Support for Bomb Disposal Charity

Pupils of East and West Houses put any inter house rivalry aside on Friday 30 March when they came together for a special assembly.  After very successful fund raising evenings held earlier in the term, the Houses were able to present Col Gareth Bex OBE of the Royal Logistics Corp with a cheque for a fantastic £4500 for the Felix Fund. 

The money will be used to support soldiers whose lives have been impacted by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and also the families of servicemen and women who have been killed by such devices.  The charity provides both immediate welfare for the wounded, such as giving them with small items to make their lives more comfortable, as well as longer care for those soldiers who served in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s.  The trauma of the loss or injury of colleagues often leaves mental scars and normalisation breaks supported by the Felix Fund can help servicemen deal with these issues.

Lt Col Bex gave a brief history of IEDs, and the work of army bomb disposal units both at home and aboard.  The training is rigorous and the pressure on bomb disposal operators in immense.  It is a role which demands both physical and moral courage.  When asked whether he enjoyed his work, he answered with a resounding yes, “It is really challenging, and, at times, especially when faced with loss, the hardest thing I have done in my life, but I know I am doing something worthwhile.”

During the assembly, Lt Col Bex paid tribute to OB Dan Clack, who had been the victim of a IED last summer whilst serving in Afghanistan, he describing him as a “fantastic and well respected guy”

Afterwards, Mr Channer said of the assembly, “You could tell how gripped all the pupils were: when the bell rang they barely moved!”

To raise this impressive sum, West House held a house concert, which showed off the many diverse talents of its pupils.  East House pupils organised a Wild West Evening, complete with a county fair (including a very popular Bucking Bronco) and saloon, as well as a western themed show.