I heard on the news two evenings ago that Help for Heroes was set up with the aim of raising £500,00 for a therapy pool for severely injured Service men and women. So far, it has reached £86 million – and counting. Full marks to Bryn and Emma Parry who had the initiative and drive to set it up and achieve so much. Very properly, both have  been appointed Officers of the British Empire.

There is, however, no getting away from the fact that there are a great many Service charities – with differing beneficiaries, and aiming to meet different needs, For instance, Combat Stress is probably the charity for tackling post traumatic stress and many other mental conditions. Many Service charities contribute to it.

An excelllent package has come from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, stressing the need to build up a ‘war chest’ for the problems likely to emerge in years to come for those involved in the current conflict in Afghanistan. The package includes a letter from a seriously injured Sergeant. While fighting the Taliban, a bullet passed through his neck, leaving him seriously paralysed.

The Sergeant’s Colonel contacted The Soldiers’ Charity, which arranged to supply him with a specially adapted car. The charity put up £6,000 towards the cost, and encouraged others to do likewise. That’s fine, but, equally, the number of different charities with somewhat similar aims does mean, for instance, that I have to turn down The Soldiers’ Charity, not because I have anything against it, but simply because I am committed to a variety of other Service charities. I hope they will understand…..

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