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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports The new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block provides 53 ensuite single bedspaces for senior ranks A second block providing 66 bedspaces for junior ranks is due to be completed in March 2025 The c.£13 million project was funded under the army’s SLA Programme and delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to off-site construction specialists Reds10 sustainable SLA includes solar energy harvesting air source heat pumps and a SMART building management system which learns how the building is used through sensor data to ensure it runs as efficiently as possible At the formal opening of the senior ranks block on 23 January Modern methods of construction are enabling us to build more quickly provide a better standard of accommodation for our people and improve the sustainability of our estate This new energy-efficient building has been designed using feedback from soldiers to ensure it meets their needs and demonstrates the impressive standard of accommodation being delivered under our long-term investment programme This a significant milestone in our work to provide quality The senior ranks will benefit from this new accommodation which will shortly be followed by a second block for junior ranks Both are designed to be as sustainable and energy efficient as possible learning from previous projects to improve their environmental credentials and the lived experience while also being better value for money than using traditional construction methods The new senior ranks’ SLA building has been named ‘Phillips Block’ after Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Academy Sergeant Major Horace Cyril Phillips WO1 Phillips was the first Welsh Guardsman to hold the prestigious post of Academy Sergeant Major at RMAS Members of Mr Phillips’ family attended the formal opening of the building and unveiled a plaque in his honour It is fantastic to see the result of significant investment in new accommodation to benefit personnel here at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The building has been delivered to an impressive standard and the sustainable features will contribute to local efforts to reduce our carbon footprint This was also a fitting opportunity to commemorate my predecessor and fellow Welsh Guardsman former Academy Sergeant Major Horace Phillips We are delighted to hand over this new accommodation to the Army Our team has worked closely with DIO and army stakeholders to ensure this project not only meets the highest standards but also supports the wellbeing of personnel The integration of energy-efficient technologies and SMART building systems reflects our commitment to delivering long-term value for the armed forces and reducing the environmental impact It’s an honour to contribute to the transformation of the lived experience at RMAS the Army SLA Programme is investing £1.4 billion over 10 years to enhance living conditions for service personnel More than 1,000 new bedspaces are currently in construction across the estate Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details What's it like when one of the most interesting films you've ever worked on gets attacked by online trolls but not half as hurtful as it is for the people who put their faith in you and agree to open up on-screen So when BFBS Forces News spent four months following young women taking on the gruelling Army officer training course at Sandhurst it was very tough to watch the negative comments come rolling in on social media but when you're the focus of the discussion your eyes are inevitably drawn to the critics Having spent many years reporting on the Armed Forces and covered my fair share of stories on servicewomen loud negative voices reacting to a female-centric story was sadly not news we decided to do things differently and to give these women a platform to respond With BFBS Forces News cameras invited back to the academy once more to capture the last phase of the year-long course we followed the Officer Cadets out to Germany for their final exercise – the last time they would get to command troops in training before doing it for real We spent time on the drill square as they were put through their paces taking centre stage at the glittering Sovereign's Parade in front of the world's press But we also asked them directly what it felt like to be personally criticised for stepping up to defend their country at one of the most dangerous times in recent history while being female Officer Cadet Dent told BFBS Forces News: "Yeah "And if they do think about what they write then they're very cruel because they don't realise the impact that has." For Officer Cadet McCullough a decision not to read any of the comments was harder to stick to than she'd thought there was a lot of comments about lowering the standards Males and females meet the exact same standards across the Army one of the male cadets who was part of the mixed platoon we focused on "That's the part which frustrates me much more because I know that.. my female peers can hold their own better than most," he said "It's when people have got absolutely no idea on their background of their performance see them get a prize and immediately go 'oh The women we followed throughout training are strong highly capable and deeply stoic: people who rarely complain about anything let alone about faceless social media critics But in an online world which so often seeks to diminish female ability and achievement this project felt like an important moment to give them a voice Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: The recent announcement by Sandhurst Counselling Services of their closure has led to some misleading information being shared the pandemic understandably caused an increase in the need for mental health support Bracknell Forest Council was able to allocate public health grant funding support to Sandhurst Counselling Services in the short term We agreed to continue the funding while pandemic recovery continued with the clear understanding that this was short-term one-off funding until March 2025 “While Sandhurst Counselling Service has supported local people it is located on the borders of our borough and so they also have many clients outside of Bracknell Forest 35% of their clients were from outside the borough.  “It is unfortunate that the service is not able to continue as the provider has been unable to identify alternate funding support The increase in mental health need following the pandemic justified a public health contribution in the short term the public health programme for mental health will now continue to focus on prevention and ensuring good mental wellbeing for all rather than individual clinical support.  For residents in need of individual mental health support, guidance on free local support can be found our mental health and wellbeing pages. NHS Berkshire Talking Therapies also has advice and local support for anxiety and depression.” Read the latest Your Bracknell Forest Extra Sign up to Your Bracknell Forest Extra Forgotten/Reset your Password Young soldiers are filmed finishing their training in Sandhurst Women: Army Ready BFBS Forces News has returned to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to capture a final episode in their Sandhurst Women series exclusive behind-the-scenes access documented the experiences of those in the Army’s groundbreaking Critical Mass trial but the content was attacked by online trolls Reporter Rosie Laydon gave the cadets a platform to respond “After spending four months filming young women on the gruelling training course at Sandhurst it was very tough to watch the negative comments come rolling in on social media,” she said but in an online world which so often seeks to diminish female ability and achievement this project felt like an important moment give them a voice.” The programme shows the Officer Cadets out to Germany for their final exercise and captures time on the drill square in preparation for the Sovereign’s parade But Rosie also asked them how it felt to be personally criticised for stepping up to defend their country at one of the most dangerous times in recent history “I think people…don’t think about what they write And if they do think about what they write then they’re very cruel because they don’t realise the impact that has.” her decision not to read any of the comments was harder to stick to than she’d first thought: You want to see what people are saying…there was a lot of comments about lowering the standards – to make it clear no standards have been lowered: males and females meet the exact same standards across the Army And Officer Cadet Finch – a male cadet who was part of a mixed platoon – offered a staunch defence of his comrades: “… I know that my female peers can hold their own It’s when people have got absolutely no idea on their background of their performance see them get a prize and immediately go Watch Sandhurst Women: Army Ready on the BFBS Forces News website or YouTube channel now By @Cobseo 55 years ago ©2004-2025 Confederation of Service Charities Site by Run | Change cookie settings In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page An all-female banner party has participated in Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Sovereign's Parade for the first time ever Company Sergeant Major Brunton of the Royal Army Medical Service (RAMS) carried the Sovereign's Banner during the parade She was escorted by Staff Sergeant Lewis of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Staff Sergeant Bradley who was given special permission to carry a bayonet in the party Major Andy Knight from RMA Sandhurst said: "The Sergeant Major carrying that banner is also the company Sergeant Major of the company that has the Sovereign's Platoon so the best performing platoon of the intake is in her company The event marks the completion of 44 weeks of intensive training for the 239 Officer Cadets of Commissioning Course 242 They will now be commissioned as British Army Officers after the parade in front of friends and family who will now become an officer in the Royal Dragoon Guards said: "The exercise at Brecon was probably the most challenging "Two weeks in Brecon is tough but the other exercises have been really awesome and the friends you make here are like nothing else "I think we've got summer in Bovington for Phase Two for the cavalry "And really good to finally like do your trade and working with RDG soldiers is going to be awesome." The parade featured 26 international cadets from 18 countries The King presented the Sovereign's Banner to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in April 2023 You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. News stories, speeches, letters and notices Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Her Royal Highness opened the facility in her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Army Music (RCAM). The new purpose-built band facility – named The Duchess of Edinburgh Hall – houses two distinguished bands from RCAM: the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Army Engagement Ensemble. The building provides a modern, sustainable acoustic space for rehearsals and performances. The RCAM, which performs at State Ceremonial events, has received significant MOD investment under the £5.1 billion Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Portfolio. The facility was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to Willmott Dixon, Pick Everard and HLM Architects. It was funded under the DEO Army Programme, which makes up the largest share of the DEO Portfolio, and is delivering a better structured and more sustainable defence estate. This supports military capability and enhances the lived experience of service personnel. Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Basing and Infrastructure, said: The new band facility at Sandhurst will enable army musicians to carry out their supporting state and ceremonial duties and national and international engagement for defence, both today and into the future. It is a fantastic example of the significant investment we are making to deliver benefits for our people, support military training and capability, and build a more sustainable estate. Combining modern buildings with the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, the Duchess of Edinburgh Hall comprises a glass-roofed atrium for ensemble performance practice, rehearsal rooms, an instrument store, music library, offices, storage space and a crew room. The design also includes solar panels and air source heat pumps. Sherin Aminossehe, MOD Director of Infrastructure and the Senior Responsible Owner for the DEO Portfolio, said: DEO is committed to delivering the highest quality buildings that improve the lived experience of our military personnel. This is evidenced in these impressive new facilities being opened today, which not only provide bespoke and very modern spaces for these prestigious bands to train in, but do so in a way that carefully integrates itself within the existing infrastructure to preserve the important history of the site. Historic stables dating back to the 1800s have been transformed into modern changing facilities, including the refurbished ‘Sullivan Block’, which is named after Thomas Sullivan who served as Bandmaster at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst from 1845 to 1857. He was the father of Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan of ‘Gilbert and Sullivan’ fame.  Warren Webster, DIO MPP Army Programme Director, said: It’s fantastic to see this excellent new facility being opened by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. The different elements of the facility were carefully designed to meet the needs of army musicians and it was a pleasure to see Her Royal Highness’s reaction to them. The musicians have been making great use of the Duchess of Edinburgh Hall since its completion and we look forward to hearing their music fill these spaces for decades to come. The Band of the Coldstream Guards is a 54-piece symphonic wind band that supports a variety of high-profile events, including state ceremonies, public duties, commemorative and celebratory events, and repatriations. Additionally, it contributes to the UK’s defence efforts both domestically and internationally through community engagement and events. The Army Engagement Ensemble focuses on recruitment, supporting Recruiting Group and the army’s main effort to attract future soldiers. Major Justin Teggarty, Director of Music and Officer Commanding, Band of the Coldstream Guards said: This new facility is perfect for the Band’s needs. The quality of the design and finish is highly impressive, and we now have a comfortable, purpose-built, modern building in which to rehearse, collaborate and function to the highest standard. I am particularly impressed with the acoustics in the atrium: it is fantastic to be able to play together in a space that does justice to the talent and professionalism of army musicians. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Jersey Bulls have the best record of any side in Combined Counties Premier South this season Jersey Bulls ended the season with a 1-0 win over Sandhurst Town as they wait to see if they will enter the Combined Counties Premier South play-offs While the island side will end the campaign with the best record in the league, they are unlikely to be promoted having been docked three points after fielding an ineligible player last month. they will finish the season in third place Redhill are set to be champions after a goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time saw them win 1-0 at Guildford City Meanwhile Whyteleafe are likely to end the season in second position after winning 2-0 at Fleet Town It means the islanders are set to face fourth-placed Cobham in the play-offs with the winners meeting either Whyteleafe or Fleet Town in the final Jersey Bulls title hopes in balance after points deduction Bulls tried to put the disappointment of the previous 24 hours behind them as they came out to their highest attendance of the season who had been there anticipating a league title celebration before their points deduction saw few clear cut first-half chances despite the islanders having the better of the play Karl Hinds had a shot deflected wide while Luke Campbell went close with a header from a corner shortly before half time as Jonny Le Quesne's follow-up was saved Campbell went close from a Fraser Barlow free kick 10 minutes after the restart while Luke Watson headed a Barlow delivery against the post five minutes later But the deadlock was broken soon after as Lorne Bickley broke through and while goalkeeper Harry White saved his effort Joe Kilshaw was there to slam home the rebound Joe Kilshaw's goal broke the deadlock at Springfield Goalkeeper Piers Roche did well to deny Sandhurst with 19 minutes to go before Bulls had a series of chances in stoppage time The islanders hit the post before Bickley brought two excellent close-range saves from White while Francis Lekimamati hit the bar But while Bulls earned their 30th victory of the season it was Redhill who were celebrating as they look to have won the title "We've done our jobs on the pitch we've not had the best preparation as everyone's probably aware," Jersey Bulls manager Elliot Powell told BBC Radio Jersey "What it has given me is an immense sense of pride in that changing room "I don't know what the next couple of weeks holds in terms of the play-offs but we've won the league on the pitch and for those boys to achieve that I'm so so proud of them and it's a privilege to work with them "We've gone and won a league against teams who've got significantly bigger budgets and can pull in players at the last minute "There's 25 lads here that have represented their island and won the league on the pitch but we've lost it in the boardroom." 