MPs on Monday 20 April. I am pleased to report that the BNTVA have agreed to help identify a representative sample of veterans and their descendants with a view to conducting an assessment of their health needs. I therefore announce today an intention that the Ministry of Defence will work with veterans and experts to finalise the details of research to investigate the particular health needs of nuclear test veterans and their offspring with a view to identifying priorities and taking action to improve health. I also intend some follow–up to last year’s New Zealand chromosome study. The aim will be for projects to be of practical relevance to veterans with results delivered to a reasonable time scale. The work will be tendered in the normal manner and should be underway before the end of this year. A working group including representatives from the BNTVA will be established to take these projects forward.

This signalled the start of a series of meetings involving ourselves, John Baron, our Patron and the Ministry of Defence. The last AGM also gave us a clear mandate to work closely with Ministers and the MOD to achieve this study and we duly contacted all parties to reiterate this.

Since the election we had been concerned that little or no movement had taken place and the alarm bells began to sound that funding may be cut or the study severely restricted. John pursued the matter with his parliamentary colleagues and we began to develop a plan of action should the worst happen. Thankfully at what seemed the eleventh hour Jeff and I attended a meeting with Miles & Green Associates, who are an independent specialist public health and management consultancy that have been successful in the tender to conduct the study.

We are pleased to announce that the study will shortly commence and that it does so with our full support and involvement.

Whilst it may seem the study may fall short of the initial announcement by Kevan Jones, we have worked closely with the MOD and Miles & Green Associates to identify the type of research that will provide the information we most desperately need whilst ensuring that it is robust enough to stand peer review.

To help us achieve our key aims especially in the area of support we need to quantify the health and wellbeing problems faced by Veterans to ensure we target our activities and resources to the greatest effect. This study will provide such information.

The issue of Veterans children & grandchildren will also be studied but through the experience of the Veterans themselves. This is the only way such results can gain wider credibility especially given that a comprehensive three month internet based initiative, launched almost two year ago to reach out to the minimal estimated 20,000 descendents of Tests Veterans resulted in a response level of less than 50. The results in relation to our Veterans descendents will also create the basis for us to formulate a structured approach to their specific issues and should serve as a foundation to any future work.

The packs along with a letter of endorsement from the BNTVA will be out with our Veteran members shortly. Non BNTVA members who are veterans can participate in the study please contact us and we will pass your details on.

Please participate and provide the researchers with as much information as you possibly can.

Membership Secretary Post - Update

2010-11-19T14:17:00.000Z

With no one showing any interest in taking on the Membership Secretary post following next years AGM we have engaged the services of a professional company to manage our membership records.

Bob will work on handing the responsibility to them over the coming months and we look forward to a cost effective solution to what could have been a very difficult problem for the charity.

Membership Secretary Organiser Needed!

2010-08-28T17:23:00.000+01:00

At the end of this year Bob Smith will stand down from the role of Membership Secretary for a well earned rest!

This function is core to our existence as an organisation, we need to keep track of all our contributors to ensure they receive our magazine and information on all we are working toward. The role is one of the most demanding and time consuming in the charity and we really need someone to come forward who feels able to accept such a challenge.

Ideally we can recruit someone who could begin to work with Bob right from the start so they can learn the role in a fully supported environment.

If anyone (member or not) is interested in learning more about this challenging opportunity please contact Bob or Jeff.

Holidays Over - Our Work Continues

2010-08-27T09:50:00.003+01:00

Well after the lull of the summer we are back in action.

Task number one is to chase up members who's renewal data is not on the National Database. We are sending out reminders to you all so if you have paid via a third party you must follow the instructions on the letter to let us know.

The rebranding of our corporate image is well underway and members will have seen in the latest magazine that we now have a National Address and Telephone service:

Main Contact:
BNTVA
BM 5657
LONDON
WC1N 3XX
Tel: 0208 144 3080

Press:
Alan Rimmer
email: alan-rimmer@live.com
Tel:0208 144 3080

Most of our current projects are progressing as planned however some concerning developments have arisen in one area, I will publish a full update as soon as I'm able.

