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Corrie’s Antony Cotton visits Walton-le-Dale to support Armed Forces bus tour

Posted on - 5th July, 2022 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Charities, People, South Ribble News, Walton-le-Dale
The ‘Anyone For Tea’ bus

Corrie’s Antony Cotton visited a supermarket in Walton-le-Dale in June to support a bus tour led by a military charity for wounded, sick and injured personnel.

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In celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, The Not Forgotten, a British Armed Forces charity for military personnel, brought their ‘Anyone For Tea’ tour to the Waitrose car park in Walton-le-Dale on 23 June 2022.

The tour was part of a 10-day road trip and aimed to raise awareness of the charity’s work, offering ‘entertainment, cheer and chat’ to UK veterans, serving personnel and their friends and families.

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Antony Cotton joins guests for a chat and a cuppa

Head of Events at The Not Forgotten, Rosie Thompson MBE, said: “We were thrilled to launch the Anyone For Tea Tour Bus and couldn’t have done this without the sponsorship and assistance of Waitrose.

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“We’re delighted to have Waitrose onboard, and it was fantastic to welcome so many veterans of all ages and their friends and families to share in the celebrations.”

The event saw attendees served a slice of cake and a biscuit, washed down with a British cuppa – from a specially liveried double-decker bus.

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Guests enjoying the ‘Anyone For Tea’ tour

The charity was ‘thrilled’ to welcome Coronation Street actor and British Army personnel supporter Antony Cotton, who chatted to the veterans and their guests.

Forces Sweetheart Annie Riley entertained the troops and Waitrose customers, singing a varied set, including popular hits from across Her Majesty The Queen’s reigning years.

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The tour, sponsored by 11 Waitrose stores, will see the Anyone For Tea bus pull up at other accessible Waitrose car parks from Cornwall to Glasgow.

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Waitrose Team Manager Sarah Collins said: “We are delighted to sponsor this important event, which celebrates the Platinum Jubilee and the UK’s veterans, who make up such a valuable part of our community.

“Our partners look forward to welcoming customers and those within our regional communities to what is bound to be a fantastic and fun-filled tour.”

The Not Forgotten was founded 102 years ago to provide entertainment and recreation, including social activities and challenge holidays, for wounded, sick and injured service personnel and veterans and improve physical and mental health, address isolation and loneliness, and promote a sense of community and balance.

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The charity met up with familiar faces, including beneficiaries of the charity, and made friends while raising awareness of their work.

The Not Forgotten supports over 10,000 beneficiaries and hopes to encourage more veterans to come forward to benefit from a programme of events.

The Not Forgotten combats isolation and loneliness amongst the Armed Forces community through social activities and holidays.

Serving or ex-members of the Armed Forces should contact the charity on 0207 730 2400.

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