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New four-part special from BFBS Forces News BFBS Forces News has gained exclusive access to the British Army’s groundbreaking Critical Mass trial at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst viewers are introduced to the inspiring young men and women participating in this pioneering initiative Through captivating interviews and behind-the-scenes insights the special highlights the experiences and challenges faced by those involved in this transformative trial All episodes of Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight are now available to watch on the BFBS Forces News website and YouTube channel a BFBS Forces News crew followed cadets taking part in the landmark trial which aims to boost female numbers in a platoon from 10% to 30% The exclusive feature follows the recruits as they go through world-class officer training – from room inspections to drill practice and exercises out in the field – offering an incredible insight into life at the famous academy Officer Cadet Kira Dent of 5 Platoon says the programme is helping the Army improve its leadership training “I think a lot of people from… my dad’s era will always say that the Army’s gone soft It’s just prioritised what actually makes people better leaders.” “It is a lot better in a mixed platoon I would say,” says Officer Cadet Jon Hunt Officer Cadet Bradley Rigby also supported the trial “There are some lads that very much don’t want females in the Army “I think if as long as they pass all the tests that are put in front of them then there’s no reason they can’t do just as good a job as a male.” The trial does not see Sandhurst recruit more women or alter standards with the focus instead on grouping more women together within a mixed platoon during their time at the academy The changes at Sandhurst come after a damning report into the suicide of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks An inquiry described a complete breakdown in welfare support and a culture of inappropriate relationships between instructors and cadets senior staff at the academy speak candidly to BFBS Forces News about the need for it to improve “It was an institution under rightful scrutiny,” Major General Zac Stenning Commandant Royal Military Academy Sandhurst “It was an institution that was being forced to look at itself both by the Army and the nation.” Second in Command Intermediate & Senior Term at Sandhurst “Both here at Sandhurst and the wider Field Army were really keen to engage and to stop this from happening again.” Watch Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight on the BFBS Forces News website or YouTube channel Forces News Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight | Episode One (youtube.com) Directing Staff at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst now have a new place to call home with the completion of a modern accommodation block named in honour of a distinguished Welsh Guardsman providing 53 en-suite rooms for senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) has been named after Warrant Officer Class One Horace Cyril Phillips who was the first Welsh Guardsman to serve as Academy Sergeant Major at Sandhurst His family attended the formal opening ceremony The £13m project is part of the Army's Single Living Accommodation programme and was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in partnership with off-site construction specialists Reds10 The Phillips Block represents the Army's shift towards modern and a SMART management system that adapts energy use based on occupancy saying: "The building has been delivered to an impressive standard and the sustainable features will contribute to local efforts to reduce our carbon footprint "This was also a fitting opportunity to commemorate my predecessor and fellow Welsh Guardsman The Sandhurst project is part of a wider £1.4bn investment in Army accommodation over the next 10 years more than 1,000 new bed spaces are currently under construction with six blocks set to be completed in 2025 More than 100 cadets have completed their officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Their achievement was marked with a special parade in front of proud family and friends The parade is the culmination of a year-long course taking the officer cadets from Army novices to what they will be from midnight – commissioned officers and graduates of one of the finest military institutions on the planet who was commissioned into the Royal Artillery spoke to BFBS Forces News about having enjoyed the "excitement of it all" "It's been 44 weeks of getting up to this point and here we are it's all ready and it's all good to go," he said which is awarded to the Officer Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best cadet in the Intake was presented to Senior Under Officer Fergus Flory (Irish Guards) "It was ultimately a bit of a surprise in the end He added: "Being given the recognition for a hard year is always going to be really nice to receive that and there were a lot of talented people it could have gone to spoke about the difficulties of the training "The way you get through is by the people around you you've got to keep on and not fall off and the challenges are what makes the course The King was represented on the parade by General Patrick Sanders the recently retired head of the British Army The commissioned officers now embark on some well-earned Christmas leave before joining their new regiments in the new year.  The parade marks the conclusion of a year long course, taking the officer cadets from day one army novices - to now, 2nd Lieutenants in the British Army pic.twitter.com/t5LaWa976C Today, The Sovereign's Parade for Commissioning Course 241 took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, attended by families and friends. A total of 168 Officer Cadets completed the 44-week course.#Sandhurst#RMASpic.twitter.com/YMuJW1GgdV BFBS Forces News has taken an exclusive inside look at the British Army's new Critical Mass trial that's in action at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst a BFBS Forces News crew followed cadets taking part in the landmark trial which aims to boost female numbers in a platoon from 10% to 30% The first two episodes of Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight can now be watched on our website or YouTube channel with the remaining two episodes available from 11:00 on Friday The four-part special features fascinating interviews with the inspiring young men and women taking part in the trial at the prestigious military academy my dad's era will always say that the Army's gone soft It's just prioritised what actually makes people better leaders." "It is a lot better in a mixed platoon I would say," says Officer Cadet Jon Hunt saying: "There are some lads that very much don't want females in the Army "I think if as long as they pass all the tests that are put in front of them then there's no reason they can't do just as good a job as a male." Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight follows the recruits as they go through world-class officer training - from room inspections to drill practice and exercises out in the field - offering an incredible insight into life at the famous academy An inquiry described a complete breakdown in welfare support and a culture of inappropriate relationships between instructors and cadets.  "It was an institution under rightful scrutiny," Major General Zac Stenning "It was an institution that was being forced to look at itself both by the Army and the nation." Major Kirstie Deakin-Maine, Second in Command Intermediate & Senior Term at Sandhurst said: "Both here at Sandhurst and the wider Field Army were really keen to engage and to stop this from happening again." Rosie Laydon, the BFBS Forces News journalist behind our new special report Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight shares what it was like being a fly on the wall at the prestigious academy Driving through the main gate and down a densely wooded lane I arrived at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on a brisk January day to stand on the parade square in the snow staring up at the imposing facade of Old College I was there to film "Ironing Board Sunday" the traditional name for the first day of term at Sandhurst and get a feel for what the officer cadets experience on arrival day When I got there it was working like a well-oiled machine with smartly dressed officers and sergeants welcoming the fresh arrivals as they said tearful goodbyes to parents boyfriends and girlfriends and walked up the steps to meet their new platoons Watch all four episodes of Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight But as well as the tradition of over 200 years Sandhurst was embracing something new: a Critical Mass trial to raise the number of women in platoons from 10% to 30% This new policy was brought in as part of the response to wide-ranging criticism of a "complete breakdown in welfare support" and a "culture of staff fraternisation and inappropriate relationships" which came out of the inquiry which followed the tragic suicide of Officer Cadet Olivia Perks in 2019 I wanted to see what the academy was doing differently and how the young women who came here felt about it cameraman Lewis Bartley and I followed the women and men of 5 Platoon We spent four days a week for four months trailing them all around the college up and down the mountains in the Brecon Beacons out on the exercise field and into their rooms and accommodation All three of our team have worked for the British Forces Broadcasting Service for more than 20 years (?!) but this project felt fresh and interesting The women we spoke to came from all over the UK with a mix of different backgrounds and although I wasn't aware of arriving with preconceived ideas about wannabe British Army officers these bright down-to-earth and supportive women were not what I'd expected I've learned things about