The area of campaigning is one we have stood aside from since becoming a charity but that said we fully support all our members involved in the litigation, there is a lively and interesting blog covering this subject at http://nucleartestshame.wordpress.com/ and whilst we do not sanction all views expressed on the site we do make appropriate contributions via Alan Rimmer.

Competition - £250 To Spend With Hotels.com!

2010-07-16T07:42:00.019+01:00

Whats up for Grabs?

Shop with easyfundraising this July and you could be jetting off to the sun! easyfundraising have got £250 worth of vouchers from Hotels.com to give away in their July competition. And with over 100,000 hotels to choose from you won’t be short on inspiration for your destination.

How Do I Enter
1 x entry when you register with easyfundraising to help support us. Sign up right now at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bntva and you'll receive one entry into the draw. It's completely free to register!
1 x entry into the free prize draw when make a purchase through the easyfundraising site between July 1st and July 31st 2010. Make 20 purchases and you'll get 20 entries into the draw! It’s as simple as that!
2 x entries when you make any purchase from Hotels.com.
1 x entry when you refer a friend to easyfundraising. You'll get one extra entry for every friend you tell! Log in to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bntva and visit the Refer a Friend page for more details.

Good luck!

Help Raise Funds - It's Easy!

2010-07-16T07:41:00.000+01:00

Did you know you don't have to spend anything to raise funds for The BNTVA with easyfundraising? The FREE FUNDS page lets you raise OVER £250 for us without spending a penny! The featured retailers will make free donations just for switching to their service, participating in free trials or even simply registering on their site!

For example, eBay offer a £4.50 donation when you register and place just one bid (it doesn't even have to be a wining bid!), while The National Lottery will pay us £2 just for registering on their site and playing Lotto online for the first time!

LOVEFiLM offer a £5 donation when you sign up for a 14 day free trial of their dvd rental service.

Please log on to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bntva and click on the FREE FUNDS page for more details.

Looking for new insurance for your car, home, pet, holiday, motorbike or even your wedding?

Buy your new insurance policy through fundraising website www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bntva - you’ll raise money for us, as well as getting a great deal yourself.

easyfundraising features all the top name insurers – Direct Line, Aviva, More Than, Churchill, Sheilas’ Wheels and so many more – so whoever you want to insure with, you’ll find them listed. And as donations for new insurance policies can be as much as £45, your new policy will boost our funds considerably.

Visit easyfundraising’s insurance page and look out for the purple + icon below a retailer. It means the retailer is offering an increase in their normal donation for a limited time. This can often be as much double the usual donation so it’s well worth checking. If you spot a blue £ icon, click on it to see the latest money saving offer from the retailer.

So remember – if you need insurance, go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bntva - they've got it covered.

Media Representative Appointed

2010-07-08T14:12:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to Mr Alan Rimmer who joins us at the BNTVA in the post of of Media Representative (Press Officer to the more senior members).

Alan will be the conduit for ALL contact between the press and members of the BNTVA.

Alan Rimmer - BNTVA Media Representative

alan-rimmer@live.com

Tel: 0208 144 3080

If members wish to pass any information to the press or if any members of the Press would like information on the BNTVA, its activities or opinions then Alan is now the person to ask.

Welcome on board!

Will You???

2010-06-22T16:50:00.000+01:00

As all members are aware we at the BNTVA are funded by the generosity of its members through donations and membership fees. We are an independent charity, with no government funding.

A gift in a will, no matter how large or small, can provide a lasting legacy to further the aims of the BNTVA voted for by its members at the 2010 AGM: to promote and deliver:

Education, research and support for all matters relating to the heritage, health and well-being of Atomic test veterans, their spouses and their descendants.

