LORRAINE Kelly joined Father Christmas, Service personnel and soldiers from Britain’s oldest Army regiment to launch the uk4u Thanks! Christmas box campaign.
The charity is sending more than 18,500 Christmas boxes full of festive cheer to Servicemen and women around the world who are hard at work away from their loved ones; they will also be sending boxes to those personnel recovering in hospitals over the festive period.
Speaking from the event, Lorraine Kelly said: “It was brilliant to take the salute with the dashing Pikemen and Musketeers today, and I’m honoured once again to give my support to the uk4u Thanks! Christmas Box appeal.
“The charity does a great job in making sure all our Servicemen and women away from home receive a wonderful box of goodies on Christmas Day”
Lorraine led the company of Pikemen & Musketeers, complete with a Drumbeater and a Fifer, onto the parade ground in front of Armoury House, the historic home to the Regiment founded by Henry VIII in 1537.
The ceremonial parade included a presentation of arms and impressive drum roll to welcome not only personnel from all three Services, but also uk4u Thanks’ very own Father Christmas, all carrying this year’s Christmas box.
uk4u Thanks! Director and Trustee Sally Little said: “We’re delighted that Lorraine Kelly is once again lending us her fantastic support for the launch of our Christmas box campaign.
“The boxes are a great way for all of us to say thank you to our Servicemen and Servicewomen deployed over Christmas, bringing them some festive cheer when they really need it.
“I know from the feedback we receive each year that they are a real boost to morale at this special time and we would like to thank our sponsors and supporters without whom, we could not send these boxes”
Further information on the work of uk4u Thanks! can be found at www.uk4u.org