military training and marching I never knew before but watched others learn how to fold their socks into smiley faces use the correct knives and forks at formal military dinners how to survive in the field with minimal food and minimal sleep - and crucially how to command soldiers And at every turn we filmed them and asked them questions about what they were doing Later filming longer sit-down interviews as well and I was impressed by these women's frankness and ability to articulate complex thoughts and emotions Most of them liked having more women serving alongside them but some questioned whether they needed as many as 30% They also weren't all convinced of the benefits of additional support mechanisms like the Female Forum: a women-only space for cadets to talk through any issues But staff argue the fact they don’t feel the need for such a construct is a sign the new approach is working and that without so much in place for women the academy risks reverting to the dark toxic environment it was accused of creating just a few years before I've reported on the UK Armed Forces for more than two decades but I've always tried to keep a healthy distance from my subjects - and the fact that I never had any desire to join the military myself seems to me a positive part of retaining a neutral view on subjects and stories But I can honestly say watching this group of cadets improve their fitness learn to survive outdoors in the elements and tackle complex leadership decisions is the closest I’ve ever come to being tempted by an Army career I wish them every bit of luck in their future journey You can watch Rosie's fascinating four-part special Sandhurst Women: Leading the Fight here on our website or on our YouTube channel. (apparently there were 476 across the UK!) 181 parkrunners rolled up this week to join us for our fifth birthday celebrations Amongst them were 36 new to Sandhurst and six taking part in their very first parkrun ever I said hello to two of the first timers before the event start - the Mayor of Sandhurst There were whispers of a race between these two Parm was kindly visiting for our anniversary but we hope he’s got the bug and he and Ami become regulars (best of three?)  Another attendee of note this week was Ian Parker who set himself the challenge this year of running 54 parkruns (all the Saturdays plus Christmas Day) in 2024 12 of our runners managed to achieve personal bests How bad does the weather have to be before they slow down and Heidi Vickery was celebrating her 500th We hope they helped some of you get round in good time I was up from South Somerset visiting parents this weekend and took the opportunity for a spot of tourism Following a broken toe earlier in the year I was walking with a little bit of gentle jogging thrown in That’s the furthest I’ve gone pain-free for a while I went a bit further than planned because I was daydreaming and veered off course at one point arriving at the finish line after completing only 3k and having to turn back Let's see if we can beat that over the next five years I had to rush off and missed out on this cake And if you’re planning on joining us again then I hope when you come the weather will be clement (bonus points to anybody that can say that in Esperanto Extra bonus points to anybody who gets the reference) © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner A Kosovan soldier who has just passed out as a commissioned officer at RMA Sandhurst has revealed how much she admires the British Army which has been helping to keep the peace in her country for the past 25 years Second Lieutenant Lirijona Bajraktari told BFBS Forces News reporter James Wharton how she had been in the army since 2019 starting out as a private before being promoted to lance corporal "So I got selected to come here [RMA Sandhurst]," she explained "We had to go through a selection process.. to get the best to come here and to represent our country as best as we can." Second Lieutenant Bajraktari said of her experience at Sandhurst: "There have been a lot of challenges and I would say an experience of a lifetime from which I've learned a lot of new things and met great people." spoke about the strong ties between the UK and her own country "I'm standing here and I'm commissioning today as the 30th officer cadet commissioning from Sandhurst from my country," she said "I think this is a great indicator of the strong history and relationship between Kosovo and the United Kingdom "So it was 25 years ago that British troops entered Kosovo as part of a peacekeeping mission even though I wasn't even born at that time I've been raised watching the images of British troops and the feeling that the people of my country had when they saw the British uniform." British troops were deployed to Kosovo to help tackle the violence between Yugoslav and Kosovo Liberation Army forces She said some of the directing staff at Sandhurst had served in the KFOR peacekeeping force "During my time here I met a lot of instructors who in one way or another knew about Kosovo and who served in Kosovo "It was a great thing seeing just 25 years ago they went to Kosovo to support the freedom of the country and now for me being here and being trained as a Kosovo Security Force officer it means a lot Second Lieutenant Bajraktari said she did not know which regiment she would be serving in when she returns home But she added: "I really can't wait to know my regiment and to join my platoon and just share everything I've been learning through this year in Sandhurst - and just to continue developing our Kosovo Security Forces." The TimesA former military equestrian instructor who drove over and killed his uncle’s partner with his pick-up truck has been spared jail Andrew Dewar-McCabe was previously found guilty by a jury of causing 69-year-old Jackie Gadd’s death by knocking her down and dragging her under his vehicle who served for 15 years and was an instructor at Sandhurst Royal Military College was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to resit the extended driving test He was also told to complete 150 hours unpaid community work Jackie Gadd should be remembered as a “much-loved mother and grandmother” her partner told the courtAt Forfar sheriff court on Thursday Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said: “This was a tragic accident and an isolated incident which led to the tragic death of your aunt The former head of the British Army has used his final speech as a serving officer to quash suggestions that the British Army has gone woke General Sir Patrick Sanders added that the men and women he commanded were among the "hardest-to-beat soldiers in the world" He made the remarks when he addressed officer cadets graduating from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Gen Sir Patrick, who handed over his role as Chief of the General Staff in June, also said that he loved his soldiers "to death", revealing they were "the only reason I stayed in uniform". His 15-minute speech included a direct warning that the British Army would likely face its next conflict while being under-manned and under-equipped. He also included passages by poet Tennyson and amusing moments dealing with the grimmer challenges that lay ahead for the young officers – including winter months in Brecon. "I've been to Brecon quite enough for one lifetime," he said to sounds of laughter from the crowd. But his address also included rousing references to the capacity British soldiers have to inflict violence on their enemies and the pride Gen Sir Patrick had in commanding the Army until he left his role as CGS in the summer. Invoking themes made by another general two centuries earlier, Sir Patrick spoke about the unlikely character of many recruits to the Army. He said: "You will soon learn that we don't recruit supermen and women. British soldiers are often scrawny, ill-educated and underprivileged. "But they have a nobility of spirit, a streak of cheerful and irrepressible defiance, a joyful wildness and above all a capacity for sudden violence that when tempered by discipline, values and esprit de corps makes them amongst the most hard-to-beat soldiers anywhere in the world. "And whatever nonsense you hear or see written about a woke generation – I don't recognise it. "The soldiers, the friends, I've been privileged to serve with these 40 years – and whom you're about to command – will scare you to death under pressure and under fire, and sometimes in barracks too.  "I love them to bits and so will you. They're the only reason I stayed in uniform." The general's appearance at the parade – known as the Sovereign's Parade and which marks the end of officer training for incoming leaders into the Army – was effectively Gen Sir Patrick's last duty as a serving soldier.  This fact, and in light of the ongoing Strategic Defence Review, announced by Labour after winning the summer's General Election, made remarks included elsewhere in his speech around the Army's capability timely. Referencing the UK's position in Nato and ongoing tensions with Russia, Gen Sir Patrick said: "If you fight, and my experience has been that you will sooner or later, it will likely be as the British Army always has: isolated, overmatched in numbers, equipment and technology, with tenuous supply lines and before the country has mobilised. "And yet despite these conditions, improbably we have a gilded reputation for military prowess based on an extraordinary record of success. Our country is proud of us, and our adversaries and allies respect us." The parade, held in front of Old College, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, saw 128 officer cadets graduating in front of proud friends and families. Among them were 28 international cadets, including from Qatar and Kosovo.  