You can be assured that no legacy money that is left to us will be spent on general administration or overheads, but is used for the heart of the work the BNTVA aspires to provide. Whether your money is spent on research, welfare, or for education, you can be assured your money will make a huge difference. So whether your gift is as little as £100 or as large as £10,000 every gift counts. To find out more information please contact me or either Jeff Liddiatt or Tracey Morris through the links in this blog.

The Dunkirk Anniversary

2010-05-28T09:29:00.000+01:00

This week marks the 70th anniversary of 'The Miracle of Dunkirk'. A time when that Great British spirit reared it's head and showed the world that the peoples of this small group of islands can endure hardship, privation and apparent defeat with resolute dignity, humour and a good mug of tea.

Whilst watching some of the reports about this historic anniversary I began to contemplate the idea of that Great British spirit. Having spent time last year visiting the battlefields of the Great War and reading a number of very interesting and moving books, most notable being Robert Graves' Good-bye to All That followed with a healthy dose of Francis Pryor's works on ancient Britain, I was in the right frame of mind to see that there clearly is something special in these Isles.

That special something from the Tommies of the 'Great War', through the 'Great Depression', through the 'Miracle of Dunkirk' and it's sister 'Spirit of the Blitz', revealed itself again when the generation of children who's formative years were drawn from the forge of the Second World War and riven into shape by the gross privation thereafter, found themselves in the depths of the Cold War.

Many of that generation participated in the development and testing of Britain's Atomic weapons. Once again that spirit arose, performing their duty to the nation those men who witnessed the greatest destructive power ever developed by mankind began the journey to their Dunkirk.

For the first time in history the British Tommy returned from their 'stint' in the service of the nation not only carrying the physical and emotional scarring of their contribution (slight though this may have seemed at the time), but they also carried a hidden 'ticking time-bomb' of genetic scarring in a lottery that would not only damage many of their bodies, but would also be passed down to their children and grandchildren.

I look to the Veterans of our Atomic Testing program and see them in the courts this month facing the ignoble comments launched by an opposition desperately seeking to defend a tissue of fiction. How that spirit showed itself again! With resolute dignity they bore this shameful ploy and with the pride of their Great British Spirit and the knowledge of the price they and their offspring are still paying for securing this Nations role as a world power and member of the 'Atomic Club' they faced their Dunkirk and went home, Home with Dignity and Humour, Home to a good mug of tea.

As one of the 'Children', my generation and the succeeding generations have yet to face our great tests, but for the relative handful of our peers who served in the Falklands, The Balkans, The Gulf and now in Afghanistan, thanks to them and the suffering of our forefathers the majority of us should never be in that dark hard place where the Great British Spirit may arise.

So celebrate Dunkirk as it is clearly a time when the common people of Britain stood resolute and take from it the clear undeniable fact - In the end they were victorious.

Your New Committee

2010-05-26T09:36:00.003+01:00

The BNTVA 2010-2011
Management Committee

Nige Heaps - Chairperson

0115 7140768

020 814 3080

chairman @ bntva.com

Jeff Liddiatt - National Secretary

020 814 3080 - secretary @ bntva.com

Derek Heaps - Vice Chairman

020 814 3080 - derek.heaps @ googlemail.com

Tracey Morris - Secretary Designate

020 814 3080 - tm269 @ st-andrews.ac.uk

Carol Longden - Treasurer

Bob Smith - Membership Secretary

020 814 3080 - membership @ bntva.com

The Very Revd Nicholas Frayling BA, LLD - Chaplain

dean @ chichestercathedral.org.uk

Ian Greenhalgh LLB - BNTVA Solicitor

Trevor Butler

Doug Hern -doughern @ tiscali.co.uk

Don James

The Hard Work Has Started

2010-05-09T10:40:00.001+01:00

Well since coming back from Blackpool it has been full steam ahead. Thank you all for the many letters and emails of congratulation and appreciation for the great meeting we had this year, all we have to do now is deliver on all our commitments and make next years conference even better!

