The Baton

26/08/2026

Fabulous and unexpected news! Unbeknown to us the lovey team at Hays Travel Honiton approached their company to see if they could get their incredible fundraising effort of £852.71 matched, to our wonderment it was agreed!!😀 what a wonderful surprise, the total 1,705.42 funds are placed into the 'Baton Restricted Fund' held by SSAFA Devon where the fund is already being used to good local Devon effect.

Whilst in the office being given the news we were able to get a photo of Imogen Bowey with the Baton Trophy, Imogen put the Baton forward to be considered for the fundraising but was away when we presented the trophy - so grateful 😊

17/08/2026

🚨NEWS: Retired British officers have joined together, slamming the Labour Government and demanding protections be put in place to stop legal witch hunts against veterans

Brigadier General David Maddan, ex-SAS Commanding Officer Aldwin Wight, former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major George Simm and Dr Robert Parr, Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford's Changing Character of War Centre and ex-member of both 22 SAS and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, are all calling for the Government to scrap the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and introduce a new Military Operations Act to govern the conduct of military operations at home and overseas.

15/08/2026

Tigger handing back the Baton today at the Dalwood Fair, he recently came to the end of his 2,582 mile tour, visiting old work colleagues at their monthly meetings around England and Wales whilst promoting the message of the Baton and raising funds for the upkeep of the 'Y' Service Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire....

Our symbolic 'Baton' has been from York to Portsmouth, with Carmarthen, Leeds, Lincoln, Loughborough, and Gloucester in between......The final cheque for £1,311.09 was handed over to the President and Chairman of 'Y' service Lt. Col Bill Nelson Rtd Int Corps and Lt. Col Steve Palfreyman Rtd R Sigs at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Our special thanks to Tigger from The Baton for keeping the Message Alive and Andy Summers and Land Rover Experience West Country for their support throughout.

15/08/2026

All set up at the Dalwood Fair and looking forward to meeting new and old friends, what a stunning view in front of us!😊

15/08/2026

VJ Day... The Baton remembering the sacrifice and effect on British Commonwealth and all Allied Forces and families in the war with Japan, the end of 6 years of devastating global war…....The image is of the #1 Baton laying against an actual track of the Burma Railway, brought back as a lasting memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to the inhuman treatment and incredible fortitude of prisoners forced to labour under the most terrible conditions.

We must also remember the families who lost a loved ones after peace was declared, my mother's one of them.
Our thoughts and gratitude are with those who suffered and endured, their families still living with the thoughts - as the Baton’s Message ends “you will always be in our thoughts and prayers… out of sight will never be out of mind.”

Our sincere thanks thanks to Mike Gormley and Jean for their incredibly thoughtful input from their visit to Burma

12/08/2026

Another fabulous supporter of The Baton and friend of Baz Gray Jason Howard Wilcock has instigated a wonderful project for veterans who need space and tranquility to heal tortured minds, Jason's innovative concept is fascinating and one to watch and support, please look at his page Echo Ridge Retreat and his website to learn more and see if you can make this wonderful dream come true.

Help build Echo Ridge Retreat—a place of healing for veterans and blue light workers. Sponsor one pixel, or as many as you can.

12/08/2026

Former Baton Trustee Baz Gray is up for a well deserved award and needs our votes, he has undertaken countless challenges for the benefit of others, especially in the veterans community, please take time to see his video and vote for him, Pauline and I have already done it 🙏😊

08/08/2026

Tigger has come to the end of his 2,582 mile tour, visiting old work colleagues at their monthly meetings around England and Wales whilst raising the message of the Baton and raising funds for the upkeep of the 'Y' Service Memorial Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire.
The symbolic 'Baton' has been from York to Portsmouth, with Carmarthen, Leeds, Lincoln, Loughborough, and Gloucester in between.

The final cheque for £1,311.09 was handed over to the President and Chairman of 'Y' service Lt. Col Bill Nelson Rtd Int Corps and Lt. Col Steve Palfreyman Rtd R Sigs at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Special thanks to Alan Rowe MBE from The Baton for working with Tigger to spread its story and Andy Summers for his support throughout.