The Sword of Honour was won by now-Second Lieutenant Fergus Flory, who said winning the prize was "ultimately a bit of a surprise". The Sovereign's Parade takes place three times per year, marking the culmination of a year-long course delivered by some of the most talented Non-Commissioned Officers in the British Army. Network Rail has repainted the graffiti on a bridge in Sandhurst Affectionately known as the 'Happy Christmas Bridge' It was originally painted in the 1960s by a group of college students on their way back from a Christmas party Harriet Fraser's uncles were two of those students a bit more sedated in what they do now but they're really happy For us it's a bit of a family history 'right it's back up there' we're happy." there were calls on social media in February for it to be repainted Authorities usually work to remove graffiti from the streets Sandhurst Town Council instead joined their calls to get this particular festive phrase restored they've got their White Elephant and we've got our Happy Christmas bridge," said Cllr Nicky Coppins "I agree that graffiti isn't something we normally want to promote but locally this has been such an iconic scene that it was great to get it restored." A Network Rail spokesperson said: "We're safety critical and we need to spend out money on running trains and making them safe rather than doing artwork but because this was a safety scheme anyway because we worked on the bridge warning signs The town council is now working with Network Rail to see if the other side of the bridge painted with the same phrase back in the 80s Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. a purpose-built facility at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst designed for The Royal Corps of Army Music has been officially opened by its namesake who has served as the Colonel-in-Chief of the corps since 2007 The facility houses the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Army Engagement Ensemble designed specifically for rehearsals and performances with features that cater to the needs of military musicians Director of Music and Officer Commanding the Band of the Coldstream Guards described it as a benchmark for future military infrastructure "It is probably the best band facility that we've got in the Army and something for the other infrastructure projects to work towards," he said the space we've got in here allows the sound to spread further away from the baffles to the carpet to the drapes around the walls to the specially designed walls It affects the sound in a way that it sounds neat and sounds compact." reflected on meeting the Duchess during her first week saying: "She asked me questions of my opinions on the band block really good opportunities to have 24-hour access knowing that it's not going to be competitive… I've always got an opportunity to have a practice room – there's a few to pick from." The hall's rehearsal space has already proven useful for the musician as she prepares for her first Changing the Guard ceremony "I'll be doing Changing the Guard – my first guard will be next week So I've used the rehearsal space to learn the marches." The music facility is part of the Defence Estate Optimisation portfolio a £5.1bn programme aimed at modernising infrastructure across the Armed Forces Defence and Political CorrespondentFriday November 08 2024 The TimesAll afternoon the labradors have refrained from barking the springer spaniels have resisted the temptation to roll in fox poo and the army dogs have behaved beautifully at St George’s Barracks in Rutland an enormous Alsatian circles a soldier’s backpack and “He did indeed just wee on my bag,” confirms Private Cassidy The patrol dog weighs 41 kg and could savage a human in seconds He makes a sort of ursine grunting as he contemplates the stranger asking intrusive questions about his bathroom habits MelakTIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLEEventually satisfied that his pride remains More than 200 cadets have commissioned as officers following the latest Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst A total of 209 officer cadets celebrated the massive achievement of completing 44 weeks of intensive training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin represented the King with the head of Britain's military spending considerable time talking to the new young officers as hundreds of family and friends looked on One of those was Officer Cadet Tegan Shone who will join the Royal Corps of Signals following her family tradition "My grandad back in the 1960s did the boy service and then moved to regular service with the Royal Signals," she told Forces News "Then my dad coincidentally also joined the Royal Signals back in 2002 and has made it up to RSM and I thought I’d join the family tradition and join the Royal Signals myself as a commissioned officer." She added: "I think a few people at the start were a little bit sceptical Grandad got a new blazer with a little crest on and my dad's been wholly supportive." "It took me quite a while to spot my family in the crowds but really excited to be here after 11 months of the course," he said He admitted he had "mixed feelings" on the day "[I] almost can't believe it's finally here but at the same time just really excited to do the parade and celebrate with my family," he said Thirty-nine of the officer cadets came from 21 overseas nations including the first person to commission from Ecuador explaining it was his first time at the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst and welcoming them into an Army that he said was set to change and develop hugely during their service it was time for the officer cadets of commissioning course number 233 to leave the parade it was the honour of horse Jumping Jack to walk up the stairs of Sandhurst in the traditional way the officer cadets ripped the covering from their shoulder epaulettes to reveal their new rank of second lieutenant or cornet with their career as commissioned officers now underway An Army officer cadet who was driving back to Sandhurst was found with a fatal gunshot wound after he failed to get into his preferred regiment was found on 6 May after reports to police of a car leaving the carriageway of the A286 near Midhurst The area coroner told the inquest in Horsham there was a lack of evidence as to Officer Cadet Milner's state of mind Officer Cadet Milner had wanted to join the Parachute Regiment or the Irish Guards they were oversubscribed and he was filtered out of the process he was still in line for a place with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment The coroner told Officer Cadet Milner's family: "The facts that I have got are quite bare You know that he had a difficult second term." He said Officer Cadet Milner had had a setback in his career plans but added "equally I have heard a lot about his resilience" and his ability to analyse situations and deal well with feedback A post-mortem examination found Officer Cadet Milner had sustained a gunshot injury to the head and tests found no significant alcohol or drugs in his body The coroner made a narrative conclusion in which he told Officer Cadet Milner's family that he was "sadly found deceased" in his car on the A286 The car had gone down a steep embankment and struck a tree Officer Cadet Milner had "struggled professionally in his previous term" but no details about his state of mind had been identified and the police do not think any third party was involved in his death had left his home just after 05:00 and was heading back in his car for his third term at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The inquest heard that he had also suggested he was planning to go clay pigeon shooting Officer Cadet Milner had just returned from a holiday with his girlfriend who described him as being "keen" to chat about training and she "only heard positive things about Sandhurst" "there was nothing different about his character" and he was "very steady and very calm The inquest heard how Officer Cadet Milner had been given light duties after informing Sandhurst he was not fully fit due to his bug he was aware of the upcoming work needed for his course who said Officer Cadet Milner knew he had the expectation of a selection board on his return to Sandhurst that week added: "All he said about Sandhurst was reasonable and measured although the second term had not gone as he wanted "It was considered that after the full 44 weeks he would have reached the full commission standard – and that information would have been put back to him in that way." Mr Turner added: "He was under scrutiny and had other work to produce "He was under some pressure but I do not regard that as out of the ordinary." There was also "nothing untoward raised" in his health and welfare reports told the inquest that Officer Cadet Milner was good at boxing and rugby She said he readily