I have been busy scheduling and allocating all the tasks to put the motions passed at conference in to effect and looking at it we have a very full year ahead of us.

Tracey has made excellent headway with the Education pack for schools and is working closely with they Royal British Legion on the content and publication.

In addition to the www.easyfundraising.org.uk internet shopping fundraising we have now begun to gain funds from Ebay via their 'Missionfish' program (more details in future posts).

You can also make money for us by using the search boxes on this site or at Easysearch when you search the internet. The nice people at Easysearch give us a donation every time someone does a web search! This is a great little earner for us and does not cost you a penny!

I would like to extend our congratulations to John Baron Patron of the Association on retaining his seat during the General Election. John is a very nice, genuine, hard working MP who's patronage of our organisation is greatly appreciated.

We have been looking in to setting up a single national contact telephone number for the association and after quite a bit of research to get best value for money we should have the system up and running in a couple of weeks.

Please feel free to use the 'Ask a Question' box on thr right hand side of this page or to leave a Comment (link below) on any post you see here.

As a favour could you all please spread the word about this blog especially if you are the son/daughter of a veteran. I would like to put some of their exeriences in this blog to share with the internet community.

Regards...

2010 AGM Conference

2010-04-26T10:13:00.000+01:00

What a fantastic event - I wish to thank all of you who supported me as Chairperson.

Much of the credit for the organisation of the event goes straight to Jeff Liddiatt, the social event was superb this year.

Thank you to all who attended, I was very pleased to note that whilst amazing support was given to the many motions presented by the Management Committee, this was not blind support but informed decisive support following the raising of questions, counter points and debate. Other ideas were also brought from within the membership and at the end of the day the Management Committee and Trustees have very clear mandates across a wide range of activities.

The task facing us now is to deliver on these mandates and move the Association forward again. I am confident we can do this and am heartened by the support of so many members that want us to succeed.

I must give a special thank you to Lisa Bainbridge, Head of Public Policy for the Royal British Legion. as our guest speaker she informed the meeting not just of the work and future direction of the RBL but of the links being formed and the special relationship between our two organisations.

The Parisienne Hotel certainly looked after all the members who stayed there and the entertainment they provided was well enjoyed. I would like to record my appreciation to the Compare who donated a prize and conducted a separate fund-raise on our behalf, what a nice chap he was.

Tracey, Carol, Val, Becky, Annette, Anne & Doris also deserve a special mention for their help in booking members into the meeting and running the various raffles, tombola and shop.

I was approached by a number of members who said they wished to get involved and I look forward to working with them.

I hope everyone had a safe journey home.

Well all we have to do is make next years even better!!!

The day before Blackpool 2010

2010-04-22T16:10:00.001+01:00

Just about got everything together for the AGM.

Two movie presentations, Powerpoint slides to accompany my address to Conference, All the reference documents a Chair needs to have close at hand plus a pile of other odds and ends.

Phew, I must think about packing some clothes shortly.

Looking forward to seeing all the old friends in Blackpool and hopefully making many new ones.

See you there if you can make it.

Not the Last Post but the First!

2010-04-20T21:46:00.001+01:00

Welcome to this new blog direct from the chair of the BNTVA. I aim to keep you all up to date with the happenings right at the heart of the charity. (Posts before this date have been made to give members a link in to some of the events I have been involved in since taking office.)

It has been a hectic few months since taking office and it has been a steep learning curve. Although this is supposed to be a part time/spare time occupation I find I am spending at least a couple of hours every day doing some work or other for the Association. Don't think I'm moaning about that, to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way, there is always something you can do.

Yesterday I came across an online organisation that raises money for charities when people click through them when buying goods and services on the internet. After doing some research I have set the BNTVA up with an account and presto! we are in a position to make up to 15% in charitable donations from some top high street names when people shop on line through our link - You can check this out as I have put an advert at the top of this page. If all our members who internet shop go through the easyfundraising.org link we could gain some serious donations.

