News Item from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 9th November 2011
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright as noted
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SOLDIERS TO TAKE PART IN SPONSORED RUN, ROW & CYCLE AT SWANAGE STATION TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE POPPY APPEAL AS PART OF REMEMBRANCE WEEKEND 2011 AT SWANAGE - 12th-13th November 2011

Parade of troops on Swanage seafront on 30th May 2009.
Photograph copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals based at Blandford Forum in Dorset will be taking part in a sponsored run, row and cycle on the platform at Swanage's railway station - to raise money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

See below for a downloadable poster for the Remembrance Weekend 12th-13th November 2011

Using rowing and cycling machines - and running six kilometres - between 9am and 5pm on Saturday, 12 November, 2011, 48 soldiers of the Lightning and Ulster troops of the 3 (Harrogate) Squadron of the 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment hope to travel a total of 650 miles.

That is the equivalent distance from Swanage to its twin town of Rudesheim near Frankfurt in Germany.

Frank Roberts (standing, rear left) with troop volunteers at Swanage station.
Photograph copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Members of the Royal Corps of Signals will also be at Swanage station with collection buckets to raise extra money for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal which is now in its 90th year.

The Royal Corps of Signals has a strong association with the volunteer-run Swanage Railway going back to 1984 and the Corps was presented with the Freedom of Swanage by the Mayor of the seaside town during 2005.

Since 1984, soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals have helped with the installation of telephone exchanges, lineside telegraph and telephone poles as well as the overhead wires as the Swanage Railway slowly relaid its tracks to Harman's Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden where a new station was built.

Soldiers of the Royal Corps of Signals have also been helping with the improvement of Herston Halt, on the outskirts of Swanage, which was the Swanage Railway's first newly built station opened in April 1984.

Servicemen from the 3 (Harrogate Squadron) of the 11th Signal Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, based at Blandford Forum in Dorset have worked on Herston Halt four times so far this year.

Frank Roberts with troop volunteers at Herston station.
Photograph copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

But, the soldiers of the Royal Corps of Signals have become an important part of Swanage life - more than 90 soldiers taking part in this year's Swanage Half Marathon and the 3 (Harrogate Squadron) donating a cheque for £1,000 to the Swanage Heroes' Haven appeal during June 2011.

A Swanage Railway volunteer and retired Royal Corps of Signals Warrant Officer, Frank Roberts said: "This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal so it's very apt that soldiers from Royal Corps of Signals are taking part in this sponsored run, row and cycle ride on the platform at Swanage station to raise money for the Poppy Appeal.

"The men and women of the Royal Corps of Signals are very proud and pleased to be playing a part in Swanage's Remembrance Sunday commemorations and I would urge everyone to make sure they make a donation to the Royal British Legion and wear their poppy with pride."

The sponsored run, row and cycle on Saturday, 12 November 2011, will also see a comprehensive photographic display of the Royal Corps of Signals' 28-year association with the volunteer-run Swanage Railway on the station platform at Swanage.

Frank Roberts with troop volunteers at Herston station.
Photograph copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Swanage's remembrance parade organised by the town's Royal British Legion takes place Sunday, 13 November, 2011, and starts at 2.30pm at the seafront on Shore Road before processing to St Mary's parish church in King's Road via Station Road.

Topped and tailed by four historic military vehicles, the Remembrance Sunday parade will include 70 soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals' 3 (Harrogate) Squadron.

After the service, the parade moves to the war memorial overlooking Swanage seafront where a wreath laying ceremony takes place at 4pm.

At 4.45pm on Sunday, the 70 soldiers will march from the war memorial to the Royal British Legion club in the High Street via Station Road and Institute Road.

See below for a downloadable poster for the Remembrance Weekend 12th-13th November 2011, plus a downloadable Army Link Brochure describing the Army's close involvement with the Swanage Railway since 1984

Details of the Swanage Railway's steam and diesel train services - as well as special events - are available by following the menu links on the left of this page or by calling 01929 425800.

Downloadable poster for Remembrance Weekend 12th-13th November 2011
Please click on the poster to download a copy suitable for printing.
(Please help us to publicise the events by displaying a copy prominently)

Downloadable Army Link Brochure describing the Army's close involvement with the Swanage Railway since 1984

All photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright unless otherwise noted.
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