volunteered for tasks and seemed to have "limitless reserves of energy" Home > News By Sarah Wood | 25th March 2025 A Severnside restaurant which risked losing its license over immigration issues has had a temporary reprieve The Home Office called for a review of the license held by The White Horse Chinese restaurant Home Office Immigration Enforcement said: "We have grounds to believe the license holder has failed to meet the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder as illegal working has been identified at this premises." The Wales and West of England Immigration Compliance and Enforcement team visited the restaurant in August last year following intelligence that Lee Yap Kheang (Mr Lee) was employing illegal workers for no pay in return for food and accommodation at the premises three of whom were identified as having no right to work in the UK Kheang said that the three people didn't work at the restaurant but sometimes helped out by washing dishes and tidying the garden and he helps them out by providing food and accommodation He admitted to officers: "I know they are not allowed to work" The Home Office report stated: "The use of illegal labour provides an unfair competitive advantage and deprives the UK economy of tax revenue.. all employees admitted to not being paid in return for their work which was confirmed by Kheang.. Providing food and accommodation in exchange for labour constitutes illegal employment and highlights severe concerns regarding labour exploitation." The report continued: "Immigration Enforcement asks that the premises license is revoked Merely remedying the existing situation is insufficient to act as a deterrent to the license holder and other premises license holders from engaging in criminal activity by employing illegal workers." Mr Lee was served a civil penalty notice and the Home Office applied to Tewkesbury Borough Council for a review of his premises license Mr Lee has lodged an appeal against the civil penalty notice In a letter to the Licensing Sub-Committee of Tewkesbury Borough Council he wrote: "I have worked very hard to build a local restaurant against all odds including floods that impact my business many times throughout the year People rely upon me and the village is my home and its residents my deeply valued friends I know that the locals have confidence in me to uphold the values that you quite rightly expect "Five local people actually work here as employees Removing the premises license will result without doubt to my business having to close We cannot survive without the profit revenue from alcohol sales and the economic climate for restaurants is so tough now." Mr Lee asked the sub-committee for an adjournment until the result of the appeal was known Cllr Dawn Melvin of Longford Parish Council and a former city councillor whether on behalf of the Home Office or Mr Lee that will really indicate whether or not he even requires a license because if he was found responsible that would be a serious matter "But he and his barrister are absolutely confident that the appeal will be upheld just because there seems to have been some communication issues with the paperwork and some status of some people there." Home Office immigration enforcement officer raised no objection to the proposed adjournment The sub-committee granted the adjournment until after the hearing It is not yet known when the hearing will take place 'Another shining jewel for visitors to see in Gloucester' John Fisher is recognised for his exceptional leadership and contribution to the technology industry Watchdogs' tracker nudges down in wake of Trump's tarrifs The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced today (May 6) Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission We use cookies to help make our website better. For more information on cookies and how to block them, visit https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/ There were 198 runners and walkers who attended event 181 Due to the amount of water on the course from the influx of rain overnight we did not endure the infamous “water feature” so we were treated to the alternative course but still encountered lots of puddles I always enjoy the alternative course as you get to do the out and back section and say hello to fellow runners and walkers running towards you There were 46 first timers including seven first timers to parkrun overall including our first finisher Johnny Williams Steve McGann and Jayne Spence who each celebrated their 50th parkrun and also to Ian Watson on his 25th volunteer milestone a big thank you to all the volunteers as well as doing the course check beforehand so we can get our weekly parkrun fix in a safe way Without them parkrun would not be possible If you are interested in volunteering then please get in touch with the fantastic Sandhurst core team at sandhurstmemorial@parkrun.com Today was my second time running the Sandhurst Memorial parkrun course the first time was not far off two years ago (April 2023) I’m normally found at Bracknell parkrun on a Saturday morning Bracknell was cancelled due to the course being flooded meaning that the Sandhurst Memorial team had to switch to their alternate course which doesn’t use the famous water feature Today was therefore the day for me to finally try the water feature… three times (as it turns out) it is a good way of cleaning your trainers at the end of the run One thing that’s great about Sandhurst Memorial parkrun is that the event almost always goes ahead - regardless of how muddy or wet it is We runners tend to like to run regardless of the weather and the Sandhurst Memorial team are always there for us The main course is two-and-a-half laps: one short loop around the pond followed by two full laps going past the pond around the field and back past the pond again Lots of friendly marshals were out today to show us the way and provide encouragement There was a big group of first timers today with 32 people running or walking this course for the first time Well done to first male finisher James JONES (also a first timer!) and to the 18 runners (myself included!) who set a new personal best for this event today a huge thank you to the Sandhurst Memorial parkrun event team and the 35 volunteers who made today’s event possible If you’d like to volunteer in future, please email the team at sandhurstmemorial@parkrun.com and before you know it you’ll be in high-vis Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 13th August 2024 by ianVisits in London Ticket Alert Not far outside London is Sandhurst the British Army’s military training centre for officers and they hold occasional tours for the public of the grand buildings hidden behind high walls The tours are a mix of learning about the military heritage looking around several grand and impressive buildings and seeing the grounds that are usually off-limits to the public I visited in 2023 – review here Dates have been updated for the rest of 2024 and the start of 2025 and are: The tours cost £25 per person The tours are conducted by the Sandhurst Trust the Academy’s official charity and a guidebook is also handed out at the end For booking details, go here Public tour details are at the bottom of the page and you can book your tour by emailing them so long as they don’t include any of the Sandhurst cadets or staff There is a reasonably smart attire dress code and you will also need a photographic ID to show at the main gate when arriving If you are driving, you can park at RMA Sandhurst, or if you are coming by train, the main entrance on London Road is about a 10-minute walk from Camberley railway station and then it’s another 20-minute walk through the country estate to the building where the tour starts Camberley is about 75 minutes by train from Waterloo station via Woking or Ascot Both routes have the same duration and cost the same although going via Woking involves changing twice I found it best to buy an Anytime Day Return ticket, which allows any reasonable route to be used. When leaving Sandhurst, I checked online which train from Camberley would get back to London first and head home via either Ascot or Woking (changing at Ash Vale) This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits A SANDHURST cadet was found dead in his car with a shotgun wound after failing to make it into the Parachute Regiment had been driving back to the Royal Military Academy for the first day of the new term when the horror unfolded The army officer cadet was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to the head from his own licensed shotgun on May 6 this year An inquest heard how Edward had wanted to join the paratroopers or Irish Guards but was filtered out of the selection process which included exercises such as sleeping rough on the Breacon Beacons His Sandhurst platoon commander Maj Danielle Davis told the hearing she recommended retraining at the end of the second year “My assessment of him as a soldier was very good. “However, in the command appointments there was repeated struggle with him articulating himself well and problem solving in a demanding environment. “Whilst he did not perform to the standard, there was an improvement." The inquest heard he also had an interview scheduled with the Princess of Wales’s Regiment had enjoyed a skiing holiday with his girlfriend