Every community is shaped by the people who show up, lend a hand, share a story or spark an idea and sometimes those who just pass on through.
Ours in no different. This page is a chance to shine a light on some of the individuals who make our community what it is: those who started the whole crazy idea, the regulars who bring the energy and humour to every gathering, and the many contributors whose quiet efforts keep everything running smoothly.
Together, they form the heartbeat of our growing network, and we are proud to introduce you to some of the faces behind the madness.
Les T, Royal Navy
I joined the Royal Navy 28th October 1975 as a Junior Electrical Mechanic 2nd Class.at HMS Raleigh I was sixteen. I started out in the Weapons Electrical Branch but myself and others were transferred to the Marine Engineering branch. I served on five different ships. They were HMS Andromeda, HMS Minerva, HMS Dido, HMS Beaver and HMS Sheffield( F96). I rose to Senior Rate in 1982 when promoted to Petty Officer. Six years later I was a Chief Petty Officer.
With regards the pictures, the first is a young me about a week after I joined the Navy. The second pic is me on HMS Sheffield on artic patrol, and we were hit by a massive snow storm. The snow hit the engines air intakes causing the engine to stall. We were sent to clear the intakes but not until we had snow ball fight and a snow man building competition. The final picture is October this year when I met up with three old mates and we were invited to attend HMS Raleigh to celebrate 50 years from when we first met at HMS Raleigh.
Jenny N, Army
My first four years in uniform were spent with the Glasgow and Strathclyde University Officers’ Training Corps, an experience that shaped everything that followed. From there I moved into 71 Engineer Regiment and later to 3 Military Intelligence Battalion in Edinburgh. My time with the Royal Engineers included counter‑mobility training and the Potential Officers Course at Minley Manor. Eventually, I realised that the exciting hands‑on work of strapping demolition charges to bridges wasn’t something an officer would actually be doing. And, as a woman without an engineering degree in the late 90’s, my future in the Royal Engineers looked limited. So I made the leap and joined the Intelligence Corps TA as a soldier.
Not long after, I went regular and was posted to Germany with 1 MI Battalion in Rheindahlen. In 1999 I deployed on Op AGRICOLA, first to Macedonia and then into Kosovo. After a fantastic tour, I returned to Scotland with a medal — and a future husband. I still have both. Transitioning from serving soldier to “dependant” was challenging, but staying connected to the same world meant I never felt far from the fold.
Life then took us to Cyprus, Akrotiri, where I helped run the Saddle Club, before returning once again to Rheindahlen — this time as a military family — and then on to several bases across the UK. Two wonderful children, several countries, three equines and one slightly wonky dog later, I’m now happily supporting local veterans. I’ve also spent many years championing military equestrian sport across both the Army and the UK Armed Forces.
We moved to Charfield in 2019 as my husbands last posting was in Gloucester, falling in love with the village as we visited in November and seeing all the knitted poppies out decorating the whole village. Not long after we moved I had the privilege of becoming the Charfield British Legion Standard Bearer — a role I’m honoured to continue for as long as I’m able. Together with fellow veterans we have carried out grave cleaning of the WW1 veterans graves at the closed church of St James. For a village of around 400 at the time over 100 young men took up arms in WW1 and it is great to still feel the huge amount of support for the military community in the area.