Base Club
Mrs Cobb & Mrs Cousins run Base Club to support our Military families.
Summer Term 2024
Base Club ended last year with their traditional afternoon tea. Sharing time together with their families and veterans from our local community. This was a lovely afternoon, to complete our year and Armed Forces Day.
During Armed Forces Day we were treated to some displays of safety kit used on helicopters by the Army Air Corps, we were able to sit in huge inflatable life rafts, individual life rafts and wear flying kit - we all absolutely loved it. However, this part of the day was somewhat eclipsed by an Apache fly past!
After break, we all stayed out for a little while and watched in awe as an Apache made two fly pasts of our field and playground. Coming in first with a fats pass and a wiggle, then going around again for a low fast pass! We couldn't believe it and were so amazed and grateful to the Army Air Corps at Middle Wallop for their kindness. We were also very grateful to Mr Ware, who helped arrange both the fly past and the amazing display of items.
Our afternoon tea was first blessed by parent and Padre, .Henderson using the most beautiful prayer to welcome and recognise our service children. Then we feasted and enjoyed each other's company with laughter, joy and happiness.
Autumn Term 2023
Autumn term, as always, was a busy time for Base Club. We begun with some 'getting to know you' sessions, with those attending having the opportunity to introduce siblings or themselves and see the changes and new faces. We also held our first Key Stage Two only session to give our older children the opportunity to talk about their worries and concerns or dreams and ambitions openly, without smaller children. This session was great - it was suggested by some of our parents and worked a treat, helping that sense of belonging to forge amongst our oldest military children.
We also spent time preparing for Remembrance, creating a wreath and reflecting on what Remembrance means to us military families. Two of our eldest children represented the school incredibly well by laying a wreath and saying the Kohima prayer at a full RBL service, alongside our affiliated RBL unit, Sutton Scotney. We were given so many wonderful comments and thanks about these two children for their sense of occasion and maturity in fulfilling their duties. We are all very proud of them!
In the second part of the Autumn term, after Remembrance, we began to think about Christmas. We did so many craft projects whilst spending time together talking and enjoying each others company. It was glorious!
This term will see us take part in 'Fundraise February' where we will do our best to raise much needed funds for the incredible military children's charity - Little Troopers.
Can't Wait!
Base Club Tea Party 2023
To end a fabulous Base Club year, yesterday we celebrated our extraordinary community with a wonderful afternoon tea. Our military children were joined by their parents and members of our local, affiliated, Royal British Legion Branch; Sutton Scotney RBL.
We met in our wellbeing and peace garden in beautiful July sunshine before heading out of the sun and into the school hall. We mixed ourselves up and sat, child and adult, and chatted the afternoon away. We enjoyed sandwiches and crisps and, in true afternoon tea style, followed up with a pudding full of cakes, biscuits and treats. We were also fortunate enough to have a fantastic cake, made by a year six pupil and Bake Off future contestant, Annabelle. The cake, topped with raspberries, was full of hidden sweeties which cascaded out when we cut into it - it was a real showstopper!
Our afternoon tea is something I look forward to. Having the opportunity to observe our youngest generations sit alongside older generations and find belonging and community in shared experience is a real privilege. Hearing conversations unfold about postings to the same place, 30 + years apart is incredible and shines a real light on how small and connected our military world is. So many stories were shared and bonds forged.
We are so grateful for our affiliation with Sutton Scotney RBL. Our close relationship means so much to our Base Club children who write to their RBL pen pals regularly and meet a few times a year at events such as our afternoon tea. For our military children this adds so much to their identity, sense of self and shared sense as part of a special and unique military community. Feelings I know are shared equally with the members of the RBL, who gain so much from their connection to the communities' younger generations. This was brought into focus yesterday when I was told "Thank you for this, I have looked forward to it for so long. It's one of my most favourite events. These children have so much to give."
And really, that's what it's all about!
Summer 2022
On Armed Forces Day the Royal British Legion came to visit and gave us a certificate. This means that we are affiliated (joined to) the Sutton Scotney branch. In Base Club we have been writing to our pen-pals at the branch. During Armed Forces Day at school we played lots fun games linked to communication. We explored semaphore, Morse code, Lego bridge building, the phonetic alphabet and lots of other cool stuff. After we talked to some Armed forces veterans from the Royal British Legion and ate biscuits (they were good.). We had a really great day and it was nice that all the children got to join in and have fun and learn about what life is like for military children and families.
Autumn 2021
Summer 2021
In April 2021 Mrs Cobb was asked to write a blog for the Little Troopers website. Click HERE to read her blog.
Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all children with one or both parents serving in our British Armed Forces (regular or reserve). Their website provides lots of useful information for children and parents.
https://www.littletroopers.net/