Grace Bolton a week before the tragedy She told the court she had only ever heard positive things from him about Sandhurst who had been with the talented rugby player and boxer for six years also said she hadn't noticed anything wrong on the trip Police were called to the A286 near Midhurst following reports a car had left the carriageway The car had rolled down a steep embankment and hit a tree Assistant Coroner Joe Turner recorded a narrative conclusion as there was not enough evidence to conclude Edward had taken his own life He added: "All the evidence I’ve heard is contrary to that “I’m not satisfied the intention was there for suicide.” Sandhurst, which was attended by Prince William and Prince Harry, has been forced to increase its support for cadets following the death of Olivia Perks in 2019 The 21-year-old was discovered in her room at the academy after a "complete breakdown in welfare support" If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article please call the Samaritans for free on 116123 Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ I visited on Remembrance weekend with my brother Ian and being an army veteran he chose Sandhurst Memorial parkrun A very nice touch was the minute's silence before the briefing to remember those who fought for our freedom The course is one small loop and large laps around the lake mainly on a gravel path with a small amount of grass Today was drier than the last time I was here There was no 'water feature' which was a great bonus and eight were attending their first ever parkrun I would like to welcome them to the parkrun family and say what a great choice of venue for their first one their Saturdays will never be the same again Today was my 207th but if you don’t believe me just ask Andrew Mason I would like to say congratulations to Michiel Welzen Monika Tauchert & Bhavini Patel who all completed their 25th today they can all wear their milestone t-shirts with pride I would also like to congratulate Simon Bennison the first male at 18:36 but today I was one of the 23 who achieved a PB here 27 people volunteered today to ensure that this event was not only able to happen I was made to feel very welcome when I introduced myself Key points along the route had a volunteer I would like to thank each and every one of them and would like to ask everyone to consider giving volunteering a go Not only is it essential for parkruns to take place but it is so rewarding and you meet people that you wouldn’t meet in your every-day life I have met so many truly inspiring and interesting people on my volunteer journey I highly recommend Sandhurst to all parkrunners and an added bonus is there’s free parking and good toilets I look forward to returning in the future and wish this wonderful team good luck for all future events  The journey wasn't without stress as torrential rain on the M3 made it difficult to see at times and then there was a hold up at 8:35am following an accident (no-one was hurt) which I thought would scupper our plans but we made it with 10 minutes to spare (which is much later than I like to turn up to any parkrun - even the one at home which is less than a mile from my house!) made us feel very welcome just before he did his briefing and sent us on our way I'd read beforehand that it would be muddy today and boy sat in every field and made our feet instantly soaked but it just made it the most fun to run around It was raining heavily as we started but had thankfully stopped by the end Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who stood out in the rain today The tip of 'staying wide' around the mud was definitely appreciated The affectionately named 'shoe wash' was really fun to navigate through which is lucky really as you do it three times in total It also served as the perfect practise for an upcoming race local to me called 'Over the Hills' and organised by my running club That race also has lots of mud and a river crossing so if anyone fancies a day out to Bradford on Avon in November we'd love to see some Sandhurst runners there as I think you'd all be experts at running in the conditions Mark and I headed to the park cafe where I enjoyed the smashed avocado on toast and Mark had the Full English Both were delicious and very reasonably priced and their hot chocolate with all the trimmings was fantastic too we talked about how lovely the park was and the great community feel it had to it Mark has now put this one in his top five favourite parkrun locations and hopes many more runners will give it a go too the sun was shining and I actually had to wear my sunglasses My trip to Sandhurst then continued on to Holy Trinity Church in Blackwater where I laid some flowers at my nan's grave as today marks seven years since she died It is also the church that my parents were married at so it was a lovely Congratulations to those attendees who hit a parkrun milestone today: Three runners also completed their first ever parkrun I hope the weather hasn't put them off from returning next week as parkrun is truly the best way to start the weekend and I wouldn't be without it Thank you again to the team for being so welcoming today and I hope to return here again one day in the future It was a mild morning for parkrun at Sandhurst Memorial Park although with a thunderstorm the afternoon before the infamous water feature was more of a medium-sized puddle as opposed to a pond 140 enthusiastic runners and/or walkers as well as a couple of four-legged friends gathered with excitement and anticipation for the run 42 first timers embarked on their first parkrun at Sandhurst with five doing their very first ever event - Bahasht A-H  Welcome to Sandhurst – great to see you all there and Andrew Alexander and Melvyn Burrell reached their 50th parkrun What a great achievement – not far to go to the 100th milestone – keep going Congratulations to Jan Hale (see picture) and Tony Newton who ran their 100th parkrun Tony returned to Sandhurst for the special anniversary They say when you start parkrun its a ‘welcome to your new Saturday morning’ – this has certainly been the case for our milestone runners An amazing achievement that was met with applause and admiration from all Everyone shared the enjoyment of being outdoors whether chasing a personal best or lapping up the energy of the event There were 22 people who set personal bests on the course which is a great achievement Sandhurst also attracts runners from various clubs and Saturday’s event saw representatives of 20 different clubs taking part We continue to celebrate the success of Sandhurst Memorial parkrun with a reminder on the statistics: It started on 7th December 2019 7,457 participants have completed 22,235 parkruns covering a total distance of 111,175 km This is the first time I have volunteered for parkrun It was great to marshal this time around as I got to cheer folks on and what I saw in Saturday’s event is that parkrun is for everyone Many dog walkers also stopped to chat to me and their comments were all positive I’ve realised that if you’re a keen parkrunner yourself there are lots of different roles that you can take on as a volunteer perhaps this time taking on a different role Parkrun couldn’t go ahead without the team of volunteers and we thank all 25 of them who volunteered on Saturday a total of 556 individuals have volunteered 3,904 times There’s still time for you to volunteer at Sandhurst you not only help keep the event going but also encourage others to get active It’s a great reminder that small acts of kindness like cheering someone across the finish line Let’s put the volunteers in the spotlight: Patrick WADSWORTH • Susan PLUMB • Sue HOPKINSON • Clare GALLAGHER • Emma OWEN • Sam GOODALL • Will HALSALL • Andy HAZELL • Isabelle GALLAGHER • David HAZELL • Jan JALOVY • Kaitlyn WOOLNER • Gill MATTHEWS • Catriona WICKHAM • Andrew HIBBITT • Julian RAWCLIFFE • Sarah GRAY • Denise CLINKER • Amanda EYRE • Lee WREN • Neil MATTHEWS • Max LEWIS • Vanessa CSAKI • Ashleigh WREN • Deborah BLAMIRE Full results and a complete event history can be found on the Sandhurst Memorial parkrun Results Page Rainy weather in the UK is nothing unusual but I do think we are generally quite lucky with the weather on a Saturday between 9am and 10am I can count on one hand the times in the last couple of years when it's actually rained during parkrun But the 159th event at Sandhurst was one of those days Heavy rain overnight and during the morning meant the course was full of puddles the dry spell over the previous few weeks meant the ground was firm and the water feature was drier than the paths leading up to it The weather possibly put off a few people with the number of participants less than half of the previous week But it was great to see that four of the 90 finishers had chosen the day to do their very first parkrun There were also 21 visitors doing Sandhurst for the first time We were warned that there were cows on the course which meant that there were two kissing gates to negotiate on each of the two laps The other consequence of cows was that there were cowpats to dodge There were also two finishers who achieved a milestone - Kevin Scott ran his 50th and Andrew Hibbitt ran his 250th parkrun We are very grateful to the wonderful team of volunteers who endured the rain to enable the event to take place Special mention