Tank Run

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Tank Run Raises Thousands For War Graves Commission
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 29, 2007 -- A sponsored "Tank Run" from London to the Somme has raised more than GBP 30,000 for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Simon Balgden MBE and his seven man team drove their Spartan Armoured Personnel Carrier on a three day journey from Pall Mall to the Somme to mark the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's 90th Anniversary and the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. During their journey the crew stopped at a number of war cemeteries to pay tribute to those who fell in the two world wars.

Simon said, "It is not every day you get to drive a tank around Piccadilly Circus, and we hope London did not mind the jam, but were it not for the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, remembrance as we know it could not exist and I am delighted that in our own unique way we can pay tribute to this marvellous organisation."

Simon and his crew were officially "waved off" by the band of the Coldstream Guards at the Naval and Military Club in St James's Square in the company of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Notes for Editors

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of those members of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars, for building and maintaining memorials to the dead whose graves are unknown and for providing records and registers of these 1.7 million burials and commemorations found in most countries throughout the world.

The Commission was founded by Royal Charter on 21 May 1917 and marked its 90th Anniversary on 21 May 2007. An exhibition and book were launched at Canada House London to great critical acclaim.

The Tank Run Team

Crew: Simon Blagden MBE, John Archer, Mark Calnan, David Hall, Brad Lovegrove. Sandy Malcolm, Roger Marsh.





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Contacts:
For further information and images, please contact:
Peter Francis
01628 507163 or 07766255884
peter.franics@cwgc.org


SOURCE: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[Gunner]

I note a Mark Calnan in the Tank Run team... I'll have to try to get ahold of him... we are likely cousins of some ilk.

Mike

[RHClarke]

Originally posted by Gunner
I note a Mark Calnan in the Tank Run team... I'll have to try to get ahold of him... we are likely cousins of some ilk.

Mike

Does he smell of elderberries? How's your Friday night shaping up? Is a visit to the Hammond Barn in order? You do have a rather large tarp laying about...