Veterans' charity to host Lanarkshire's first Armed Forces Family Fun Day
Who Dares Cares is a dedicated United Kingdom Armed Forces and blue light services charity
Lanarkshire locals are being encouraged to support our veterans at the inaugural Armed Forces Family Fun Day.
Organised by Who Dares Cares charity, the event at Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride on Sunday, June 29, will support veterans and blue light services.
Attractions on the day include military vehicles, pipe bands, an inflatable assault course, face painting, stalls, a DJ and music, military memorabilia and Police Scotland and Mountain Rescue will also be on hand to chat to visitors.
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Event organiser and army veteran Calum McLeod, who co-founded Who Dares Cares charity, said: "It's going to be a great day with the military vehicles, including original SAS vehicles from the Second World War, being the main attraction. The only thing we need now is the weather to be on our side!
"Who Dares Cares is a veterans' charity. We are in East Kilbride quite a bit - a lot of the veterans come from East Kilbride so Calderglen was a good choice for this event.
"It will be a family day for all, open to the public, and this will be the first event of its kind here in Lanarkshire.
"There was nothing like the big Armed Forces Day parades you get in Glasgow here in Lanarkshire so this is how the idea came about."
Who Dares Cares is a dedicated United Kingdom Armed Forces and blue light services charity based in Hamilton.
Formed through Alba Military Fitness, the charity was founded by two former soldiers Colin MacLachlan, The Royal Scots & 22 SAS and Calum MacLeod, the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Both servicemen left the army, but for them the wars were not over. They decided to support other veterans too.
Their mission is to support Armed Forces and blue light services personnel, including their families, who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Calum added: "In Lanarkshire alone there are 20,000 veterans. So the idea was to put on a family fun day to bring everyone together.
"The charity started with four people and is now UK-wide and is heavily involved in various events throughout the year. We're just back from the West Highland Way with a group of veterans and we run a Walk - Talk - Brew mental health group every fortnight in Calderglen Country Park and at Strathclyde Country Park.
"We're all volunteers who still have day jobs but the charity has just grown arms and legs. We were the first to do a walk and talk event for mental health and now it's evolved into something so much more."
Armed Forces Family Fun Day runs from 12-4.30pm and entry and parking is free.
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"He will remember how Diana insisted that her boys should know more about the real world than royal princes before them. She made them aware of having play days and work days. On play days they could wear jeans, eat burgers and enjoy go-karting. On work days they had to dress and behave as princes of the realm. "I think William has made sure that his own children have as many play days as possible, but he and Catherine have also gradually introduced them to the formal world of being royal." The upcoming weeks will likely see increased speculation about which secondary school George will attend. Jennie believes it will be a challenging decision for William and Kate, who will also be considering what's best for Charlotte and Louis. "For so many youngsters, teenage years can be hard, but for a prince, everything is a whole lot harder," she says. "First and foremost, the school has to be able to offer or accommodate 24/7 protection. Then there is the impact on other pupils because, like it or not, George will always be different. "I suppose Eton remains high on the list - for William the school was a haven at a very, very difficult time in his life following his mother's death - but Marlborough College is definitely another contender. "Catherine enjoyed her years there, especially the sports facilities, and a big plus must be that it is co-educational, so the other two children could join George there." Both schools boast impressive alumni, with Prince Harry also attending Eton, along with prime ministers such as David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. Meanwhile, former Marlborough pupils include Princess Eugenie, comedian Jack Whitehall and Samantha Cameron, the wife of former Prime Minister David Cameron. "Personally, I would like to see the siblings at the same school because I think they would be a great comfort to one another during these tricky years," Jennie opines. "I would also like to see them at a day school, or as weekly boarders, so that they could still enjoy the lovely, cosy home environment that William and Catherine have worked so hard to create for them." Jennie emphasises the importance of privacy, noting, "William was given a good deal of privacy at Eton, especially after Diana's death. And I think he will do everything possible to make sure that George and the others are able to negotiate this important growing up stage of their lives without worrying that cameras are around every corner." However, when it comes to making the ultimate decision, it's clear Kate will prioritise what's best for George, with Jennie remarking on his readiness for the future due to his parents' guidance. She remarks, "I think George is pretty lucky to have these two as his parents. And if Catherine needs advice, then I think the best person she can turn to is her husband - who is living out the very same destiny himself."
