22nd July 2008

Sunday 3rd August 2008. Fund raising BBQ at Unity Hall, 2 Commercial Street, Morley. Starts at 1300 and cost per head £5 – All you want to eat and drink. Contact David Langham 01132 381312.

Sunday 7th September 2008. Stand at Eden Camp All Services Parade. Starts 1000. FREE admission to all AFPG members/family.

Sunday 14th September 2008. Colin Challen MP and David Langham talking to Scarborough area members at the Royal British Legion Club.

2nd July 2008

On Saturday 12th July the AFPG will be manning a stall at the Airborne Forces Day, Eden Camp, Malton, North Yorkshire. Opening times from 0900 to 1700.

All AFPG members and their families have FREE entrance – just inform the entrance staff who you are and they will direct you to Hut 22 where the AFPG Yorkshire district members will be. If the weather is bad we will be in Hut 12.

Do try and make it on the day to see what we are doing throughout the country to keep up the pressure.

NOTE: We apologise to those who have been trying to telephone 01623 402290. There has been a fault with the answerphone – now cured. Do keep in touch.

30th June 2008

On Tuesday, 17th June, AFPG carried out a “Commando Raid” on the Imperial War Museum to highlight our fight for equality. A limited number were involved but the hanging of our banner over the balcony was very effective. We were asked by security to remove the banner as they are supposed to be unbiased. We only removed the banner and left peacefully after allowing time for Associated Press to take photographs. This was a dry run for similar activities we are going to carry out over the country.

This month we have been manning stands at various shows (RAF Cosford, Veterans Day at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham etc) and have gained many more members, signatures for the petition and orders for AFPG ‘goodies’. These activities have emphasised even more the necessity of having area co-ordinators and although we have had names in the past, AFPG needs you. Basic requirements are good access to the internet and to be mobile – general out of pocket expenses are paid for.

RATHER THAN CALLING ON THE MEMBERSHIP FOR FUNDS, WE ARE TRYING TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT FINANCIALLY. PLEASE CLICK ON THE “MERCHANDISE” BLOCK ON THE RIGHT AND SUPPORT THE GROUP BY PURCHASING BADGES, CAPS AND TIES.

28th April 2008

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May.
Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, Yorkshire. Battlegroup North Military Wheels and Wings Show. Wargames, Historic Military Vehicles and Living History Show with Historic Aircraft flypasts. The largest gathering of military vehicles in the North of England. AFPG will have a stand at the show for the continued gathering of petition signatures and for the sale of AFPG merchandise – pin badges, scarves, ties, car stickers etc. Come along and support your local group.

24th to 28th May.
Colin Challen MP and David Langham will be in the Inverness area for a meeting with the Veterans of Scotland. This will be for the planning of events “north of the border”. Please contact Colin Challen’s office on 01132 381312 or email davidplangham@tiscali.co.uk for more information.

Tuesday 17th June.
Action Day in London. We need at least 50 members to attend. For more details please contact Mike Steel on 01623 402290 or email info@afpg.info

Rally 3rd April.

Sincere apologies for taking so long to update this time but we have been waiting for photographs to come through.

Well over 500 attended the Rally in Whitehall and congratulations to all who were able and made the considerable effort to be there. Our thanks go to the Metropolitan Police whose tact and consideration helped to make our march such a success. A great start to get going this financial year. There is more to come so keep an eye on this website. Campaign Director David Langham asked all to make a pledge – everyone to recruit another member and to gain another 100 signatures on the petition. Remember our petition is still ongoing and a further presentation will be made to No.10 later in the year.

We ask all members to write to their MP’s (again) to support EDM102 and also write to your local newspaper to make them aware of our fight. This is not a wasted exercise as continuous press coverage keeps up the momentum. Colin Challen has introduced a further EDM which is No. 1357. This calls for the introduction of a holiday under the title of Veterans Day. It is most important that when you communicate with your own MP you urge that he signs EDM1357. A page headed AFPG MERCHANDISE will be available shortly on this site and all proceeds will go towards our campaign activity. Our next newsletter should be issued in the first week of May

5th March 2008.

Rally in London 3rd April This is your chance to show your strength of feeling. Please make every effort to be there! Colin Challen MP and all the Directors have and are working hard to make this event a success.

Plan for the day. We will be mustering in Whitehall Place at 1300 for 1330. There will be a public address system with some speeches. This will be followed by marching down Whitehall to the Cenotaph at about 1430 to lay a wreath accompanied by the Lofthouse Brass Band.

The Metropolitan Police will be closing Whitehall Place to traffic and one side of Whitehall for our benefit. Anyone who wishes can then continue down the House of Commons to lobby their individual MP's. (Highly recommended).

We have been unable to collate enough numbers from individual areas to justify laying on coaches. However, National Express tell me that you can book on-line to get what are called “Fun Fares”. These are extremely cheap and worth going for. The on-line address is: www.nationalexpress.com

For those of you wishing to travel by train, I have been unable to get any real concessions from the train people but the time of our gathering will be in the slot for cheap day returns – especially those with rail cards. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to email (info@afpg.info) or telephone (01623 402290) I hope to see you on the day. Mike Steel

RALLY FOR YOUR PENSION - Thursday 3rd April 2008.

Our rally is being organised for Thursday 3rd April 2008. We will muster in Whitehall Place which is off Whitehall to the north of Ministry of Defence at 1330. A march down Whitehall with a band is planned to start at around 1430 with the laying of a wreath at the Cenotaph. A delegation will also present No.10 Downing Street with the additional signatures of our petition. This is currently an additional 8,000 to the 107,000 we presented last November so keep sending them in. We do need everyone who can make it to come on the day. It is not restricted to members but try to bring along family, friends and associates. We have told the Metropolitan Police to expect about 2,000 and they will close Whitehall Place and one half of Whitehall to traffic for our benefit so let's get that many into London as a show of solidarity and strength!!!! A newsletter is on its way to everyone which will ask if you are attending. Please answer this ASAP or even email this office telling us you (and who else) will be attending. Investigation is under way for the arrangement of coaches (likely cost £10 per head return) and also to see what can be obtained in the way of concessionary fares on the rail network.

2nd December 2007

We presented our petition to No.10 Downing Street on 14th November 2007. In the photo at No.10 reading left to right: Mike Steel, Tony Gilfillan, Sir James Spicer, Colin Challen MP, Nigel Lodge, David Langham, Barbara Green. As you can see there were over 107,000 signatures and we are going to continue with the petition with the aim of reaching the 1,000,000. I'm sure it can be done with the enthusiasm you have all shown so far.

It is most important that you all contact your individual MP's to urge them to sign Early Day Motion No.102. An easy way of doing this is by going to www.theyworkforyou.com and send an email directly to your MP.