Today after a series of telephone calls with the Secretary and the Tribunals Officer I decided to have a look at blogging again and realised what a good way it would be to get news and information out to both members and the general public. So after a couple of hours wrapping my head around it and getting it all set up so I can blogg off my mobile phone here we are with the first post.

The AGM/Conference is almost here and I have been working hard with Jeff our secretary to try and put everything in place to make it the landmark event it needs to be. The take up of bookings at the Parisienne Hotel has been unbelievable and we are now having an exclusive bar and entertainment on both Friday and Saturday night, if you are up for the conference and are staying in other diggs please make your way over for a warm welcome and a couple of great nights.

Well that's it for now...

Cheers

National Memorial Arboretum

2010-04-09T11:00:00.025+01:00

What an inspiring day - I am visiting the National Memorial Arboretum close to Burton on Trent with Becky and my youngest son Finlay.

I thought the place may be interesting but wow.... After four hours we still haven't seen everything.

Our memorial stone is looking good although its slightly further along the avenue than the map indicates.

Following a question raised by a member when I visited the East Midlands Branch I have also looked for some displays donated by veterans but only one seems to be on show (just above the entrance to the Cafe).

I think we need to look at improving the presentation and area around our memorial in advance of the proposed Atomic Veterans Awareness Day next year - That's something we will have to look at following the AGM.

In the mean time if you are in striking distance of the NMA please go and spend some time there, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Visit to the East Midlands Branch

2010-03-28T16:00:00.028+01:00

At short notice (yesterday) I was invited to a meeting of the East Midlands Branch of the BNTVA at Melton Mowbray.

After re-jigging my weekend plans Becky and I made our way over to the RBL at Melton Mowbray where we received a warm welcome from the members of the branch.

I gave a 40 minute or so talk on what I had been doing since taking office earlier in the year and also outlined some of the plans we will be taking forward to the AGM at Blackpool.

After this I answered a number of members questions.

East Midlands Branch Meeting - March 2010

Both Becky and I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting and it served as a reminder to me that I must try and get round to all the branches if my appointment to the Chair is confirmed in April.

Once again thank you to all those members who made us feel so welcome.

Royal British Legion Meeting

2010-03-12T19:00:00.024Z

Phew, what a day!

Sitting in the Betjamin Bar at St Pancras Station in London after a fantastic meeting with the Royal British Legion.

The Association has had contact with the RBL in the past but this was definitely a landmark event! I will not go in to any great detail of the things we have covered but both Jeff and I have made fantastic progress in the areas of Education Packs for schools, Representation for members, Support and Assistance for our Veterans along with many other smaller projects we can jointly work upon.

The RBL will also be attending our AGM/Conference and we will be able to tell you all what we are trying to achieve in the future.

One well earned pint I think!

Heading to the AGM

2010-03-08T12:00:00.015Z

Well I have sorted out email addresses, phone numbers call forwarding and an answering service to ensure members can contact me whenever they need.

I have been working on the conference motions to bring the ideas we examined at the last meeting before the AGM and composing a report of my actions since taking office.

Maintaining Parliamentary Procedure I have managed to put a system in place so we can agree motions from the Management Committee to the AGM without incurring the expense of a physical meeting, Email and conference calls on Skype are saving us a small fortune!

Appointed As Chairperson

2010-02-17T18:00:00.014Z

Wow we have just had a telephone conference following John's decision to vacate the Chair and I have been appointed by my colleagues on the management committee to the Chair post.

I can honestly say that I was intending sanding for Chair in 2011 but now I have the ball and I will run with it.

We are at a key time in the evolution of the Association and I know I will work as long and hard as I have to to ensure we survive.

Many thanks to the Trustees for their decision and vote of confidence in me.