week 6 special features
A former Chatham, Kent boy featured in Bedfordshire on Sunday: 5 April
Run in the footsteps of our D-Day heroes
BY SIMON HUTCHINSON
A Town Crier is facing the challenge of a lifetime as he gears up to run 65 miles for a veteran’s charity.
Barry Tappenden is usually seen escorting the Mayor of Bedford or shouting a message in the town centre but on June 4 he will be donning his trainers and joining 198 others running from Tarrant Rushton in Dorset all the way to Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, France, for the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
The hard work will all be worthwhile for Barry if he succeeds in raising £10,000 for PROJECT 65 which was created to honour D-Day Veterans – in particular the men who took part in the Coup de Main operation to capture the bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne in the first combat operation of D-Day.
They have already raised over £140,000 and Barry is hoping that this event will add to the sum and help PROJECT 65 give more support and care for our wounded military heroes.
Barry, who has been the Mayor’s Officer for eight years, said: “I’ve run before and always kept fit from my military days, but this is much more than just a run. It’s a historic challenge which has been organised for such a great cause.
“The papers are full of stories of our armed forces being terribly injured everyday and I really want to play my part in helping PROJECT 65 raise funds to provide care and support for them.”
■ You can sponsor Barry by visiting his online fundraising page on www.justgiving.com/barrytappenden.
Bedford Jersey Arts festival
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
site under construction
visit often-watch the site develop
This website is an ongoing project started in late January 2009.