Police and cadets join for Normandy charity walk
Tuesday, 22 June, 2010
The Rubery Local Policing Team. back Row PC Simon Albutt & PC Tim Burling, Front PC Vicky Cozens & CSO Dave Anderson.
Pegasus Bridge, Normandy From left to right. CSO Dave Anderson, PC's Tim Burling, Vicky Cozens, Steve Yapp & Simon Albutt. Centre is a member of West Midlands Pipe Band we met at the bridge.
PCs Tim Burling and Vicky Cozens, left, are pictured with 479 Squadron CO and NCOs (Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers) who led the group, back from left, Corporal Ashley Lalor, Corporal Jamie Mann, Corporal Luke Hambridge, Sergeant Joe Wood; fr
Police and cadets from Rubery and Bromsgrove joined forces for a walk in Normandy to commemorate the D Day landings and raised around £1,500 for armed services charities.
Eight police officers and Community Support Officers teamed up at the weekend (June 4 to 6) with 26 cadets and staff from Rubery's 479 Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) to walk along the 45 miles of invasion beaches from Pegasus Bridge to Omaha Beach.
Sunday (June 6) was the 66th anniversary of the Normandy landings and 479 Squadron represented the ATC by taking part in a parade at Pegasus Bridge to mark the occasion.
The money raised by the party is being handed over to the Rubery Tattoo, a community organisation which fundraises for armed services charities such as Help for Heroes and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailers, Airmen and Families Association).
The police who took part were PC Tim Burling, PC Vicky Cozens, PC Simon Albutt and CSO Dave Anderson, who are all based at Rubery, along with Inspector Mark Ashford, Sergeant Adrian Maiden, PC Spike Jenkins and PC Steve Yapp who are stationed at Bromsgrove.
PC Burling said that he and Warrant Officer Andy Gilbert from 479 Squadron were both on the Rubery Tattoo committee and had agreed to link up for the walk.
He said it had been exhausting but enjoyable for everyone taking part and added: "It was a very successful joint venture which we will be looking to repeat in the future.
"I was fortunate enough to meet some veterans at Pegasus Bridge including an 80-year-old with a chest full of medals who actually thanked us for what we were doing. I found that incredible given what he had to go through for us during the war.
"Suffering a few blisters is nothing compared to what our forces did in Normandy and what they are still doing for us now in Afghanistan. This was our chance to give something for those who risk everything to keep us safe."
