Royal Engineers present Blesma with a cheque for £30,000 following BD75 commemorations

Earlier this month, Blesma’s Chief Executive (and former Royal Engineer) Barry Le Grys, Associate Director of Fundraising Barbara Warner, and Blesma Member Matt Weston travelled to the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Engineers in Chatham, Kent to receive a cheque from Lieutenant Colonel William MacDonald and Lieutenant Colonel Dickie Hawkins MBE.

Throughout 2015, events were held to commemorate BD75 – the 75^th anniversary of Bomb Disposal within the Royal Engineers – which raised money for three charities: Blesma, the Royal Engineers Association and Walking with the Wounded. The original target was £75,000 with the final total raised reaching a fantastic £90,000 which was to be split equally between the three charities.

Events held included a regimental boxing night against the Royal Artillery, dubbed ‘The Battle of Bethnal Green’, a Golf Day with Redwing Golf Society, a London Battlefield Tour and formal dinner, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and High Risk Search Experience Day at Carver Barracks where attendees were shown how specialists locate and neutralise unexploded bombs amongst other activities.

The year of commemoration was rounded off with a Service of National Remembrance held at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The service was attended by injured bomb disposal veterans, families of those who had served with bomb disposal units with the Royal Family being represented by HRH Prince Harry.

Blesma has many Royal Engineers amongst the membership, not surprising when you consider the Sapper role, and has received great support from the Corps. Commemorating 75 years of Bomb Disposal has been extremely well done and Blesma is privileged to have been a part of it. Blesma is enormously grateful for the funds raised; bomb blast victims will benefit directly.

Barry Le Grys