to Harry Thwaites who has now volunteered 10 times and to Sarah Jones who has volunteered 25 times Sue HOPKINSON • Clare GALLAGHER • Steven BLACK • Hannah LITTEN • Emma OWEN • Doug BRADY • Rachel EDWARDS • Sarah JONES • Will HALSALL • Andy HAZELL • Catriona WICKHAM • Andrew HIBBITT • Roger HALLIWELL • Sarah GRAY • Jacob GALLAGHER • Amanda EYRE • Lee WREN • Sheila DAVENPORT • Vanessa CSAKI • Ashleigh WREN • Deborah BLAMIRE • Harry THWAITES • Jane BATTLE It was a bright and warm start to the morning and there was plenty of good feeling in evidence along the entire course from the smiling marshals who were pleased to hear the "thank you marshals" shouted and gasped to them as we passed along the route.. First-timers briefing was expertly delivered by George GREEN who explained the route brilliantly including reference to the “water feature” that was in play today - but not too bad apparently A marshal would be on hand to direct those not wanting to splash on through Run Director Julian RAWCLIFFE delivered a motivating pre-parkrun briefing to all - letting everyone know the rules before the start and reiterating the “water feature” in effect following Thursday’s downpour as we waited to get going on the run There were spirited rounds of applause for all the volunteers and for those completing their first parkrun today – well done! There were the following milestones announced today: Plenty of the runners today were parkrun tourists by the looks of the first timers briefing but no-one owned up to where they’d come from apart from me (Walmer & Deal Seafront) – but nonetheless a warm welcome was given to everyone and we hope you enjoyed the experience of running at Sandhurst Memorial today of whom 53 were first timers at Sandhurst Memorial 9 of whom were very first time parkrunners Impressive that 20 of you managed to record a new personal best The event was made possible by 26 amazing volunteers - without your help parkrun could not go ahead each week - thank you all very much Remember if you can give up some time to volunteer it really does make a big difference – if everyone who runs could do three volunteering jobs a year it would most likely cover every position every week so do give it some thought and don the stylish and flattering hi-vis if you can - you also earn a flashy t-shirt after 25/50/100/250/500 or a mammoth 1000 turns of volunteering A full list of results and a complete event history can be found on the Sandhurst Memorial parkrun results page First time ever shiny parkrunners: Sue SHEPHERD Laura SCHAAD-JACKSON - welcome to the addiction that is parkrun! parkrun is amazing fun - so lace up your trainers and join in bring a smile and enjoy yourselves – it’s meant to be fun after all! Don't forget parkrun is worldwide now so take your trainers (and barcode #DFYB) on holiday with you and be a parkrun tourist like I have today I’m visiting the area from North Yorkshire as I am house and dog sitting for some friends in a local village On previous visits I have done a couple of the other local parkruns but I decided to try a different one today for my 54th parkrun and settled on Sandhurst Memorial’s 155th event from the various options available After an initial issue with directions - I ended up in a housing estate rather than in the car park which was opposite (my friends know that my sense of direction isn’t good!) - I walked through the park to find the first timers briefing and left my jacket on the ‘tarpaulin of trust’ including nine who were completing their very first parkrun - Lachlan T Manisha G and Stuart M (welcome to the parkrun club - your Saturday mornings will not be the same again!) - there was even someone completing their 904th parkrun which is the highest number that I have seen Congratulations to the three people who achieved an official milestone today - Louisa W and Aoife O for their 25th parkrun and a warm welcome by today’s Run Director (Emma) completed we all walked the few metres to the start line whose ages ranged from junior 10 to over 80 years old - which shows that parkrun is open to everyone (I hope I’m still doing parkrun when I’m 80!) Today’s attendance was the highest number since January 2020 - I think a combination of a couple of other local parkruns being cancelled and the nice weather swelled the numbers Visitors came from all around the UK - but the winner for distance travelled must go to the runner from Australia As we all chose our positions at the start Emma (RD) made sure that the timers were ready and then with a 3,2,1 we were off running and walking through some lovely scenery The course comprised one short lap and two longer laps past a lake and along a mixture of tarmac paths The dry weather meant that I didn’t get wet feet - but it did mean that the mythical water feature was not evident - I have seen photo evidence of it though so I know that it does exist and I look forward to ‘experiencing’ it on my next visit in Feb 2025 I’m never going to be first finisher at a parkrun so I shouldn’t get lost but making sure that I didn’t were a group of very friendly marshals at every junction pointing the way and offering some very welcome encouragement I find the beauty of doing a new parkrun is that the finish line often comes up quicker than expected - I crossed the line in 35th place and managed a sub-25 minute time for the first time which was a goal of mine to do by the end of the year There were 37 other people who also achieved a PB time and the first three to cross the finish line were first time visitors Parkrun would not be able to take place without volunteers and today there were 25 wonderful people who gave up their time to allow the event to take place - so many thanks to all the people listed below please do consider doing it - I’ve really enjoyed the times I have volunteered I really enjoyed this parkrun: the scenery and I’ll definitely come back to Sandhurst Memorial I hope to see some of you again at a parkrun very soon The infamous water feature that Sandhurst is well known for had evaporated this week due to the hot and sunny weather This made for some dry and fast conditions for some Luckily we had parkrun partners iPro Hydrate come along with some of their hydration drinks to alleviate the dehydration after that warm run This week we saw several graduates from the Sandhurst Joggers Pure Beginners programme complete their first 5km run and a big well done to one of our run directors Lisa for guiding them through their training A big thanks to all those who give up a run to volunteer Remember it’s easy to volunteer and even run before or after We are very grateful to the volunteers who made this event happen: We hope to see some of the Pure Beginners graduates back again soon There were 168 runners and walkers who attended event number 150 It was perfect running conditions albeit a little humid but the infamous "water feature" was nowhere to be seen and neither was the slushy mud on the field There were 44 first timers including four first timers to parkrun One of which was Joshua Morgan who finished 18th overall with an impressive debut time of 22:10 Congratulations also needs to go to our two milestone achievers as well as my run club friends Callum Burrows and Nicky Hastings who both chose to start their birthday celebrations at parkrun followed by a post parkrun breakfast 🙂 Without them we would not be able to get our weekly fix of parkrun-infused endorphins 🙂 Due to some civil engineering work during the week the water feature had drained away and all that remained was a small puddle Hopefully this situation will continue but we will have to wait until we have had some serious rain to see if the drainage has improved permanently Even the gap in the hedge had dried considerably and was only soft rather than wet and slippery This all meant that the course was fast and everyone seemed to enjoy the drier conditions Sarah ALVES DE SOUSA • Patrick WADSWORTH • George GREEN • Sue HOPKINSON • Clare GALLAGHER • Lisa HARROLD • Jacqueline KENT • John LOVENBERRY • Emma OWEN • Doug BRADY • Derren GOODALL • Andy HAZELL • Isabelle GALLAGHER • Jim HAFFEY • Andrew HIBBITT • Sarah GRAY • Isabel RICHARDSON • Lee WREN • Sheila DAVENPORT • Max LEWIS • Vanessa CSAKI • Ashleigh WREN • Louisa WASTELL • Huxley DAVIES • Ezra SARKARI • Harry THWAITES At the beginning of the year my running buddy and I embarked on a 'Alphabeteer' challenge and have been touring away from our local parkrun at Frimley Lodge Today was our 'S' at Sandhurst Memorial parkrun It was a beautiful sunny morning and we received a warm welcome at the first timers briefing which by all accounts was a pretty busy one There were a fair few tourists with some from as far afield as South Africa Sydney and Columbia - I hope you all enjoyed the lovely scenic parkrun at Sandhurst We were warned during the briefing about the 'water feature' that we would need to tackle not once but three times The advice was just to plough straight through the middle I was grateful for the sunny warm weather as There were 163 people taking part this morning with a few first timers to parkrun (I hope you have now caught the bug!) and a number of milestone runs and some lovely cake to be had at the end Thank you to the fabulous volunteers who were so friendly and enthusiastic with their support There is no better way to start a Saturday morning